Help my dog is eating poop!

You’re at work, spending the whole afternoon daydreaming about going back home, kicking back for a relaxing evening, and binge-watching a TV series with your dog and cat by your side. You finally arrive after battling an hour and a half of grueling traffic. As you open the door, your pets rush to greet you. Everything is exactly as it should be. You kneel down to soak in the unconditional adoration you’ve been craving all day.

You absolutely love it when your dog gives you a welcoming lick on the cheek… but then it hits you. Like a freight train, a foul stench invades your nostrils, causing your brain to instantly recoil. You realize it is coming from your dog’s mouth—the very same mouth that was just licking your face a second ago.

And then the horrifying realization dawns on you: your dog has been raiding the cat’s litter box again.

Is This Normal?

It is entirely understandable to be disgusted by this behavior. When you brought a puppy home, you bargained for a cute, well-behaved companion—not a scat fetishist that makes you walk on eggshells and contort into awkward positions just to avoid a kiss.

However, before you panic, take a deep breath. While highly undesirable to humans, this behavior—scientifically known as coprophagia (the eating of feces)—is actually quite normal in the canine world. Dogs are natural scavengers, and they explore the world primarily through their noses and mouths.

Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

To effectively stop the behavior, you first need to understand why it is happening. The root causes of coprophagia generally fall into two categories: Nutritional/Medical and Behavioral/Emotional.

1. Nutritional and Medical Causes

• The Cat Poop Allure: Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diets are extremely high in protein. As a result, cat feces often contain undigested proteins and fats that smell and taste like a high-value treat to a scavenging dog. To a canine palate, the litter box is essentially a buffet.

• Nutrient Deficiencies: If a dog is not absorbing enough nutrients from their regular diet, they may resort to eating feces to recycle those missing vitamins and minerals. This is especially common in growing puppies who have high caloric demands.

• Underlying Illnesses: Conditions like diabetes, Cushing’s disease, thyroid issues, or intestinal parasites (worms) can cause a dramatic increase in a dog’s appetite, leading them to eat anything they can find.

2. Behavioral and Emotional Causes

• Anxiety and Harsh Training: Dogs that are house-trained using harsh, punitive measures (like having their noses rubbed in their accidents) often end up eating their own feces out of fear. They learn to “hide the evidence” to avoid punishment.

• Boredom or Isolation: Dogs left alone for long periods in a yard may interact with their own waste simply because they are bored and lack mental stimulation.

• Conditioning: If a dog’s feeding area is kept in close proximity to where they (or the cat) go to the bathroom, they may begin to associate the smell of feces with feeding time, blurring the lines between the two.

How Can I Stop This Behavior?

Tackling coprophagia requires patience, environmental management, and positive reinforcement. Getting angry and yelling at your dog will only increase their stress, which often makes the behavior worse. Here is a step-by-step approach to breaking the habit:

1. Start with a Vet Visit

Before attempting behavioral fixes, take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions. A vet can check for parasites, digestive enzyme deficiencies, or metabolic diseases that might be driving the abnormal appetite.

2. Upgrade Their Diet

Ensure your dog is eating a highly digestible, premium-quality food. This guarantees they are absorbing all necessary nutrients and aren’t scavenging to compensate for a dietary shortfall. Some veterinarians also recommend adding digestive enzymes or probiotic supplements to your dog’s meals to improve nutrient absorption.

3. Restrict Access (Environmental Management)

The easiest way to stop a behavior is to remove the opportunity.

• For Cat Feces: Move the litter box completely out of the dog’s reach. You can use baby gates (with a small cat door installed), top-entry litter boxes, or place the box in a room where the door is propped open just wide enough for the cat, but too narrow for the dog.

• For Dog Feces: Pick up your dog’s waste immediately after they finish doing their business in the yard. If the yard is clean, there is nothing for them to eat.

4. Train the “Leave It” Command and Reward

Bring high-value treats (like small pieces of chicken or cheese) with you when your dog goes out to potty. The exact second they finish doing their business, call them over to you and give them a treat. This distracts them from the feces and teaches them a new, highly rewarding habit: going to the bathroom means I get a tasty treat from my human.

5. Try Taste Deterrents

There are various over-the-counter products designed specifically to discourage dogs from eating their own poop. These products are added to the dog’s meals and make their resulting feces taste incredibly bitter and unpleasant. (Note: This only works if the dog is eating their own poop. Adding this to your dog’s food will not stop them from raiding the cat’s litter box!)

Despair not! The resources and training methods available are highly effective. You just need a little bit of patience, consistency, and a solid management plan to help your dog through this stomach-turning phase.