There are several theories and answers to questions about why a dog eats its own feces, and what to do about it. It's important to determine the underlying causes before taking action and retraining your four-legged friend.
Main reasons
A dog can eat feces from an early age, even as a puppy. This is due to instinct or the mother's behavior. Female dogs often eat the feces of their offspring, as this is natural and normal behavior. The puppy may have observed the mother and is imitating her actions.
If a dog only eliminates at home, it fears its owner will scold it for relieving itself in an inappropriate place. It's like it's covering its tracks.
Another reason for this behavior is poor-quality food, which lacks vitamins and nutrients. The pet searches for these in its own or other pets' feces.
What to do
Most often, a dog eats feces when it wants to cover its tracks by leaving a pile at home. In this case, stop yelling at your pet if he goes outside again. When he does everything correctly, praise him and reward him with a treat. Once the dog has done its business, it's important to distract it, occupy it with a game or another activity. This will prevent the pet from eating feces, and over time, it will wean itself off the habit altogether.
If the cause isn't the puppy's behavior, but a lack of vitamins and other nutrients in the diet, it's necessary to change the food and buy a higher-quality one. Add foods rich in B vitamins and potassium to the diet.
It may be necessary to use two approaches at once: changing the dog's food and modifying its behavior. Together, these approaches will help wean the dog off feces.
This isn't the most alarming behavioral symptom in a dog, but this habit can be fraught with unpleasant illnesses. By breaking your pet of this habit, you'll significantly reduce the risk of these illnesses.
