My dog's bad habit

GroovyGroomer777 · 08-23-2008, 02:31 PM

Hello dog lovers! This is my first post. I have three wonderful dogs and one kooky cat. My question today is regarding my first dog, "Jiggy". Jiggy is a spayed female, about 3 years old, a black lab/shep mix of some kind that my husband a I rescued as a puppy. She has quite a healthy appetite to say the least. She is fed a mix of a prescription diet from the vets (Urinary SO), wellness core dry food, and wellness canned food.

The problem here is that when she is out in the yard she will very sneakily eat poop! Her poop, Leroy's poop, Amy's poop....any poopy she can find! She knows this is wrong, she will not do this if my husband or I am watching. But we have caught her in the act many times. This all started when we were living in an apartment and as a young dog she would sometimes poop inside while we were at work. She would eat as much as she could, leaving some little bits...I think this was to hide the evidence.

I have heard that feeding pineapple with her food might make the poop taste bad. Has anyone tried this? I think this is more of a bad habit than a taste issue. Any advice you could give me? She doesn't seem to be sick from it or anything but it is disgusting and I always loved her kisses but my husband will not allow us to kiss now that she is doing this again!!

Mac'N'Roe · 08-23-2008, 03:02 PM

She's doing this trying to gain nutrition from the poop. I don't think this is a "habit"...it's more of a nutrition issue. She isn't trying to "hide" the evidence, she isn't getting the right nutrients the first go around, so she's trying to get them through the poop. Does she eat super fast???

I have also heard of pineapple. I haven't tried it myself (no need) but have heard it works.

TooneyDogs · 08-23-2008, 03:45 PM

This is fairly common for females. There is some debate about whether it's a nutrition deficiency, opportunity meals (poop is often undigested matter), maternal instinct (it's Mom that cleans up after the pups) or something else. While harmless (that is, poop from domestic animals) there is a danger of eating poop from wild animals.
One ingredient added to food that has some success is MSG but, that should not be used in the long term.
The only sure fire 'cure' is to clean-up immediately.

GroovyGroomer777 · 08-23-2008, 06:42 PM

Thank you for your input. I can't understand why she isn't getting the right nutrition, I've always been told that Wellness is such a great food. All three do seem to wolf down the food pretty fast. Do any of you feed Wellness? The ingredients look great (it's pretty pricey too)

TooneyDogs · 08-23-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroovyGroomer777

Thank you for your input. I can't understand why she isn't getting the right nutrition, I've always been told that Wellness is such a great food. All three do seem to wolf down the food pretty fast. Do any of you feed Wellness? The ingredients look great (it's pretty pricey too)

Again, poop is largely undigested food so there's still lots of good stuff there. It doesn't make any difference how fast of slow they eat their food...some of it is not going to get digested.

GroovyGroomer777 · 08-23-2008, 08:20 PM

Oh crap...I'm going to have to follow around three dogs on an acre of yard with a poop bag.....

trumpetjock · 08-23-2008, 08:54 PM

This is 100% anecdotal advice, but when Rocky was on Canidae ALS, he ate his poop dang near before it hit the ground. Twelve hours after I changed him to raw (not suggesting raw for you, maybe just a different/better kibble) he never ate his poop again. Ever.

Patt · 08-23-2008, 09:29 PM

It's called coprophagia. Humans think it is disgusting, but animals think it's great. It's a bad habit and very difficult to stop. It is not a dietary deficiency.

I have the same problem around here and the only thing that is guaranteed to work is pick the feces up immediately. I have tried, Aldolphs meat tenderizer, pineapple, tomato juice, Tobasco sauce, Forbid and Deter. Nothing worked.

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=155

GroovyGroomer777 · 08-23-2008, 10:20 PM

Thank you, Patt! That article was very informative!

Lonewolfblue · 08-24-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GroovyGroomer777

Oh crap...I'm going to have to follow around three dogs on an acre of yard with a poop bag.....

Why follow them around? Why not make it a routine of taking them out on leash to go potty, and if they do, then they get their freedom to play? That way you get all the poop without having to run around the yard picking it up.

jesirose · 08-24-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonewolfblue

Why follow them around? Why not make it a routine of taking them out on leash to go potty, and if they do, then they get their freedom to play? That way you get all the poop without having to run around the yard picking it up.

I agree, when you feed regularly you will know when they are going to poop, usually they go soon after eating, then don't go again for a while. So you can make them wait to run around until after they poop.

GroovyGroomer777 · 08-24-2008, 04:37 PM

You both are right, I will have to be better about this. Usually I wait and let my husband do the fun chores such as yard clean up. They have regular feeding times which does lead to pretty regular pooping times.