[skim7x]

I have a 4-month-old German Shepherd / Corgie mix. I've been feeding him Science Diet Original (since that's what he was eating at the shelter where we got him) since he was 2-months old when I got him. I also give him plenty of treats as I have been training him quite intensively while he's still young.

However, despite using the formulation table on the Science Diet package, he is ALWAYS ravenously hungry... he's always jumping up on me when I go into the kitchen or any time my hand is anything but open because he thinks I have a treat of some kind.

The main problem is that I believe his voracious appetite is leading him to eat other dog feces when we go on walks in my apartment complex... It's happened twice now -- I'll think he is just sniffing around and then I suddenly see him chewing something, so I run over and sweep my finger through his mouth and find feces on my finger.

I don't want to over-feed him, but I don't want to starve him either (if that is what I am doing). Should I feed him more, despite the recommendations of Science Diet? Will he eventually stop looking for feces with continued supervision and discipline?

Thanks for your help, guys!

 

[hulkamaniac]

Dogs are always hungry. A dog turning down food is usually a sign of a health problem. Rarely will you find a dog who refuses to eat. Dogs eating feces is not an uncommon problem. Consult your vet to see if it may be a nutrient deficiency, but I think that's the most unlikely cause.

 

[skim7x]

Yeah, i was affraid this wasn't really a correctable problem... thanks for the input, hulkamaniac!

 

[skelaki]

I have a 4-month-old German Shepherd / Corgie mix. I've been feeding him Science Diet Original (since that's what he was eating at the shelter where we got him) since he was 2-months old when I got him. I also give him plenty of treats as I have been training him quite intensively while he's still young.

However, despite using the formulation table on the Science Diet package, he is ALWAYS ravenously hungry... he's always jumping up on me when I go into the kitchen or any time my hand is anything but open because he thinks I have a treat of some kind.

The main problem is that I believe his voracious appetite is leading him to eat other dog feces when we go on walks in my apartment complex... It's happened twice now -- I'll think he is just sniffing around and then I suddenly see him chewing something, so I run over and sweep my finger through his mouth and find feces on my finger.

I don't want to over-feed him, but I don't want to starve him either (if that is what I am doing). Should I feed him more, despite the recommendations of Science Diet? Will he eventually stop looking for feces with continued supervision and discipline?

Thanks for your help, guys!

1. Get him off Science Diet, which is a very poor quality food, and on to something better such as Taste of the Wild, Timberwolf Organics, Blue Buffalo, etc. You can go to http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/ for a comparison and ratings of various food options. That way you can decide on a good quality food that also fits your budget and is available where you live. Just make sure to change over gradually.

2. Add a bit of PLAIN canned pumpkin (make sure it's plain pumpkin and not pie mix) to his food as well as to the food of any other dogs/cats you might have. Pumpkin is good for him, tastes good, but evidently makes the poop taste bad.

3. Clean up the poop immediately whenever possible so that he doesn't have access to it.

4. Keep up the supervision and training, especially the leave it command.

 

[Echo's mom]

Also, at four months old, has he had all of his puppy shots? If not, eating poop of other dogs can be VERY dangerous to him. Do you keep him on a lead when he's out there? I'd encourage you (if you're not already) to keep him on a leash and watch him ultra closely, making sure he doesn't go near the poop until at least a week after his final puppy shot (if he hasn't had it already).

Good luck

 

[tirluc]

i've never heard of pumpkin making the poop taste bad...i have heard of pineapple doing that....but, if the dog is eating the neighbour dogs poop neither one will help....

and, like pointed out, dogs are always hungry and even more so puppies, but alot of times when they are eating another dogs poop they are lacking in some nutrients...not always, but often....i'd definitely get him on a different food (all my dogs did crappy on SD, Iams, Euk....but they also did crappy on Canidae, and a couple other "high end" foods)....mine eat Purina One and do great...

 

[jbsmomto1]

Ask your neighbours to be respectful and cleanup after their dogs, I don't know of anyplace that this isn't a bylaw. Its unhealthy for other dogs and for any children that might play in the area. And its gross.

You are just gonna have to keep him on lead and keep after him, teach him teh leave it command which he shoudl know anyway for his own safety. Ruby is also 4 months (she will be 5 on the 10) but this was one of the first commands she was taught so some training will help.

And i agree that science diet is crap, just because it's sold in a vet's office and you play through the nose for it doesn't mean it's good food. Learn to read lables and look for food with minimal or no fillers. He will poop less, it won't smell as bad, and he will feel satisfied longer.

 

[Elana55]

My first thought was that your dog may have parasites such as Coccidia or hook worms especially if she is showing intermittant signs of diarrhea. If the Diarrhea is spotted on occiasion with blood, I would almost bet money on coccidia.

So, b4 doing another thing, get thee hence to the vet with a stool sample and dog in tow.

This will also allow your vet to analyze your puppy's weight to determine if she is under weight or not.

I also agree with changing dog food. I fed Canidae and tho my dog was doing well, I switched to Evo Grain Free. A side effect of better dog food is greater utilization and less dog poop.

Overall I have found the Evo as cost effective to feed as Canidae even tho it was more expensive per pound.

If you change dog food, do it slowly over a week.. gradually use up the old and add the new until it all new (avoids stomach upset).

And I will again repeat.. Vet Visit and Fecal Sample to rule out other problems. BTW if your dog has any symptoms such as intermittent Diarrhea, tell the vet this. Coccidia, tape worms and Hook worms do not always show up on a fecal float.

 

[RRM_Mom08]

I have to agree with the above post I would want a test for worms and Coccidia ect...Also if your pup didn't have it before they could have it now due to eating the neibors dogs poo.I would also suggest getting your dog off of that dog food and switching to another brand and the canned pumpkin sounds great even if it doesn't work for stoping the eating of the neibors dog poo it will help because it is fiber and the more fiber you eat the fuller your dog will feel (hopefully)

Also definitly keep your dog close to you at all times outside working on the leave it command.He needs to understand that this is not acceptable behavior and the only way to enforce it is to stop it before it happens.