Dear Cathy,
What can I do to discourage my doxie’s occasional dog-poop eating? I try to pick it up every day but sometimes she gets back outside before I do. Also, my daughter can’t clean her yard every day and her dog “snacks” as well, sometimes bringing dried poop back inside – yuck! Is there anything we can add to their food that will make their poop unappealing? We both reprimand them when we see it happening but that hasn’t seemed to do the trick.
– Malinda, Tucson, Arizona
Dear Malinda,
Unless this poop-eating is the result of a health problem, reprimanding the dogs won’t change this behavior, which is called coprophagia. Some remedies that are not necessarily proven effective have included adding pineapple, cottage cheese or yogurt to their food to alter the taste of the poop. But I recommend one of the over-the-counter coprophagia products that can be given to all the dogs to make all the poop in the yard unpalatable.
Picking up poop every day is a must, but also training the dogs to come for a treat every time they poop can reduce access to the remaining poop still in the yard.
Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, children’s author, syndicated pet columnist, and pet expert with more than 30 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to moc.tidnuptep@yhtac. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal
You mentioned that you did like a product to discourage poop eating. I could not find the name and would appreciate the product name and where to order.
Several over-the-counter products are designed to help deter dogs from eating feces, a behavior known as coprophagia. One of the most well-known products is For-Bid, a powder that you sprinkle on your dog’s food. It works by making the dog’s stool taste unpleasant, and in many cases, it begins working within just a few days. It’s most effective when used on the dog whose stool is being eaten. Another popular option is NaturVet Coprophagia Deterrent Plus Breath Aid, a chewable supplement that includes digestive enzymes and yucca to make the stool less appealing, while also freshening your dog’s breath. This product is especially helpful in households with multiple dogs.
Solid Gold Stop Eating Poop is another good choice, made with peppermint and parsley to control odor, along with digestive enzymes and probiotics to support gut health. Zesty Paws Stool Eating Deterrent is a chicken-flavored chew containing parsley, apple cider vinegar, and capsicum (a natural deterrent), and it also helps with digestion. Vet Classics Stop Stool Eating can be used for both dogs and cats, and includes chamomile and parsley to discourage stool consumption.
These deterrents generally need to be used consistently for at least two to four weeks to be effective. If your dog is eating another dog’s stool, both dogs may need to be treated. In addition to using these products, it’s important to pick up feces promptly so your dog has less opportunity to indulge in the behavior. Finally, make sure to rule out underlying causes such as nutritional deficiencies, digestive issues, boredom, or anxiety, all of which can contribute to this unwanted behavior.
Check Chewy.com and Amazon.com for a list of coprophagia supplements for dogs.