Syracuse, NY 13219
Phone: 315-468-3446
Email: fanimalh@twcny.rr.com
Regular Office Hours:
8:15 am - 5:45 Mon.- Fri.,
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon.
House Calls and Emergencies
are scheduled as needed.
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3705 W. Genesee St. Syracuse, NY 13219 Phone: 315-468-3446 Email: fanimalh@twcny.rr.com
Regular Office Hours: House Calls and Emergencies
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A Topic From Fairmount Animal Hospital's List of Frequently Asked Questions My dog eats feces every time he goes outside. Is this unhealthy? To return to Fairmount Animal Hospital's home page, click here. Q. Every time my dog is let outside, he ends up eating the feces of other dogs. This is a disgusting habit. Is it unhealthy, too? A. Feces may contain parasites. Coprophagy, or eating feces, is an unpleasant but common behavior of dogs. Unfortunately, dogs can become infected with intestinal parasites by ingesting excrement, which may contain microscopic parasitic eggs. Since your pet has been eating feces, it is very important that your veterinarian evaluate a stool sample to look for infection. There are several proposed causes for coprophagy. Boredom is one of them; the behavior is more prevalent in dogs that are crated for long periods of time without stimulation. In addition, dogs may eat their own waste as a way of "hiding the evidence" if they receive punishment for inappropriate defecation. Uncommonly, there are also some underlying medical conditions that are thought to be associated with coprophagy, such as a poor diet that is lacking in essential nutrients or vitamins. The problem also may be caused by a pancreatic enzyme deficiency. Some behavioral experts feel that coprophagia may be related to a dog¹s instinctual nature to scavenge for food. It is also possible that dogs eat their feces as a way of playful exploration of their environment. Treatment of this problem can be challenging. The first step is to keep the area where the dog voids meticulously clean. This often means following the dog and immediately cleaning up the stool. In addition, covering the stool with an ingredient that the dog dislikes may be helpful. Compounds such as red pepper sauce or bitter-tasting substances, which are available in pet stores, may discourage dogs from eating feces. You can also try sprinkling dog food with Accent meat tenderizer or MSG‹monosodium glutamate‹since these products may help discourage the eating of stool. Try to deter your dog from this behavior early on, before it becomes a habit that is difficult to control. 08/01/00
To return to Fairmount Animal Hospital's List of Frequently Asked Questions, click here. To return to Fairmount Animal Hospital's home page, click here. |
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