My dog eats faeces: causes, risks and what really helps

Eating faeces is unpleasant for people, but in dogs it is not automatically a sign of a nutrient deficiency. Behaviour, opportunity and medical causes need to be considered separately.

This behaviour is called coprophagia. In bitches with puppies, removing waste is part of normal maternal care. Young dogs explore extensively with their mouths. Other dogs learn to eat faeces quickly because people react excitedly or because the opportunity arises regularly.

Boredom, stress, a strong appetite and learned scavenging behaviour can also play a role. Medical causes are possible, especially if an adult dog suddenly starts doing this. Diseases causing poor nutrient absorption, digestive disorders, parasites or conditions that increase hunger should then be investigated.

A blanket claim that the dog lacks a particular vitamin is not supported. Supplements without a diagnosis usually do not solve the problem and may unbalance the diet.

Faeces can transmit parasite stages and pathogens. The risk depends on which animal produced the faeces and how fresh they are. Faeces from unknown animals may also contain drug residues or other problematic substances. Cat faeces together with litter create an additional foreign-body risk.

Avoid close facial contact after your dog has eaten faeces. Wash your hands and, if necessary, gently clean the mouth with water without forcing your dog to drink large amounts. Disinfectants and human toothpaste must not go in a dog's mouth.

Have your dog examined if the behaviour is new or very frequent, if it loses weight, seems constantly hungry, has diarrhoea, vomits or shows changes in coat or general condition. A stool test may form part of the basic assessment. Further investigations depend on the findings.

The most effective immediate measure is preventing access. Remove faeces from the garden straight away. Handle your dog attentively in affected places and reward attention towards you. A positively taught leave-it cue and a high-value swap help more than scolding.

Do not punish your dog or ever push its nose into faeces. This does not resolve the cause and may encourage fear, secretive eating or damage to your relationship. Strong, self-rewarding behaviour may require professional training.

Check that your dog receives a complete food in a suitable amount. Include treats and chews. A dog may appear hungry despite adequate nutrients if energy density, portioning or enrichment do not suit it. Conversely, more food should not automatically be the first solution, as excess weight creates new health problems.

Note: sudden or compulsive eating of faeces, as well as additional symptoms, needs veterinary assessment.