Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Dog Eating Cat Poop

    Posted 02-10-2021 09:32 AM
    Bella is a 7-year-old Chiweenie.  I've had her since 2018.  She has a bad habit of eating cat poop.  We have strays and such that will use our fenced backyard as a toilet.  She loves to go out, dig it up, and eat it.  She has gotten a messed up stomach from it before; the vet had to give her meds, and I added yogurt to her food for a little while until her stomach settled.  I read that dogs will eat cat poop because they don't get enough protein, but Bella gets a Salmon & Potato formula with 25% crude protein.  I have also been adding Vetrinex Labs Probiotics for Dogs & Cats to her food; it is supposed to help with Coprophagia, but it doesn't seem to be making a difference.  Other than the obvious concerns about it messing with her health, she also tracks in sometimes on her paws and, of course, has it on her breath, all of which is absolutely disgusting and not healthy for me or my family.  Does anyone have any advice on why she might be doing this or how to stop it?
    #AnimalBehavior,TrainingandEnrichment

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    katherine smith
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  • 2.  RE: Dog Eating Cat Poop

    Posted 02-24-2021 11:30 PM
    Perhaps you can buy a separate poop tray with sand for your cats.

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    Thomas Ramsey
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  • 3.  RE: Dog Eating Cat Poop

    Posted 02-25-2021 01:49 PM
    Yeah, this sounds like a doable option. 
    Gettig separate trays.

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    Jolly Treacle
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  • 4.  RE: Dog Eating Cat Poop

    Posted 09-21-2021 10:53 PM
    Hi Katherine,

    Dogs eat poop because it tastes good and cat poop tastes really good. Cat's diet consists of higher protein sources and can be very appealing to dogs. There are some cons to eating cat poop including parasites. It is unlikely to be diet related. There isn't much you can do about it except to limit her access to those areas. This means supervision in the yard and going out on a leash.

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    Christine D. Calder DVM
    Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
    Calder Veterinary Behavior Services
    www.caldervbs.com

    Veterinary Behaviorist
    Behavior Specialist, MPF
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