Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Poop?

Before getting domesticated by humans dogs were living in the wild and would survive by eating whatever they could find including feces. This ancestral behavior has been embedded in them ever since and can still surface, sometimes leading even pets to scavenge. If a household holds both cats and dogs, it becomes easier for them to reach litter boxes and may seem like a tasty treat to a curious dog.

This behavior was also fruitful in hiding their scents in the wild to be safe from larger predators. Providing your dogs with every required nutrition and hiding litterbox or making it inaccessible to them can help you stop this habit.

One of the major reasons to keep your dog attracted to cat poop might be its strong smell as cat litter is not usually properly digested. Such feces contain cat foods which are higher in fat and protein than dogs making them wanna try and get a bite.

Dogs are heavily dependent on their sense of smell for finding food and the smell of undigested food in cat poop lures these canines. Positive reinforcements such as providing them with treats after they stop themselves from consuming poop can be helpful to stop such behavior in your dog.

Sometimes, due to malnutrition or vitamin deficiencies, dogs will consume the excrement from cats.

This frequently occurs when people follow home diets and don't receive enough nutrients. Your dog might want lipids, fiber, protein, and vitamins found in cat excrement. They also find it to be nice and filling.

Dogs are generally very active creatures and get bored easily if they can't get their required mental and physical stimulation. To remove such boredom they tend to engage themselves in various activities one of which is eating cat poop resulting in an unhealthy manner.

The scent of cat poop combined with the dog's intensely curious nature makes it an appealing activity during their boredom. To remove coprophagia caused by boredom, you can keep them busy with interactive toys or leave them in the companion of other dogs which helps to fulfill their social needs and alleviate boredom.

You must have noticed your dog getting ready to play and interact with you whenever you invite them. This is because they are very active and social creatures with the need for very high interaction with their owners and when they cannot get the required interaction they can resort to eating poop for attention as it usually follows with scolding or negative attention.

Dogs learn that this behavior brings forth a very strong reaction from you and can continue doing it to get your attention. Positive reinforcement with proper training and rewards for good behavior can help you remove the dog's focus from such undesirable actions.

Dogs are habitual creatures and their snacking habits can lead them to eat cat stools. 

Coprophagia is a potential way to cope with stressful situations as it also helps them to hide their scent and get distracted from their anxiety-inducing environment.

Low maintenance of the litter box can be one of the major reasons why your dog eats cat poop as it makes for the more appealing target for them. As the poop sits in the box for a longer period of time, its smell can easily reach and attract the curious canine.

Maintaining a clean litter box is essential in preventing this behavior as it becomes rare for your dog to be tempted by cat poop if it is not available in the first place. Additionally keeping the litterbox in such a place where only your cat can reach can reduce the chances of your dog even investigating it.

Dogs during their early years of life are very curious and explore their environment by tasting various objects including feces. It can turn into a habitual behavior in no time. This learned behavior can become ingrained if not prevented in early times.

Owners should supervise puppies closely and shift their energy to some more desirable actions whenever they show interest in the litterbox. Positive reinforcement methods like rewarding puppies with treats if they learn to ignore kitty poop can be beneficial for life long period. 

Dogs that are affected with medical issues like diabetes, thyroid problems, or worm infections can have high hunger which can male them to consume weird items available around them. If your dog suddenly starts eating cat stool even though they are well fed like on any other day, it might be because of such underlying health problems.

It is necessary to take your pet to the vet promptly in such conditions. Taking care of this disease can stop your dogs from repeating such unhygienic actions helping in their overall well-being. 

Dogs usually consume cat poop in small amounts and can be fine with it, but in some cases, if your cat has an intestinal parasite or is on medication it might transfer to dogs as well, affecting their gut health. Some of the health risks dogs possess from eating cat feces are:

Parasitic Infections

Cat feces can be contaminated with eggs or larvae of parasites like Hookworms and Roundworms which can infect dogs causing gastrointestinal distress in them. This can lead to serious health issues in puppies and dogs with weak immune systems.

Gastrointestinal Problems

This rarely happens but if your dog ingests large amounts of cat feces, it will likely make him sick and cause stomach pain, apathy, vomiting and/or diarrhea. In most cases, dogs improve after a short time, but sometimes it is necessary to go to the veterinarian and follow medical treatment for them to recover.

Intestinal Obstruction

If your furry friend eats poop directly from your cat's litter box, he is not only ingesting the feces, but he is also swallowing a certain amount of sand each time he does so. The accumulation of sand in the digestive tract could end up causing intestinal obstruction and this, in many cases, even requires surgery to resolve. Fortunately, this risk is rare, as the dog would have to consume large amounts of sand to have such risk.

Symptoms To Watch Out For 

Dogs can have the following symptoms after consuming fecal matter.

• Vomiting: One of the immediately noticeable actions if your dog has eaten cat poop can be vomiting as it can create a digestive upset.
• Bloating: Bloating can occur in dogs that eat cat poop due to the ingestion of indigestible materials or harmful bacteria, leading to gas buildup and abdominal discomfort.
• Diarrhea: Cat stools can sometimes create irritation and imbalance in your dog's digestive system leading to diarrhea, which is extremely discomforting for them and needs to be cured as fast as possible.
• Lethargy: Ingestion of feces can cause discomfort or toxicity, making them feel very weak and in lack of energy.
• Low Appetite:  As the ingested feces may irritate their digestive system or cause nausea, it can result in reduced interest in food.
• Stomach pain: The presence of parasites in cat poop can cause stomach pain in dogs and needs to be treated promptly as it can be severe and very discomforting.

The best way to prevent your dog from taking any kind of health risk from eating cat stool is to prevent it from consuming it in the first place. Prevention can be a good way to keep your dog healthy. Whether preventing them from eating kitty poop or putting them on parasite prevention, you’re actively contributing to their health. 

Use the following methods to prevent them from indulging in this habit.

Keep the dog busy with either mental activities or just plain playtime which will distract him from bad habits such as eating cat poop. Dogs require high energy consuming activities and outdoor play to kill boredom and doing such can tire them a lot. Tired dogs are less susceptible to causing any form of trouble and are less likely to go and investigate your cat's sandbox.

You can even turn dog training sessions into playtime activities or teach new dog tricks. This will not only bind the relationship between you and your dog together but will also keep their minds busy. More socialization and activities can keep dogs distracted and prevent them from following any undesirable activities.

If your dog quickly finishes their meal, it might not be properly digested leaving them unsatisfied even after eating a lot which can lead them to find additional food source including feces. Indigestion from rapid eating can contain food particles making it more appealing to them.

Using slow feeder bowls or puzzle feeders can effectively slow down your dog’s eating pace. These feeding tools make dogs work for their food, extending the mealtime and providing mental stimulation. As a result, dogs are less likely to feel the need to supplement their diet with cat poop.

If you are tired from your dog eating the poop of your own cat, you can try and add various supplements available to your cat's diet. Doing so can change the flavor of the cat feces and can stop your dog from consuming it.

Proper discussion should be done with the vet before using any kind of food additives and these supplements should be provided to the animal whose poop is being eaten and not the eater. 

Placing your cat's sandbox in a high place or in a room that only the cat can access prevents your dog from accessing even the feces. Another option is to use a closed or covered sandbox, as long as your cat is comfortable.

There will be zero chance for your dog to eat cat poop if it can't reach it at all.

Cats are very hygienic animals who appreciate keeping their sandbox clean. Also, by removing the stools daily you reduce the chances that your dog may consume them. The use of cluster sand will make it easier for you to clean, as you will not have to throw all the sand and change it for another every time you clean it.

This habit can not only help your dog's poop-eating habits but also keep your cats happy from increased cleanliness.

Dogs easily adapt to every environment you provide them with and it is your job as an owner to keep your pets in a clean environment and provide them with opportunities to make themselves active. This undesirable activity is mainly caused by the fact that they don't have anything else to keep themselves occupied with.

To kill their boredom make sure to do plenty of fun activities and always leave them with interactive toys when you leave them alone at home. If coprophagia is due to anxiety or stress, you will have to treat this first in order to be able to solve the problem of consumption of stool.

Check with the local vet if any nutritional deficiencies are causing your dog to eat cat poop. Complete nutritional fulfillment is required to keep your dog healthy and stop such bad manners.

Offering your dog high-quality food is a crucial step in preventing the undesirable habit of eating cat poop. Nutrient-rich, balanced diets can help your dog get all the essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins they need, reducing the temptation to seek out alternative, less savory sources. A well-nourished dog can rarely be seen doing such activities.

Sometimes it is necessary to provide your dog with proper professional training to stop this snacking habit. Professional trainers are able to communicate with dogs more clearly and provide them with information that it is unhygienic to do so.

Training the dog can sometimes be tedious as they recognize you as part of the pack and might sometimes disobey you. Getting professional help can ensure that training is both humane and effective, reducing frustration for you and stress for your dog. Investing in professional training promotes a healthier and more harmonious home environment.