Karen from Bloomfield Hills, MI, asked:
Hi Julie,
My little Maltese, Sophie, is beautiful in every way except one, she eats her own poop!
She uses pee pads most of the time, but every once in a while, if I’m not watching her closely enough, she’ll do her business and eat some of it before I can clean it up. This happens a couple of times a month.
Do you know why she does this and how I can get her to stop?
Thank you,
Karen
Hi Karen,
Thanks for your question. Sophie sounds adorable, despite her unusual taste in snacks!
To get some answers for you, I consulted my favorite veterinarian, Dr. Mal, who also happens to be my favorite daughter-in-law!
She explained that eating poop, called coprophagia, is fairly common in dogs. It can be caused by instinct, boredom, curiosity, digestive issues or poor nutrient absorption.
Since Sophie only does this occasionally, Dr. Mal suspects it’s simply a habit. She suggests cleaning up immediately and rewarding Sophie when she leaves it alone. If it becomes more frequent, check with your veterinarian to rule out any medical issues.
And when I telepathically asked Sophie why she eats her poop, her answer was simple: “Because it tastes good!”
Hope this helps.
Hugs to you and Sophie!
Julie
