How to stop dog from eating poop home remedies

A Guide to how to stop dog from eating poop home remedies, also known as coprophagia, may not be appealing, it is actually more common than we might think. While this behavior can be extremely frustrating, there are effective and humane ways to protect your dog from it. There are several at-home solutions that provide insights into the potential causes of this behavior, along with natural methods to provide alleviation.

Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?

Before we delve into the remedies, let’s first discuss why dogs initially engage in this behavior. Common reasons include:

1. Nutritional Deficiencies: Dogs can eat poop if they are lacking in dietary nutrients or digestive enzymes.
2. External factors: dogs may eat stool because of boredom, nervousness, or repetition. Puppies in particular may explore their world with their mouths, or they might do what another dog does.
3. Allure of scent or flavor: occasionally, the stool would comprise bits of undigested meals or different odor that is alluring to the dog.
4. Habit from Nature: In nature, a dog will clean up after her pups to keep the nesting area clean and lessen scent trails that might attract predators.

Finding the root cause may indicate how to best remedy the situation.

Home Remedies to Stop Poop Eating Explained in Detail

Optimize Your Dog’s Diet

The foundation of a healthy pet is a balanced diet. Feed your dog all the vitamins, minerals, and real high-quality proteins they need. If your dog’s diet lacks certain nutrients, particularly digestive enzymes, they may attempt to compensate by consuming excrement. You should also help yourself by taking a digestive enzyme supplement, one that contains papaya or pineapple extract. For example, pineapple can make poop taste bad.

Tips: Consider offering a little pineapple or pumpkin in your dog food. Both are high in fiber and contain enzymes that help with digestion, plus they can be food favorites for dogs.

Incorporating Probiotics into Their Diet

Well, dogs require a healthy gut in order to process food and absorb nutrients. A probiotic supplement helps maintain that balance in the digestive system, so your dog is less likely to eat feces if he is missing key nutrients.

Simplify: Plain yogurt is a convenient source of probiotics. Ensure your pet can eat a spoonful with each meal by consulting your vet.

Give pineapple or papaya as a treat.

They are commonly used as treatments because they contain bromelain, an enzyme that can enhance the taste of stools. Offer a tiny amount and monitor for any signs of intolerance after meals, such as stomach upsets or allergies.

Note: Start with a small amount, as feeding too much can upset some dogs’ tummies.

Make use of taste deterrents.

For the particularly persistent pup, sprinkle disgust-over food. Some household options are a dash of hot sauce or a drizzle of lemon juice. These components are responsible for making the poop taste bad, but they are generally safe in small doses.

Note: Use spicy deterrents sparingly as excessive amounts can irritate the dog’s mouth or stomach.

Sprinkle a small amount of meat tenderizer onto the food you feed your dog.

A pet owner of mine proposed that a sprinkling of unseasoned meat tenderizer in the dog food deters coprophagia. This should discourage your dog from engaging in coprophagia, as the enzymes in meat tenderizer make the excrement taste unpleasant.

Caution: check with your vet first that this is suitable for your dog’s diet.

Increased levels of exercise and mental stimulation are beneficial.

Dogs often consume feces out of sheer boredom. Make sure your dog gets plenty of physical and mental exercise to keep them occupied. Add in some new toys, puzzle feeders, or stimulating puzzles to challenge their mind and keep them company.

If we add a daily walk with play, it can help relieve stress and provide some sort of mental enrichment.

Develop an Awesome Leave it by Train That Pup

If you want to keep your dog from eating poop outside, teach the command, “Leave it.” Use treats and praise as rewards, and gradually transition to using the command on walks or in areas where poop is available.

Socialize, use reward-based training methods often, and reinforce good behavior, not punishment (this is very important in the case of an aggressive dog).

Keep the environment clean.

Scoop the poop regularly to reduce gabby exposure in your yard. This is especially true for younger dogs or puppies, and cleanliness can help relieve that temptation.

Tip: Schedule a daily time to clean up poop so it doesn’t fester in their environment.

Use chewable deterrents.

Pet stores sell chewable snacks designed to reduce the appeal of feces. Often flavored, these snacks can also serve as a reward for good behavior in the dog.

Note: Consider dosage and ingredients such that they are safe to eat and in line with your dog’s diet.

I am learning the value of patience and perseverance.

Stopping coprophagia in a dog that has already established the behavior may take some time, particularly if the dog is experiencing stress or anxiety. Maintain consistency in your efforts, and maintain open lines of communication with your veterinarian for any necessary adjustments. This means that if you have tried multiple ways and still do not see any improvements, there may be medical or psychological factors that need specialized help.

Final Thoughts

While it may be difficult to witness your dog acting in this manner, it is a common behavior that can be easily corrected with patience, effort, and a few simple home remedies. Good habits for your dog primarily stem from a well-balanced diet, proper hygiene, mental stimulation, and other training activities.

These steps for addressing this issue will not only help your dog eliminate this behavior, but also contribute to their overall health and happiness as a pup.

How to stop dog from eating poop home remedies: FAQ