Dog eating dog poo

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loopinlou

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I have a 10 mth old poodleX who has started eating the dog poo of my jack Russell. Both are fed the same food omnipro complete for the past 6weeks and it appears that poo eating has started since then unless I have just noticed it more.

Little one will stalk older dog while she's trying to go to the toilet any ideas why she is doing this ?
 
It's called coprophagia, and if you google it it tells you it doesn't do any harm unless there are parasites present. The ultimate in recycling. I was told if you add pineapple to the diet that produces and unpleasant taste, but only applies to the poo of the dog who has eaten it. People also used to sprinkle with something unpleasant (if you can get there first!!) like chilli powder, but some coprophagic dogs actually develop a taste for it!
 
Perfectly normal, just look the other way and don't let the dog lick your face!

It has been explained to be a natural process of topping up on benign bacteria needed to digest certain foods which does sound logical.

Some animals do this as a normal means of digestion….

http://microvet.arizona.edu/Courses/MIC443/notes/rabbits.htm

Rabbits are sometimes called "pseudo-ruminants"... The rhythmic cycle of coprophagy of pure cecal contents practiced by all rabbits allows utilization of microbial protein and fermentation products, as well as recycling of certain minerals. Whereas the feces commonly seen excreted by rabbits are fairly large, dry and ovoid, excreted singly, and consist of fibrous plant material, cecotrophs are about half that size, occur in moist bundles stuck together with mucus, and are very fine textured and odiferous. They are seldom seen, as the rabbit plucks them directly from the anus as they are passed and swallows them whole. Normal rabbits do not allow cecotrophs to drop to the floor or ground, and their presence there indicates a mechanical problem or illness in the rabbit.

Read more: http://www.comereason.org/bibl_cntr/con055.asp#ixzz2w17xNdKB

Not politically correct, but you might deter it by given the dog a slap on the bottom with a rolled up newspaper when it does it at the same time saying "No!". The experts will be along in a minute to tell you to consult a behaviourist or divert its attention with treats…. I wasted a lot of time working with one of Britain's top canine behaviourists using the antabuse drug Lithium Chloride. It didn't work!:D
 
If a dog chooses to eat the poo of only one other dog I would look at that dog's digestion.
I had a pair of CKCS in to board with one of them eating poo & booked for tests after the holiday. I observed what was happening & my hunch to check pancreatic function of the other dog proved correct.
 
I have a Jack Russell cross Westie pup that does this. it's pretty gross but as time goes on he is doing it less and less. He will actually eat it as it's coming out!!At first I tried to stop him by shouting no but this just resulted in my older dog's getting nervous about pooing so I just ignore it now or either try and distract him or let him out separately .He had many stomach upsets when I fist got him(before the poo eating) and was a really fussy eater and I wonder if this had anything to do with it...
It's getting less and less the older he gets (he's 9 months now) so I'm hoping it'll stop soon.
 
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