How To Stop Dog From Eating Poop | 15 Home Remedies

Even though we all like our canine companions, we all eventually have to accept that they are not people.

One such instance is when you watch in horror as your dog quietly and purposefully eats poop.

You naturally want to know how to stop them from eating poop as your nausea subsides, and you accept that what you saw did happen.

Of course, it would be fantastic to understand the exact thoughts that go through dogs’ heads when they take in a fresh pile of you-know-what.

We don’t know what goes through their heads, which is unfortunate, but vets believe several factors may blame dogs’ inclination to indulge in coprophagia (the act of eating poop).

Most dogs can be trained to change their learned behavior, but it may take a few different approaches and home remedies until you find one that works for your dog.

As you know now the answer to the question “how to stop dog from eating poop”, let’s have a more detailed look into the topic and get some helpful recommendations for you as the dog owner.

15 Home Remedies To Stop Your Dog From Eating Poop

black brown dog sniffing on grass

You have every right to be concerned if your pet dog engages in unsavory behavior like eating poop.

Dogs eat poop for various reasons, but it is crucial to figure out how to stop this practice of poop eating.

This blog post will outline several home remedies you can use to assist your dog in breaking this unsavory behavior of stool eating.

Although some successful home cures exist, dog training is the surefire way to stop this tendency to eat others or own poop.

Feed Your Dog A High-Quality Food

Making the right meal choices is the most critical factor in breaking his habit.

We believe that high-quality food with all the nutrients is essential for various reasons.

As a result, dogs on lousy food won’t obtain enough of the required nourishment and will seek “supplements” in unhygienic settings.

Improve Your Dogs Diet

The likelihood that your dog’s diet is inadequate if they are searching for certain foods and other dogs poop in unexpected locations is significant.

A high-quality, well-balanced meal should be the first step in enhancing your dog’s behavior.

Dogs’ appetites for a particular nutrient are the most frequent cause of them eating their poop.

For dietary advice, you can speak with your vet.

Feed More Fiber

Dogs will seek regular, solid feces; they won’t consume soft or sloppy dung.

The dog will get more fiber if you give him carrots, spinach, green peas, and other colorful fruits and vegetables.

Use Deterrents

Add certain foods to the dog’s diet that taste good the first time but taste foul when eliminated in the stool.

These foods include hot sauce, meat tenderizer, pumpkin, pineapple, and spinach.

Poop is already acidic, and adding this will further deter your puppy from making this a snack.

By making your dog’s poop taste terrible, the following products will prevent your dog from eating his poop.

Clean Up After Your Dog

The most straightforward technique to stop your dog from eating poop is to make sure you clean up the waste as soon as it is finished.

Additionally, it’s crucial to ensure your dog is appropriately restrained and watched when going for walks.

Poop-eating dogs are more likely to consume other non-food items, which could harm their urinary tract health.

Vitamin Supplementation

A dog multivitamin may be helpful because it has long been believed that dogs eat poop.

After all, their diets are deficient in one or more vitamins.

A leading theory has been vitamin-B insufficiency, and studies have supported this.

Another theory is that dogs who eat poop are trying to fulfill their nutritional deficiencies in enzymes or vitamins.

black little dog walking and sniffing on grass

Enzyme Supplementation

Being pet parents, if your senior dogs eat poop, it can signify another deficiency, like a lack of digestive enzymes.

Give your dog digestive enzyme supplements like Prozyme to address that issue.

These digestive enzyme supplements will aid in the food’s breakdown so your dog can absorb more nutrients.

It helps with constipation and diarrhea and may even promote urinary tract health.

Remember that an animal with poor digestion will supplement from other sources because it cannot assimilate food efficiently.

Taste-Aversion Products

According to the argument, adding a poop-eating deterrent to food or treats will make the poop less appetizing since specific tastes and scents are as repulsive to dogs as the concept of eating stool is to us.

Many of these products include monosodium glutamate, chamomile, derivatives of the pepper plant, yucca, garlic, and parsley.

If there is a poop-eating issue in multi-dog households, keep in mind to treat all the dogs!

To make poop taste worse, some owners will also use a spray with a bitter flavor.

Prevention Is Key

Prevention is key to stopping your dog from eating fresh poop.

Logically obvious when your dog poops, clean it up immediately and keep her closely watched when out on walks.

Keep your yard clean as much as possible to prevent stool eaters from doing it.

Owners should keep the litter box clean or out of the dog’s reach.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Adult dogs who eat their stools may not have enough hydrochloric acid.

The addition of apple cider vinegar to their food is one potential remedy.

For every 25 pounds of body weight, you can immediately add one teaspoon of vinegar to dog’s food.

Meat tenderizer and raw zucchini are further digestive aids.

You can start with a meat tenderizer and raw zucchini as soon as possible to stop your dogs from eating poop.

Pumpkin

Did you know that pumpkins have several health advantages for your dog?

Feed canned pumpkin to your dog, and watch the results.

The pumpkin will help them stay satisfied, promote urinary tract health, and avoid constipation and diarrhea.

Pumpkins are a good bet when attempting to provide your dog with the nutrients they need for healthy stools.

Pineapple

Your dog won’t eat their waste if you give them pineapple snacks.

Because pineapple makes your dog’s poop acidic and unpleasant to eat, it aids in breaking the habit.

Snacks made of pineapple deter many dogs who like to eat their feces.

Try it now!

old dog sniffing on the ground

Mineral Supplements

Consumption of stools may also indicate a lack of certain trace minerals.

For our dogs, we use kelp, but bentonite can also supply minerals to the food.

Restricting Access

While your dog is practicing this habit, experts advise limiting stool access.

When feces are picked up when still fresh, the dog is prevented from eating them.

Make the cat litter box inaccessible to your dog if coprophagia in your dog results from the cat box.

Put it in a closet with a pet gate or the garage with a cat door to allow the cat access while keeping the dog out.

Eating one’s waste might not be harmful, but ingesting the destruction of other animals could be dangerous if it contains parasites, viruses, or toxins.

shepherd dog sniffing on hand

Training

If a dog’s coprophagia has become a habit, experts advise training basic commands like “leave it” using positive reinforcement to end the practice.

When the dog approaches the stool, they advise saying “Leave it” and keeping the dog on a leash.

The dog learns that paying attention to your actions is more fun than consuming feces when you divert him with praise or good food.

Often, a person uses punishment or harsh methods during house training.

According to the vet, dogs may eliminate and then eat their stool to get rid of the evidence, but they are punished more severely.

It becomes a vicious cycle.

Many dog owners wonder how to stop their pets from eating their poop.

You can try several natural remedies, such as giving your dog bananas, lemon juice, pineapple snacks, or other fruits.

If the problem persists, consider taking your dog to the vet for a checkup.

Dogs may consume human poop or other animal waste out of boredom, hunger, or curiosity.

Try feeding your dog more frequently or providing him with more toys to play with if you suspect he is consuming poop because he is bored.

Increase your dog’s food intake if you believe he is consuming poop because he is starving.

Last but not least, give your dog additional chances to explore his surroundings if you suspect he is consuming excrement out of curiosity.

Before You Go…

Now you know the answer to the question, “How to stop dog from eating poop home remedies?”.

If you want to learn more, read the following articles too!

Mena Emad, DVM
Mena has a Bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine. His expertise, passion for animal welfare, extensive knowledge, and experience in the field of veterinary medicine make him an excellent resource for our readers.