Undoubtedly, strange things will happen when you have cats and dogs in your house; for instance, you might discover that your dog has started seeking unpleasant goodies in his litter box counterpart, which is terrible for everyone involved.
Fear not; we are here to explain and answer the question, “Why does my dog eat cat poop?”.
There are a few reasons why dogs do this and what you can do about it.
Read on!
Why Does My Dog Eat Cat Poop? – The Reasons
Dogs may consume cat feces with other undesirable foods since they are explorers, and coprophagia is frequently a result of exploration.
Coprophagia, nevertheless, could also be caused by dietary deficiencies, conditions, or behavioral disorders.
Dogs frequently eat cat waste for the following causes:
Medical Issues
Dogs eat cat poop due to several underlying medical conditions.
Coprophagia may be brought on by intestinal parasites, poor intestinal absorption, and various other hormonal or endocrine disorders.
Additionally, thiamine shortages, pancreatic inadequacies, problems with malabsorption, and hunger can result in coprophagia.
Even though this is a less frequent cause of coprophagia, you should still be aware of it because these conditions could significantly compromise your dog’s health.
You should take your dog to the vet immediately if you think they may be consuming cat feces because of a medical issue that has to be treated.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Eating the cat’s poop might signal a vitamin deficiency in your dog’s food because dogs eating cat poop regularly exhibits nutritional deficiencies.
If your dog isn’t getting the proper nutrition daily, eating cat poop is a good idea because it doesn’t know any better.
If you want to eat, the likelihood that your dog will feel the need to resort to consuming cat poop, providing them with a healthy and varied diet is crucial.
Vitamin deficits in your dog’s diet can manifest as coprophagia.
Because of the abundance of nutritious foods available in the West, this rarely serves as a motivating factor for such conduct.
Behavioral Issues
Dogs eat cat poop because one of the significant factors is behavior issues.
As difficult as it may sound to believe, most dogs eat cat poop simply because it has become a habit for them, and they genuinely love doing it.
Dogs who like the flavor of cat litter may develop this bad habit (health risks).
Additionally, some other dogs will eat feces out of boredom.
They may resort to consuming cat poop as entertainment if they are left alone for extended periods or don’t have anyone to play with.
Because they won’t have the time, dogs who spend much time interacting with people are much less likely to eat feces.
Often, their feces taste similar to cat food, which many dogs love.
Stress can also lead to a dog developing unpleasant habits, such as eating cat poop.
Additionally, dogs who exhibit coprophagia are more likely to have underlying anxiety issues.
It might be challenging to break a dog’s consumption of cat waste.
If your dog is consuming feces simply because it tastes good, it can be challenging to make them stop.
It is crucial to consult a veterinarian about your dog’s illness because it could be an anxiety symptom.
What To Do If Your Dog Eats Cat Poop
Not to worry.; it is incredibly improbable that eating a small amount of cat poop can hurt your dog.
Most dogs will be perfectly OK and won’t understand why you are making such a fuss, but you should keep an eye on them and let your veterinarian know if anything changes.
The essential thing in this situation is to prevent this from becoming a habit and to take action to deter your puppy from doing it.
How To Stop Your Dog From Eating Cat Poop
Dogs may believe eating cat waste is acceptable, but few owners approve of this specific canine habit.
You’ll be glad to know that we have put together a list of the best advice and tricks for preventing it!
Check Your Dog’s Diet
Make sure your puppy is eating a healthy, balanced diet.
Commercial canine foods in the recommended quantity are a terrific option.
After discussing this with your vet, you might choose to switch your puppy to a food that suits its requirements.
That might be senior-specific dog food or a high-protein diet for working senior dogs.
Training And Exercising
Use only positive toilet training methods on puppies to prevent them from developing the habit of eating their poop.
All dogs must be taught the order to “leave it.”
Use a low-value item (such as some kibble) as you practice, and then reward the pup with a high-value treat.
This positive training technique teaches your dog that ignoring poop is better than eating it.
Keep Your Dog Occupied
Offer your pet a variety of enjoyable substitutes for stealing from the cat litter box.
Please give them a lot of exercise and games to keep their minds and bodies active.
Give them plenty of physical and mental stimulation with games and training.
Keep The Litter Box Clean
Pets are less likely to use litter boxes that don’t have any poop in them.
So make it a habit to dispose of the used kitty waste in a location your dog cannot get as soon as possible.
Why not invest in a self-cleaning litter box if you spend a lot of time away from home and cannot do so?
Ensure Your Dog Is Properly Nourished
Your dog may be eating cat waste because they aren’t receiving the proper nutrition.
In this situation, you should discuss your dog’s food with your vet to ensure it contains all the necessary nutrients.
Your dog may try to compensate by eating poop if they aren’t eating enough or isn’t getting the proper nutrients.
As a result, ensure that your dog consumes a well-balanced diet.
Check For Intestinal Parasites And Illness
Consult your vet if you find any medical issues.
Regularly treat your dog for parasites.
Buy A Dog-Proof Litter Box
If all else fails, you will have to use a barrier to physically prevent your dog from using the restroom.
There are specific litter boxes with covers that are dog-proof.
Your dog won’t be able to enter, but your cat will.
Alternatively, you may put the litter box in a room your dog cannot reach.
You might use a fence, baby gate, or pets to accomplish this.
The bars should be narrow enough to block your dog but wide enough to let your kitten through.
Muzzle
A muzzle is the only remaining choice for a physical barrier.
You require one that enables your dog to pant and drink but prevents it from removing waste from a cat box.
Although it may sound excessive, many dogs respond exceptionally well to this.
According to the idea, many of these techniques will only need to be temporary.
Many precautions can be lifted once you’ve effectively trained, occupied, and broken the difficult habit in your dog.
If you want to know more details about how to stop your dog from eating (cat) poop, continue reading here.
Can Eating Cat Poop Harm A Dog?
Is cat poop bad for dogs?
Yes, dogs can get sick from eating cat poop.
Pathogens like salmonella and E. coli may be present; some can sicken your dog, while others your puppy may carry and subsequently pass to you.
Additionally, the cat might have taken medication expelled from the poop and could hurt your dog.
Intestinal parasites like worms that can infest your puppy can be found in cat wastes.
An even bigger issue arises if the poop is covered in cat waste.
Cat waste, especially clumping cat litter, can induce intestinal obstructions in dogs when consumed in large quantities.
What Are Dogs Lacking When They Eat Cat Poop?
The main factor is likely malnutrition, which results from a diet lacking nutrients.
It might be challenging to incorporate all the nutrients into the food in the right amounts, but it is most frequently observed in dogs fed a homemade diet.
Additionally, there can be an underlying medical cause; these include inadequate intestinal absorption and intestinal parasites (such as worms).
An endocrine or hormonal or endocrine imbalance is another possibility.
This behavior can appear in older dogs as a part of a more significant trend of cognitive decline.
If you are concerned about your dog’s behavior, we always recommend that you have them examined by a veterinarian.
My Dog Just Ate Cat Poop. What Now?
You might wonder what to do next if Fido recently started digging in the litter box.
You can take some general precautions to protect your dog, but the amount consumed and whether your cat is an indoor or outdoor cat will be critical.
Step 1: Secure Your Pup
If you want to stop your dog immediately from eating cat poop, do the following things:
Try to remove him from the area.
Offer your dog a treat to entice him away from the walk.
Move him to a different room if it’s your cat’s litter box while you clean it up.
Step 2: Avoid Licking Contact
You don’t want to be greeted with a lick if your dog just ate some poop!
After they’ve eaten some excrement, you might wish to clean their mouth.
To lessen the potential bacterial or parasite load, think about giving him a drink of water or gently rinsing his mouth out with regular drinking water.
it is not only extremely disgusting when your dog licks you after eating cat feces.
It can also be dangerous, because they can even get worms from your dog.
Step 3: Analyze Their Overall Wellbeing
Dog owners must keep a lookout for any symptoms of illness and make notes.
If your pet exhibits any illness symptoms or warning indications, inform your veterinarian immediately—monitor for symptoms, including excessive drooling, agitation, and nausea or diarrhea. Your vet has to be aware of any of these signs.
Step 4: Make Sure Nothing Else Was Eaten
Keep a lookout for any symptoms of illness and make notes.
If your pet exhibits any illness symptoms or warning indications, inform your vet immediately—monitor for symptoms, including excessive drooling, agitation, and nausea or diarrhea.
Your vet has to be aware of any of these signs.
Step 5: Call Your Veterinarian
That is crucial if you are worried that your dog may be ill or if they have consumed a lot of cat waste.
If they are otherwise healthy and have only eaten the feces, you may decide to keep an eye on them to see if any symptoms appear.
When Do I Need To Call A Vet?
You won’t need to visit the doctor if your dog simply accidentally ate some excrement.
It’s best to stop them and tell them no because this can be a simple error.
You must take your dog to the vet if you notice that they are consistently consuming or looking for cat excrement.
Your dog will undergo a physical examination and blood testing at the vet’s office to determine the cause.
The veterinarian would suggest specific vitamins or food for your dog’s food if they discovered a nutritional shortfall.
The veterinarian will also examine your dog’s excrement to check for possible harmful bacteria or parasite infections.
If your dog exhibits unusual symptoms, such as:
Vomiting
Nausea
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Fatigue
The veterinarian needs to determine whether this is an infection or a G.I. obstruction that needs to be operated on right now.
In any case, it’s not enjoyable to see your dog consume cat waste or the potential ramifications that may result from it, so it’s essential to put a stop to it and figure out how to keep it from happening again.
Before You Go…
Now you know the answer to the question, “Why does my dog eat cat poop?”.
If you want to learn more, read the following articles too!
