Causes, and How to Stop It
Dogs eat poop — scientifically called coprophagia — because of a mix of instinct, habit, dietary issues, or stress.
While it’s one of the more unpleasant behaviors pet owners encounter, it’s also surprisingly common. Studies suggest that 1 in 6 dogs engage in the behavior regularly, and about 1 in 4 have done it at least once.
The good news? It’s usually manageable once you identify the root cause.
This guide covers everything you need to know: why dogs do it, when it’s a red flag, and the most effective ways to stop it.
Table of Contents
What Is Coprophagia?
Coprophagia refers to the act of eating feces — either a dog’s own stool or another animal’s. Dogs may eat their own poop, other dogs’ droppings, cat feces from a litter box, or even wildlife droppings encountered on walks.
It’s worth distinguishing between two types:
- Autocoprophagia: eating their own feces
- Allocoprophagia: eating the feces of other animals
Both fall under coprophagia, but they can have different underlying causes. Some dogs do it once and never again. Others make it a persistent habit that requires more deliberate intervention.
Behavioral vs. Medical Causes
Not all poop-eating is the same. Before addressing the behavior, it helps to figure out whether it’s driven by habit or by a health condition.
Behavioral causes are the most common. These include instinct, learned behavior, attention-seeking, anxiety, or simple curiosity — especially in puppies. A dog that eats feces to get a reaction from their owner, for example, quickly learns that the behavior works. That attention, even if it’s scolding, reinforces the habit.
Medical causes are less common but more serious. Conditions like intestinal parasites, diabetes, thyroid disease, or Cushing’s syndrome can trigger coprophagia. Medications like corticosteroids may also increase appetite in ways that lead to unusual eating behaviors. If the habit develops suddenly in an adult dog that never showed interest before, a vet visit is the right first step.
Puppy Development and Instinctual Habits
Puppies are particularly prone to eating poop, and for them, it’s often completely normal. Mother dogs routinely eat their puppies’ feces to keep the den clean and to protect the litter from predators — a behavior hardwired through thousands of years of evolution. Puppies may mimic this behavior simply by observing their mother.
Young dogs also explore the world primarily through their mouths. Sniffing and mouthing unfamiliar objects — including feces — is part of how they gather information about their environment. For most puppies, this phase passes naturally between 8 and 9 months of age.
That said, if the behavior isn’t discouraged early, it can become a learned habit that carries into adulthood. Consistent redirection during the puppy stage goes a long way.
Dietary Deficiencies and Malabsorption Issues
One of the more widely discussed medical explanations for coprophagia is that dogs may be seeking nutrients they’re not getting from their regular diet. A dog eating low-quality food with poor nutritional density may instinctively turn to feces as a secondary source of nutrients — particularly enzymes, proteins, or vitamins like B1 (thiamine).
Malabsorption is another factor worth understanding. Even when a dog eats a nutritionally complete diet, certain conditions — including exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), inflammatory bowel disease, or intestinal infections — can prevent the body from properly absorbing nutrients. The result is nutrient-rich stool that still smells appealing to the dog.
Signs your dog’s coprophagia may be diet-related include:
- Weight loss despite eating normally
- Chronic diarrhea or loose stools
- A dull coat or low energy levels
- Increased appetite that’s difficult to satisfy
Switching to a higher-quality food or adding a digestive enzyme supplement may help, but a vet should confirm whether a deficiency or absorption issue is actually present.
Common Environmental Stressors and Boredom
Dogs are social, active animals. When they don’t get enough stimulation — mental or physical — they find their own entertainment. Coprophagia is one outlet. It’s especially common in dogs that are:
- Left alone for long periods
- Housed in confined spaces with limited enrichment
- Under-exercised for their breed or age
- Experiencing anxiety from changes in routine, household, or ownership
Stress-related coprophagia can also appear in dogs that were previously punished harshly for having accidents indoors. These dogs may eat their stool to “hide the evidence” and avoid punishment — a learned response rooted in fear rather than nutrition or instinct.
Boredom-driven coprophagia is often paired with other destructive behaviors like excessive chewing, digging, or barking. Addressing the root cause — lack of stimulation — tends to resolve multiple issues at once.
Actionable Steps to Stop the Behavior
Stopping coprophagia usually requires a combination of management, training, and sometimes dietary adjustments. Here’s what works:
1. Clean Up Immediately
The simplest deterrent is removing the opportunity. Pick up feces immediately after your dog goes — both in the yard and on walks. No stool, no problem.
2. Supervise Outdoor Time
During the retraining period, keep your dog on a leash or within sight when outside. This allows you to redirect their attention before they reach the stool.
3. Train a Strong “Leave It” Command
A reliable “leave it” command is one of the most practical tools for managing coprophagia. Practice it regularly with high-value treats so the reward for leaving something alone outweighs the curiosity of investigating it.
4. Improve Diet Quality
Review your dog’s current food. Look for a complete and balanced diet appropriate for their age, size, and activity level. Adding a digestive enzyme supplement (with vet approval) may help dogs with absorption issues.
5. Use Deterrents
Products like For-Bid or Deter can be added to your dog’s food to make their stool less appealing. Some pet owners have success with adding pineapple, pumpkin, or spinach to meals, which appear to make feces less palatable — though scientific evidence on these remedies is limited.
6. Increase Exercise and Enrichment
If boredom or anxiety is driving the behavior, more physical exercise and mental stimulation can make a real difference. Puzzle feeders, training sessions, and interactive play give dogs healthy outlets for their energy and curiosity.
7. Avoid Punishment
Scolding or punishing a dog for eating poop rarely works and can worsen anxiety-related cases. Positive reinforcement — rewarding the dog for walking away from stool — is more effective and avoids unintended consequences.
When to Consult a Veterinarian
Most cases of coprophagia are behavioral and manageable at home. But certain situations warrant a professional evaluation:
- The behavior develops suddenly in an adult dog with no prior history
- Your dog is losing weight or showing signs of nutritional deficiency
- Diarrhea, vomiting, or other digestive symptoms are present
- The behavior persists despite consistent behavioral interventions
- You suspect your dog may have ingested contaminated feces (from wildlife or unknown sources), which can expose them to parasites and pathogens
A vet can rule out underlying health conditions, recommend targeted dietary changes, and refer you to a veterinary behaviorist if the issue is rooted in anxiety or compulsion.
Keeping It in Perspective
Coprophagia is unpleasant to deal with, but it rarely signals a serious problem. For puppies, it often resolves on its own. For adult dogs, it typically responds well to consistent management and behavioral redirection.
The key is identifying whether the behavior is instinctual, environmental, or medically driven — and addressing that root cause directly. A combination of clean yard habits, strong recall training, appropriate nutrition, and enough daily enrichment covers most cases effectively.
If you’ve tried the steps above and the behavior isn’t improving, don’t hesitate to bring it up at your next vet visit. It’s a more common conversation than you might think, and there are good solutions available.
