How to get my puppy to stop eating her own poop. 7 month old shepard mix. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 60 lbs

When adult dogs begin to eat stools, it may also be due to malabsorption of nutrients or to dietary nutritional deficiencies. In addition, any condition that might cause an increase in appetite or an unusual appetite, such as diabetes, Cushing's disease, thyroid disease, or treatment with certain drugs such as steroids may lead to an increase in stool eating. Dogs that are placed on extreme calorie restriction or that are fed poorly balanced diets may also begin to eat their stools. It should also be noted that if a dog develops a taste for a particular dog's stool, that other dog should be tested for any type of condition that might lead to poor digestion of the food (with the result that excess food nutrients remain in the stool). Dogs with medical problems should be treated to try and correct the underlying cause. A change in diet to one that is more digestible, or one with different protein sources may be useful. Dogs on restricted calorie diets may do better on a high bulk or high fiber formula. Some dogs may be improved by adding enzyme supplements to improve nutrient digestion or absorption. Specifically, digestive enzymes in the form of meat tenderizers or food additives may help increase protein digestion, resulting in a less palatable stool. Behaviorally, it is akin to scavenging. It is not unusual for dogs to steal food items, raid garbage cans, and chew on, or eat non-food items that most humans would consider unusual or even disgusting. Cat feces and those of some other animals often have enough appealing attributes (odor, texture, and taste), to overcome the fact that they are fecal wastes. Dogs that eat the feces of herbivores may be attracted to the digested vegetation. In fact, stools themselves are seldom unpleasant to dogs. It is one of the odors that they are constantly attracted to when investigating their environment. Behavioral coprophagia can best be corrected by preventing access to stools, by thorough cleaning of the pet's property, and by constant supervision when the pet is outdoors. At the first indication of any stool sniffing or investigation the dog should be interrupted with a firm command, or a quick pull on the leash (this is particularly effective for dogs wearing head halters). If the dog is taught to come to the owners and sit for a special food treat immediately following elimination, the new behavior may become a permanent habit.

Unfortunately, dogs do tend to like to eat their poop as they like the taste. It can also be a sign of a medical illness, such as intestinal parasites or an inability to digest nutrients properly. I would make sure Koda is up to date on her deworming treatments, and I would take her into the vet to rule out a medical cause for it. If one is ruled out, the best thing you can do is clean up right after she finishes so she doesn't get a chance to eat it. There are also deterrent sprays you can get from a pet store.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Puppies eating their own poop is quite common, unfortunately. Most of the time it is a harmless behaviour that is little more than a gross habit. However, since Kilo is not interested in his food, I would want to make sure that he is not lacking any key nutrients in his puppy diet. Try offering a commercial puppy diet for large breed dogs, which should have all the nutrients he requires. Look for an AAFCO statement on the label which indicates the diet has gone through some clinical trials or met a minimum standard of nutritional requirements for growth. If switching the diet does not help improve his appetite, I would recommend taking him to the vet to check for an underlying illness, such as gastrointestinal parasites, gastroenteritis, or pancreatitis. As far as preventing the poop eating habit, clean up the poop right after he goes every time. You can also try adding a "coprophagia deterrent" powder to his food, which can be found at Petco stores. I hope this helps, and that Kilo is feeling better soon!

Why does my 7-month-old puppy eat her own poop? How to stop?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 60 lbs

How to get my puppy to stop eating her own poop. 7 month old shepard mix

4 Answers

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Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA 181

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on September 28th, 2017

This is a common problem in dogs, and it is gross but not abnormal. There are a few things you can do to stop this behavior, like feeding a supplement that sometimes makes the stool taste bitter (see a link below). The best prevention would be to keep the feces picked up so that Kala doesn't get the opportunity to eat them. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/naturvet-coprophagia-stool-eating-deterrent-dog-chews Here is some more information on coprophagia: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1613

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Why does my 7-month-old puppy eat her own poop? How to stop?

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