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My dog eats her own poop sometimes. Is this behavior normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Dutch Shepherd | Female | 4 years and 10 months old

Hello,I want to ask a question. My god in one period eats her own poop,and after a mounth it stops so I was wondering what is wrong?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 25th, 2017

Dogs will often do coprophagia (eating poop) and other than it being gross, it is not really that big of deal and it does not necessarily mean there is something wrong. It could mean there is an issue, of course, but not necessarily. There is some speculation that this could be due to a nutritional deficiency but there is so scientific evidence to back it up. There is also speculation that it could be due to internal parasites. My suggestion would be to have her to your vet so they can do a fecal test to rule out parasites and deworm her if needed. I would also put Dora on a multivitamin made for dogs. Here is a link to an article about this issue in dogs. This may answer more of your questions: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-behavior-problems-coprophagia

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    Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

    Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

    Published on December 19th, 2017

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes dogs can eat their own stools for different reasons. Sometimes it is purely behavioral and this behavior can be corrected. In other instances it may be because of a medical reason such as parasites, lack of nutrients and in most cases because of a stress factor. It would be recommended to check for any possible stress at home such as something new (perhaps new construction). If that is not the case, you can consider switching her diet. If that does not improve this issue, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck!

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    Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 25th, 2019

    Here is a good article about eating stool: https://www.petcoach.co/article/stool-eating-coprophagy/ Bad breath can indicate dental disease or it could be the anal glands if she is licking her rectum a lot. This could also indicate a problem. I recommend to play it safe and have your pup examined by the veterinarian. Best of luck.

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