My puppy eats poop & cat litter. How to stop? Best food, grain-free?

Question

My 3 1/2 month old miniature daushund, 6-7 lbs, Gretchen, eats her poop and our cats poop out of her litter box. What product do you recommend, dosage daily, to stop this habit and why is she attracted to eating her poop and the cat’s poop out of her litter box?! We are feeding her Taste of the Wild, Buffalo w/Venison Puppy Food. Also, can you recommend a higher grade Puppy Food that does not contain ANY grain at all. I want her very healthy and to live a very long life. Thank you. Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund miniature | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 19 days old | 7 lbs

C. Rathjens, DVM · Accepted Answer

Sadly, there isn't a great way to stop this gross behavior. There are products that are just really high amounts of MSG, that sometimes make the stool less appealing to dogs, but I don't love that idea for puppies (or really any dog). For the litter box, you need to block Gretchen's assess to it and for eating her own stool, try to take her for walks for her bowel movements whatever possible so you can pick it up right away. You can offer a high value treat right after a bowel movement when walking so she learns to look for that special treat instead of turning around to instantly eat the feces. To be honest, it's not a habit that is easy to break. As far as the diet question, there is actually increasing evidence that grain-free diets may be harmful, so I recommend staying away from them and feeding a regular high quality puppy diet. Royal Canin, Hills, and Purina are all good brands.

My puppy eats poop & cat litter. How to stop? Best food, grain-free?

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