At least one in four dogs have been seen to eat poo at some point in their lives. About one third of these dogs will do it frequently. So, while not every dog exhibits this behaviour, it is far from unusual.

The technical term for the consumption of poo is ‘coprophagia’. Some pets will eat their own poo, while others eat the poo of other animals.

Why does my dog eat poo?

• A normal part of life. In nature, the mother dog will eat her puppies’ poo for the first few weeks of life. Many pups will then copy this behaviour.

• Keeping clean. Some dogs dislike being near poo so will eat it if they are confined with it, for example, in a crate or small yard.

• An under-stimulated dog may look for distraction from any source. If they have nothing else to do, even something as repulsive as poo eating may be something they try out. Over time, this can become habit.

• If a dog is fearful that they will get into trouble, they will quickly eat up any poo that they pass. This is often linked to the use of harsh training methods during house training, if the dog was punished for passing poo inside.

• A side effect of medication. Some medicines (such as steroids) can make a dog ravenous, meaning even an unappealing pile of poo suddenly becomes tempting.

How does eating poo link to a dog's gut microbiome?

As well as the aforementioned reasons, another reason why your dog may feel urged to eat their poo is an imbalance within their gut microbiome .

If their gut microbiome is lacking a certain kind of bacteria in their gut, they may feel like they need to replace by eating their poo. But how do you know if it's an unbalanced microbiome that's causing it?

The only way to rule this out is with a Gut Health Test where, from a sample of their poo, you can get an insight into their gut health , their microbial diversity and any health indicators that may be stemming from an unbalanced gut (otherwise known as dysbiosis).

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Gut Health Test

Get your results in 4 weeks, with our quick and easy, at-home Gut Health Test for dogs. One simple poo sample, analysed by our microbiologists, and you’ll get personalised recommendations to help your dog thrive.

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Why does my puppy eat their poo?

Pooch and Mutt's expert trainer, Jon, is here to explore why your puppy has the urge to eat poop, and what you can do to stop it.

Puppies are known for their desire to cause mischief, and when this is mixed with how they explore the world mouth-first, you'll find that a poop-eating puppy is not so uncommon. But why do puppies tend to eat their poo? It can often be put down to:

• Curiosity and innocence

• Attention seeking

• Boredom

• Stress

What about health disorders?

If your pooch is chowing down on a stool, you may worry they have a medical issue. There are certain diseases that can be linked with coprophagia, so it is sensible to have a chat with your vet if concerned. We would consider:

• Malnutrition caused by improper diet or a malabsorption disorder (such as IBD)

• Internal parasites

• Diabetes or Cushing’s Disease; two disorders which cause a huge surge in appetite.

Do I always need to consult with my vet about my dog’s poo eating?

It is sensible to see the vet if your dog has recently started to eat poo and has not done it before. Similarly, if they have begun to do it a lot more than before, there may be a medical reason for this.

If your dog is showing any other signs, such as excessive thirst, diarrhoea or weight loss, we should have them seen promptly.

Is eating poo bad for my dog?

For the most part, your dog won’t become unwell from this behaviour.

Dogs are generally sensible enough to avoid any poo that is sloppy or bloody; a sign that the dog who passed it may have an infectious disease.

As parasites can be passed on from eating poo, it is crucial that all ‘poo eaters’ are kept up to date with a good quality wormer.

How can I clean my dog’s mouth?

If you’ve seen your dog eating poo, you will likely want to clean their mouth, to ensure they don’t get you or your home dirty. This is especially important if they have contact with young children.

A damp cloth can be used to clean your dog’s lips and face. We can then brush their teeth using a tooth paste for dogs. After this, give them some water to drink.

What can I do to stop Coprophagia?

When possible, try to identify the cause of your dog’s behaviour. For example, if they are left in a crate for several hours each day, it may be that they need to be let out more often. Similarly, if they seem under-stimulated, we should spend more time providing them with things to do, keeping them busy and content.

Any poo passed should be cleaned up right away. Only about 1 in 10 poo eaters will eat old poo that has been left out; most show a preference for freshly passed poo. So, owners need to be on the ball!

Ensure your dog is eating a balanced and nutritious diet; ideally one that is packed with fresh ingredients and doesn’t contain fillers or any ‘nasties’. This will help ensure they are getting all of the micronutrients they need and supports their gut health.

Some owners turn to ‘aversion products’ that make the dog’s stool taste foul. This can work well for those pooches who only eat their own poop.