Coprophagia (Eating stools)
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This is a very unpleasant habit
that people often difficult to curb.
It definitely is a habit,
not a sign of any vitamin or mineral deficiency.
Often it a habit that occurs when a dog is confined to a kennel.
It may be due to boredom and lack of mental stimulation.
There is a great deal of controversy as to the reason why dogs do this. Some
believe that it is because the dog is lacking in certain nutrients, but this has
never been established scientifically.
It is more common in pups than older dogs, and it is very common with a bitch
that has just whelped. It is
possible that the reason the bitch indulges in this form of behavior is
because of a need to keep the area where she has
whelped clean.
The solution is to keep the dog’s kennel area as clean as possible.
Another solution is to apply an unpleasant, strong smelling substance or
liquid to the stool before the dog has had an opportunity to eat it, to curb the
habit. Certain substances similar to a meat tenderizer
have been
used successfully to break the habit.
By trial and error the substance
most offensive to the dog’s sense of smell and taste
can be established.
Verbal commands can also be effective, especially if you are able to catch the
dog in the process of doing this.
If you are able to reprimand the dog firmly on a number of occasions
it is highly likely that you will be
able to break the habit, but obviously there is no point in reprimanding the dog
unless you catch it in the act.