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Coprophagia (eating feces)
The most effective (although not the most convenient) means of eliminating this problem behavior is to pick up the stool as quickly as it is produced and to prevent access to the cat's litter box. With time and the elimination of the self gratification factor, the problem should correct itself. Denying access to feces usually is the most successful treatment plan.
Some dogs eat their own stools and/or the stools of other dogs in the household or the feces of other species such as cats. Young dogs are more likely to exhibit this behavior and most puppies will out grow eating stools but many will continue to eat cat stool if available. The exact reason for the behavior is not known. It has been theorized that a dog that eats its own stool or the stools of another animal may be lacking in minerals or have some other nutritional deficit but with the advance of high quality commercial diets that are available this should not be the case. The behavior is self rewarding and therefore may become a nasty habit that is very difficult to break.
For dogs that are loosing weight and puppies that are not gaining weight or for dogs that look unthrifty or are vomiting or having diarrhea there could be an underlying medical condition that may be causing the dog to eat feces. These dogs should be examined and the appropriate diagnostics performed to determine the underlying problem. For healthy appearing, fit dogs the act of coprophagia is most likely bad manners.
There are many products on the market to help eliminate the problem. One recommended product is called CoproBan which is a flavored treat the tastes good going down the first time but not so much the next time around. This product will help deter the dog from eating stool while they are being given the product but these dogs may revert to eating their stools again
once the product is stopped. Many "poop eaters" learn very quickly from their owners that they are exhibiting an undesirable act. Because of the self gratifying nature of coprophagia dogs learn quickly to eat their own stool before they get caught or sneak off to the cat box when no-one is watching.
