Coprophagia. That’s the clinical word for it. The real-world word is: your dog is eating poop, and you are horrified. If it’s any comfort, you are far from alone — it’s one of the most common behavioral questions vets get. And while it’s definitely gross, in many cases it’s not dangerous and it can often be addressed. Here’s what’s actually going on and what’s worked for my dogs.
First: Is It Normal?
In puppies: sort of, yes. Puppies explore the world with their mouths, including things we find disgusting. Mother dogs eat the feces of their young pups to keep the den clean (it’s an evolutionary behavior). Many puppies grow out of it by 9 months. If you have a puppy doing this, it’s worth managing (more on that below) but not necessarily cause for alarm.
In adult dogs: it’s less “normal” but still very common. Somewhere between 16–23% of dogs engage in it at some point. It’s usually not a sign of something seriously wrong — but it’s worth understanding what’s driving it.
The Real Reasons Dogs Eat Poop
1. Nutritional Deficiency or Malabsorption
This is the one to rule out first, especially in adult dogs who develop this behavior suddenly. If your dog isn’t properly absorbing nutrients from their food, they may instinctively try to recover those nutrients by consuming feces. Conditions like EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency), inflammatory bowel disease, parasites, or even poor-quality food can all drive this behavior.
What to do: If coprophagia is new in an adult dog, get a vet checkup. Ask about a fecal test (to rule out parasites), blood work, and potentially a cTLI test if weight loss or abnormal stools accompany it.
2. Boredom and Under-Stimulation
Dogs left alone for long periods without sufficient mental and physical enrichment will sometimes develop compulsive behaviors — and coprophagia can be one of them. It’s stimulating, it smells interesting to them (revolting, I know), and it gives them something to do.
What to do: Increase exercise, add puzzle feeders, consider a dog walker or daycare. Address the boredom, not just the symptom.
3. Attention-Seeking
Your reaction to this behavior is, predictably, extreme. Dogs learn quickly that eating poop gets a huge response from you — chasing, shouting, making a big deal. Even negative attention is attention. Some dogs repeat behaviors that reliably produce a strong owner reaction.
What to do: Try not to react visibly. Clean up immediately and consistently. Remove the opportunity rather than responding dramatically to the behavior itself.
4. Stress or Anxiety
Dogs under significant stress sometimes develop coprophagia as a self-soothing behavior. Kenneling, major household changes, separation anxiety, or a new animal in the home can all trigger it. Related: some dogs in harsh training environments eat their feces to “hide the evidence” — an instinct to avoid punishment.
What to do: Identify and address the underlying stressor. Never punish a dog for defecating — this can make the “hide the evidence” response much worse.
5. It Just Tastes Good to Them
I’m sorry, but this is a real answer. From your dog’s perspective, feces — especially cat feces or other animal feces — can smell and taste appealing. Cat poop in particular is high in protein and fat and smells like meat to a dog. Some dogs just really like it and have no medical or behavioral issue at all. They’re just disgusting in this particular way.
6. Enzyme Seeking
Some researchers believe dogs may eat feces to obtain digestive enzymes they’re lacking. Fresh feces still contains some undigested enzymes. This overlaps with the malabsorption theory and is worth addressing through both medical evaluation and, potentially, enzyme supplementation.
When to Call the Vet Right Away
Coprophagia alone is rarely an emergency. But call your vet promptly if it accompanies:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Changes in stool (very large volume, soft, greasy, pale)
- Increased appetite or apparent hunger despite eating
- Lethargy or other behavioral changes
- Any possibility your dog ate feces from an animal that could have been treated with pesticides, medication, or could have parasites
What Actually Helps
Management First: Clean Up Fast
The single most effective intervention is removing access to feces immediately after your dog defecates. No feces, no behavior. It sounds obvious but it requires consistency — especially in the yard.
Deterrent Supplements
Several products add taste-deterrents to food that make feces less appealing. These work inconsistently — some dogs are deterred, others don’t care — but they’re safe and worth trying. Deterrent supplements like For-Bid or NaturVet Stop Eating Poop are widely used. You add them to food and they pass through to make the feces taste bad (or at least different) to the dog.
“Leave It” Training
A solid “leave it” command is invaluable for this. Train it on neutral objects first, proof it thoroughly, then apply it in the yard on walks. This takes time and consistency but can be very effective for dogs who don’t have an underlying medical cause.
Diet Quality Review
If your dog is on a low-quality food, switching to a higher-protein, more digestible formula can reduce the nutritional gap that drives some feces-eating. Look for food where a named meat is the first ingredient and the ingredient list doesn’t rely heavily on corn or by-product meals.
Pineapple or Zucchini (Home Remedies)
Small amounts of pineapple or zucchini added to food are popular home remedies — the idea is that they change the taste/smell of the feces. The evidence is anecdotal, but both are safe for most dogs and some owners swear by it. Worth trying if you want a low-cost DIY option.
For the Cat Litter Problem Specifically
If your dog is raiding the cat box (extremely common), the solution is simple: put the cat box somewhere the dog can’t access. Baby gate with a small cat-sized opening, elevated surface, or a room with a door the cat can get through but the dog can’t. No product required — just logistics.
The Bottom Line
Coprophagia is one of those things that feels like a crisis and is often — not always, but often — a manageable behavioral or nutritional issue rather than a medical emergency. Rule out the medical causes first (especially if it’s new behavior in an adult dog), then address the behavioral and management piece.
It usually gets better. Your dog is not broken. They’re just, in this one particular way, absolutely disgusting. Welcome to the club — we all have snacks we’re not proud of.
— Jamie