Monday, November 24, 2008
Manny has developed 'Coprophagia' Or, Why do some pups eat their own POOP?
OMG. We humans believe that any dog that eats its own poop is a DISGUSTING animal. However, when we do the research, we find that puppies commonly eat their own poop. There could be several problems. The technical term for this is "coprophagia". It happens when a puppy is too hungry because all its litter mates got there first. It also happens if the growing puppy is eating a dog food that is insufficient in the nutrients that the puppy needs to grow. Regular dog food that is lower on nutrients that pups need, will go through the digestive system partially undigested. The pup tries to 'recycle' the undigested food because nature taught it how to survive in the wild. It gets what it needs...even if it is disgusting. To prevent coprophagia, the solutions are simple. 1. Change the puppy to a higher nutrient food and allow it to process that for a few days and stay with the new food 2. Add a couple teaspoons of canned pumpkin to the food bowl...which apparently tastes great going in, but REPULSIVE when it comes out. I think the first choice for Manny will be the diet. He has been changed to Pedigree Puppy Chow which hopefully will start giving him what he is needing. If that doesn't work, I will add the pumpkin to the food. If that doesn't work, I will go to the hot sauce on the poop thing. Regardless, I don't have to settle for a poop eating pooch as long as I treat the symptoms with the correct cure. Besides, when I know he has stopped his coprophagia, I will try to enjoy his "puppy kisses"... Until that time, I will watch him carefully and every time he tries to recycle, I will yell "DUDE" or "WIGGA, PLEASE" and replace the stool with a treat. Anyone for Tootsie Rolls?
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3 comments:
JB: At one point I had a variation of that problem with Bubba: he would eat the cat crap out of the cat's litter box. Didn't last long although he now gets to eat any cat food the cat doesn't want. I've always fed my pups Purina puppy chow and have had good luck with it. Also, I've always believed that a puppy's food dish should never be empty, at least until he's 7 or 8 months old. Bubba's about 9 montshs old now, and I feed him in the morning and at night. Another thing that I think helps a pup's digestion and general good health is to always have something for him to chew on. A steak bone is his #1 choice, but you have to be careful, some dogs try to swallow them whole. I seem to remember that Sinbad did that once. Bubba's main standby is an old tennis shoe. He's on his fourth one now. He doesn't swallow them, just chews and rips them up. Saves on the chair and table legs too. The vet said he'd never seen a dog with such white teeth.
You are right. I have several rawhide chew toys around the house. As soon as I catch him gnawing on a chair, I tell him no, push him away from the chair and give him a rawhide. It is working well so far. I believe the Kennel fed all dogs the same thing and I think that may be causing the nutrient issue. I am now feeding him Pedigree Puppy chow. That should take care of the issue in a few days.
Also, like you, I always keep the food bowl open with food. There is food in it right now, but the puppy ignores it til hungry. Like the poop he tries to eat...this will pass...
everything you ever wanted to know about poop but were afraid to ask.
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