Spitz eats cat feces what to do

Reasons why a dog eats cat feces

Eating cat feces is a common habit among dogs.
Some dog owners are seriously surprised when they see their pet starting to eat cat feces. There are several reasons why this happens.

Imitation of maternal behavior

For a month after the puppies are born, the dog engages in eating their excrement. Then, when vitamins and potassium supplements are added to complementary foods, she stops doing this. Some puppies begin to imitate their mother and engage in fecal eating even as adults.

Trying to please the owner

It's no secret that people often have to clean up pet excrement. There is a theory that dogs help people in this way and imitate them.

Curiosity

All little puppies can be called explorers. Out of curiosity, they put various objects into their mouths, including cat excrement.

Lack of attention

A pet may eat poop simply out of boredom when not enough time is spent with it. With such actions, the dog tries to occupy itself with something and attract attention.

Additional Information! If your dog starts eating his own or a cat's excrement, you should immediately call him over and reprimand him.

Cleaning up the area

Curiosity is one of the reasons for eating feces.
There are two main reasons why insecure dogs start eating feces:

Eliminate traces of their presence. Dogs can get rid of sources of smell if they want to protect themselves or their owner from attack.
Remove extraneous marks. Some animals mark their territory with their excrement and therefore dogs get rid of it in any way possible.

Miseducation

It's no secret that pets need to be raised. Only the right approach to this process will help wean them from eating other people's droppings. If you don't train your pet, sooner or later it will start eating excrement.

Bad diet

Some dogs have an unbalanced diet, which causes them to lack mineral components and vitamins. This causes the dog to start eating dog or cat poop to compensate for the missing components.

Gastrointestinal diseases

If your pet starts eating excrement suddenly, it most likely has problems with the digestive system. The following symptoms also indicate the presence of dangerous diseases:

problems with appetite;
lethargy;
diarrhea.

Cats are better

Lethargy is one of the symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases.
Many people are interested in why dogs eat cat excrement. One reason for this may be their taste. The fact is that the diet of many domestic cats includes a lot of protein and proteins. This is what attracts doggies.

Why does a dog eat feces: 23 main reasons

It must be said that taste and smell receptors are not as picky as those of a human – a dog can try foul-smelling food out of curiosity, without feeling any discomfort at all.
But there are cases when a pet, by such an action, wants to attract attention to itself - to arouse the owner’s interest in its problem. What symptoms can be considered harmless, and what should alert you if a dog eats feces?

Why does he eat feces?
The answer lies in the circumstances that led the dog to do such things:

If the dog is in puppyhood, this behavior is caused by curiosity for new sensations. During this period, the puppy gets to know the world around him : smells, tastes. And the desire to eat feces is a completely natural state.
The dog copies the habits of other pets, one of which may be eating excrement . Sometimes older dogs or cats pick up their feces - in a similar way, they clean the living space. This pattern of behavior can be inherited by the puppy as an educational measure.
Using this unique method, a young dog can imitate its owner - imitating cleaning the territory. If a pet regularly watches its owner remove the excrement of other animals, it may follow his actions.
Competition for territory and attention of the owner. Pets often experience feelings of competition and jealousy towards their owner, favorite things or place to relax.
A strong sense of ownership can motivate a dog to fight competitors - to eliminate traces of their presence in the house. Residues of feces are, in a way, alien territory markers. And by eating them, the dog demonstrates its disagreement and defends the right to rule in this house.
Young puppies that have grown up with their mother for a certain time can repeat her actions: bitches after giving birth to puppies eat their feces in order to avoid the spread of odor and the attack of other animals on the offspring. This instinct of self-preservation continues for some time, even after the puppy is separated from its mother.
For some animals, feces are an attractive food, like a delicacy. It has been observed that dogs like cat feces. This applies to canine “gourmets” - pets who love stale food or carrion.
Whims and disobedience lead to violations of the rules of hygiene and behavior. A pet may enjoy playing with feces, especially if the owner finds it funny and does not stop this behavior. In the future, the dog will try to eat the “fragrant” object of the game.
Lack of education, as a rule, becomes the reason not only for eating feces, but also for damage to things and a negative reaction to the owner’s commands.

Due to lack of education
Domestic dogs are not very different in their instincts from wild animals. And they also submit to a certain hierarchical structure of life, where individuals of the secondary class are subordinate to the leader. Instinctively, feeling dominated by other pets, a young dog may begin to eat other people's or its own feces.
Hidden course of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or pancreas. It could also be disturbances in metabolic processes and all kinds of infectious diseases. In this case, the animal requires immediate diagnosis and treatment at a veterinary clinic.
Self-treatment – occurs on the basis of the animal’s instinctive sensations. With this behavior, the dog tries to find ways to treat it on its own - using the excrement of other animals as medicine. If a dog eats cat feces , it may have a helminthic infestation.
Malnutrition can also be a reason why a dog eats feces. Many owners mistakenly believe that one-time feeding is quite a sufficient norm for young animals. It is important to know that a dog’s growing body not only needs multiple feedings, but also sufficient amounts of microelements.
a lack of nutrients on its own, and the first correct solution may seem to be to eat processed food again. This feature can be observed in dogs experiencing potential hunger or in those who have been exposed to malnutrition in the past.
Unbalanced feeding of the animal – leads to digestive and metabolic disorders. Unlike the previous case, if a dog receives food in sufficient quantity, but its diet is monotonous or, conversely, oversaturated with all kinds of leftover food from the owner’s table, this introduces an imbalance in the pet’s diet.

Due to unbalanced nutrition
The dog may need additional microelements that are more suitable for absorption. Cat or human feces have a less processed composition, from which the dog can replenish the lack of vitamins and nutrients.
A state of stress can cause this behavior in a dog. An unfamiliar environment or unfriendly behavior of other household members provokes a feeling of discomfort and wariness . By eating excrement, the animal tries to win the favor of others.
Lack of interest in the dog on the part of the owner is also a motivating factor for attracting human attention through such behavior. In this case, the dog not only eats its own feces, but also defecates in the wrong places.
It is important to understand that the pet is ready to accept any signs of attention, including negative manifestations. That's why, punishment for misconduct will be perceived as achieving the goal. Before assessing the situation as a pet’s attempt to attract attention, you should make sure that all of the above signs are excluded.

Is it necessary to punish?
Insufficient hygiene - encourages the animal to take care of itself to the extent that the dog can afford. This applies to pets whose owners are too lazy to take the dog out for a walk or the walking time is insufficient.
Not walking in a timely manner leads to consequences: the dog eats its own feces, trying to avoid punishment for defecation. Such treatment is unacceptable and is a manifestation of cruelty towards the dog. This also applies to whelping bitches - it is necessary to give the dog the opportunity to fulfill its natural needs and promptly monitor the cleanliness of its premises.
If a dog eats human feces or a dog eats cat feces there is a lack of protein and microelements in its diet . Unlike dog excrement, human and cat feces are rich in proteins that dogs love so much. But it is worth remembering that an excess of protein is dangerous for a dog’s health. puppies under the age of 7 months are more often prone to this habit - the dog is in dire need of substances that promote the development of muscle mass.
It is also worth paying attention to cat food , the contents of the nutritional mixture released through feces can attract the dog. The fact is that many cat foods are also rich in proteins. Dogs perceive feces after such food as a complete meal.

Is this dangerous for health?

Many dog owners are interested in the health risks that cat feces can cause. In fact, the excrement of healthy domestic cats cannot harm dogs and is therefore absolutely safe. However, despite this, you must try to wean your pet from doing this. Especially if the owner finds it difficult to come to terms with such an unusual habit of the dog.

Additional Information! Cat feces can only be safe if the cat lives at home and does not spend much time outside.

If this is a street cat, then its excrement can harm the dog’s health. They will probably contain various parasites that will enter the dog’s body.

Why does a dog eat cat food?

There may be many reasons contributing to this deviation, but one of the main ones is the protein hunger that your dog experiences. Most likely, he does not receive enough animal proteins along with his food, which is why he tries to make up for their lack by looking into the cat's bowl. Dogs' interest in cat food is also due to the attractive smell of the latter. As a rule, the animal’s olfactory receptors are affected by economy-class granules, generously flavored with taste enhancers and flavorings.

Important!
Remember that inexpensive cat food creates addiction not only in cats, but also in dogs. Animals require certain food and refuse other food.

We cannot exclude greed, which often (if it is not stopped in time) turns into food aggression. The invader instinct is demonstrated by dogs that were deprived of maternal attention in childhood, or by dominant animals. There are several other factors that explain a dog's desire to eat cat food:

unplanned and unhealthy snacks;
food is freely available;
low quality dog food;
poorly prepared food (cold/hot, tasteless, hard or undercooked);
change in food habits due to lack of necessary exercise.

Puppies and young dogs periodically steal cat food simply because they finish their portions very quickly. Sometimes natural curiosity or the belief that your neighbor’s food tastes better pushes you to explore someone else’s bowl. To be on the safe side, it is still recommended to visit a doctor who will clarify the reasons for the dog’s interest in cat food.

What do we have to do

Many people are interested in what can be done to stop their dog from eating feces. There are several ways to solve this problem.

Rule out diseases

A veterinarian is a specialist who will help identify diseases in your dog.
First, you need to make sure that the dog is completely healthy and is not sick. To do this, your pet will have to be taken to a veterinarian. He will conduct examinations and, if necessary, prescribe effective treatment. To find out the diagnosis, you will have to perform the following procedures:

fecal analysis, which will allow you to find out information about the quality of food digestion and make sure that the dog does not have worms;
blood analysis;
Ultrasound of the abdomen.

Important! Only after excluding pathologies can you begin to correct the dog’s behavior.

Change your diet

If the dog is healthy, then you need to make sure that it has a balanced diet. In this case, you will also have to consult a veterinarian so that he can help you create the correct diet.

Most often, doctors recommend giving dogs food that contains a lot of protein and vitamins. Additionally, vitamin complexes and beef tripe may be prescribed, which promotes the digestion of fiber.

Ignore

One of the most effective methods for correcting coprophagia is ignoring the dog. This method will help if the dog eats feces to attract attention. She will realize that it doesn't really work and will eventually stop doing it.

Blame

Some experienced dog breeders recommend weaning the dog with the help of reprimands and the use of prohibition commands. If a dog is seen eating cat feces or its own feces, you should immediately approach it and start swearing. At the same time, you can clap your hands loudly or hit the table with something so that the pet begins to feel guilty.

Important! You shouldn’t read morals for a long time, as the dog may perceive them as encouragement. It is enough to say one word loudly.

Distract

Toys are the best way to distract a dog.
Everything must be done to ensure that the pet does not get bored and is not left at home alone. To keep your beloved dog constantly busy, you need to do the following:

call the dog to you and give it something tasty as soon as it starts to approach the feces;
frequently engage in training and active games;
give your dog more toys to spend time with;
take your pet for walks in the fresh air more often.

Change the taste of stool

There is one trick with which you can quickly wean your dog from eating feces - changing its taste and smell. You can change the taste of stool as follows:

treating feces with hot pepper;
adding monosodium glutamate, which changes the taste of poop;
treating cat feces with a special spray.

Maintain order

It is necessary to maintain order in the apartment and promptly remove cat feces. This will prevent the dogs from having the opportunity to taste them.

Make unavailable

It is recommended to install the cat litter in places that are inaccessible to the dog. For example, they can be placed on low elevations. You can also use special toilets with a door that only cats can enter.

Why do dogs eat cat poop?

Contents hide

Why do dogs eat cat poop?

“Ugh,” thousands of our readers thought now, barely reading the headline. Some will continue reading out of pure curiosity. Someone would rather close this article, reassuring themselves with the thought that “my own pet is not like that.” But... be that as it may, four-legged friends are distinguished by, let's say, food undemandingness and indiscriminateness. And yes, some have been caught eating cat waste.

Why is this happening? Now we take our hats off to those readers who still dared and continued reading! We hope your patience will last until the end of the publication! By the way, do you know that serious discussions have been held on this sensitive topic? If you didn’t know, then you should know! Moreover, dogs, as it turned out, are interested not only in cat excrement, but also in their own - their own and that of their relatives. And 85% of dogs, forgive the naturalism, prefer “fresh” feces - up to two days from birth. This is “ugh”... At the same time, as scientists believe, this behavior is natural for dogs and their wolf relatives. Wolves are accustomed to keeping the space around their den in order. They seem to “know” that feces are a breeding ground for all kinds of parasites. The good news is that not all dogs exhibit coprophagia (that’s what this behavior is called in science). So you can breathe freely!

However, there are a number of interesting details. So, for some time after giving birth, a mother dog will most likely begin to eat the feces of her babies. Why? Two explanations. The first is maintaining cleanliness. The second is to drive away “predators” from the “bed” (or box with puppies). But this behavior goes away quickly - as soon as the kids are strong enough and begin to move aside “on business.” But... puppies are curious and inquisitive. And they, too, can taste what mom didn’t disdain! And over time, they risk not getting rid of this habit. Why?

First. Poor digestion or poor quality food. Owners should take note and try a different food. And, of course, notify the veterinarian. Second. Boredom - the puppies simply have nothing to do, and they “have fun.” Third. Stress and depression. Fourth. Constant feeling of hunger. Practice shows that most often worms and other parasites are to blame. We need to check and take action! Fourth. Elementary lack of attention. Dogs are smart, they need constant contact with their owner. What to do when someone constantly “has no time”? Many dogs solve problems in interesting ways. Including those that we are talking about now. And what - attention is guaranteed, along with indignation!

Sometimes quite elderly dogs are also seen eating waste. Please get to the root of the problem. Did it start abruptly and unexpectedly? Then make an appointment with the veterinarian as soon as possible: most likely, the dog suffers from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. And not only - in some cases the liver and even the brain are affected. At the same time, lethargy, profuse vomiting and diarrhea appear. Veterinary help needed!

But why is cat poop so attractive? There are several reasons for this. The first is research. Cats often do their business and bury the results of their work in the soil or sand. Dogs, in turn, constantly explore and sniff out something during walks. And they come across such a “present”. How can you not taste it? Second. Many dogs are attracted to cat food itself. Moreover, many dogs perceive it as a treat. Including, excuse me, “derivatives” of this very food. In principle, everything is simple: the dog likes cat food, which means it won’t disdain it and... well, you get the idea.

Is it harmful for your dog? You can answer this: it’s not useful. We don’t know what the cat ate. Many poops are literally infested with all sorts of parasites that your dog can pick up. In theory, eating cat litter does not lead to any long-term, serious health problems. And yet, if you have any doubts, it is better to consult your veterinarian. On walks, we would advise you to keep your pet from dubious culinary experiments - you never know.

Original: Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Poop? Source: cuteness.com Photo: pixabay.com

General recommendations

A muzzle will prevent your dog from eating feces on the street.
When retraining a pet, some dog breeders make mistakes. To do everything right, you must follow the following recommendations:

you can’t beat a dog - this will not help rehabilitate it, but will only aggravate the situation;
it is necessary to walk with the dog every day and play with it;
There is no need to give your pet any pills without a doctor’s prescription;
You shouldn’t poke the dog into a pile - this will not help the dog understand what exactly he did wrong.

Important! When walking, your dog must be muzzled to prevent him from eating feces on the street.

Prevention

To avoid such problems, you will have to immediately take preventive measures. It is necessary to promptly clean up cat feces in the apartment. It is also necessary to ensure that the dog does not eat feces on the street. If your dog often spends time alone, you need to provide her with access to toys.

Eating feces is a rather unpleasant habit for many dogs. Before weaning your pet from this, you need to understand why and why the dog eats cat feces and how to quickly re-educate it.

Why does a dog eat poop? What are the reasons for this phenomenon?

There is no limit to the surprise and indignation of owners when their beloved pet, with whom the whole family, including children, cuddles, kisses and hugs, eats excrement in front of their eyes. Of course, the first desire will be to drag the dog away from the “meal” and give it a good sleep. But let's figure out why a dog eats excrement. There are a number of reasons that prompt a dog to commit such a disgusting act in human eyes:

A dog is a descendant of wolves, this should not be forgotten. Many breeds were bred artificially by selecting the required characteristics, have lost their original appearance and are not at all similar to their ancient relatives, but they all have the same natural principles. It is laid down by nature: in order to protect their offspring, mother wolves eat the excrement of their cubs so that no predator can find them. Why does a dog try to eat its own excrement? Perhaps she feels a threat to herself and her children and wants to protect them with this behavior. Take a careful look at your pet’s lifestyle, whether anything has changed recently that could bother your pet, or whether a large aggressive dog has appeared on your regular walks and is frightening it.
Feces are rich in various nutrients, vitamins and minerals that were not absorbed during food processing. Review your friend's diet. Perhaps the daily food complex is not balanced enough and some vital elements are missing, for example, B vitamins or animal protein. Limiting them in the diet provokes your pet to compensate for the deficiency from feces.
Various diseases can cause a dog to eat its own poop. Perhaps they were triggered by stress, hunger or malnutrition, as well as diet. The pet does not feel full, so it tries to fill its stomach with everything it comes across. Excrement can also be consumed in cases where the dog is overfed with too fatty food, and its stomach and pancreas cannot cope with its processing.
Why does a dog eat human excrement? The development of intestinal parasites in the animal’s body that interfere with the absorption of beneficial substances, for example, worms or protozoan bacteria, can lead to this phenomenon.
The dog may feel lonely and thus provoke a reaction, especially knowing that it will follow if it has already been punished for it.