My puppy eats other animals' poo on walks

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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Right, so my puppy is 3 ½ months old and I've noticed that when I take him out for a walk and let him off the lead, if he sees another animal's poo, well, he eats it. I manage to get him to drop it every time I catch him in the act! It's really worrying me. Is it a behavioural issue? Or should I just wait for him to grow out of it because he's a puppy? He doesn't eat his own poo. If anyone can help me... I'm not sure what to do and I don't want him to catch something nasty.

Thanks

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9 answers
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    • Humeur-De-Chien
    Humeur-de-chien Icon representing the flag French
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    When a dog eats other dogs' poo, it means there's something missing from their diet.

    Not necessarily. It could also be parasites or a behavioural issue.

    That said, we're talking about a three-and-a-half-month-old puppy. If he’s been wormed and is being fed properly, there's no real need to worry just yet. A puppy might eat poo out of curiosity or mimicry (behaviour picked up from other dogs who do the same).

    Rushing over to make him drop it isn't always the best move. The dog might associate what he’s eating with the sudden attention he’s getting, and it could even turn into a bit of a game for him later on.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    What we call natural coprophagy in dogs is a natural and instinctive behaviour.

    Dogs are genetically programmed and prepared to ingest faeces.

    The mother will eat her puppies' stools to keep the whelping area clean.

    Puppies go through an 'oral discovery' phase between the ages of 3 weeks and 3 months.

    In adult dogs (like yours), it is often the result of a dietary imbalance. It could be down to a lack of nutrients, or the food being of poor quality or insufficient quantity.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Yeah, my dog used to do the same thing a while back. It happened overnight: he’d never done it before and then he just wouldn’t stop eating it. It’s disgusting and, more importantly, it’s dangerous because poo can carry DISEASES! The reason is: your dog might have some nutritional deficiencies in his diet.
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I'm feeding him Hill's Science Plan Puppy Chicken. The vet told me it was good, but what do you guys think? Are there any supplements I should be adding?
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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Dogs aren't caecotrophic yet.

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    When a dog eats other dogs' poo, it means they’re lacking a certain nutrient in their diet. You just need to find out which one it is, and once you provide it, they'll completely stop eating other dogs' mess. I’d recommend keeping a close eye on their diet; they're only a little puppy and really need healthy, balanced food. Best wishes
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    Solenneb
    Solenneb Icon representing the flag French
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    Um, no way!!! Eating poo is definitely not normal behaviour! Your dog might have some nutritional deficiencies... what are you feeding him?

    It could also be a serious behavioural issue, so you'll need to look into it and understand what’s going on with your dog!

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Yeah, he'll grow out of it in time ^^

    Mind you, my two-year-old dog still eats HIS own poo --'

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    No, it's normal; the vet explained to me that for dogs, poo is just like a treat. They usually grow out of it in time—mine used to do it but doesn't anymore. Don't worry!

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