Coprophagia is the technical term for a dog eating its own or another animal’s stool, and roughly one in four dogs do it at least occasionally.
For the full breakdown, see our best Coprophagia Deterrent for Dogs guide.
That moment when you catch your dog eating from their own or another animal’s stool is unsettling, but the behavior has a name and a range of causes. Understanding what is coprophagia in dogs is the first step to addressing it effectively, and most cases can be managed with the right combination of veterinary care, diet adjustments, and simple environmental changes.
What Causes Coprophagia in Dogs?
Coprophagia in dogs splits into two main categories: medical drivers and behavioral drivers. A veterinarian should always check for physical causes first before treating it as a habit.
Medical causes include nutritional deficiencies, digestive enzyme shortages, malabsorption syndromes, parasitic infections, and endocrine diseases such as diabetes, Cushing’s disease, and hypothyroidism. Certain medications, particularly steroids, can also trigger the behavior. Behavioral causes are more common in puppies (exploration and maternal cleaning), multi-dog households (copycat behavior, dominance signals), and dogs experiencing boredom, isolation, anxiety, or attention-seeking patterns. Environmental factors such as feeding near the elimination area or sharing a home with an elderly dog that has accidents indoors can also reinforce the habit.
| Category | Common Triggers | Typical Age Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Medical | Nutritional deficiency, parasites, diabetes, Cushing’s, steroids, enzyme shortage | Any age; acute, intermittent, or chronic |
| Behavioral | Exploration, boredom, anxiety, attention-seeking, copycat, maternal instinct | Puppies and young dogs most common; can persist |
| Environmental | Food near potty area, elderly dog in home, close confinement | Any age |
How To Stop a Dog From Eating Stool
Stopping coprophagia requires matching the approach to the cause, starting with a veterinary exam to rule out medical issues, then layering diet, hygiene, and training strategies.
Veterinary evaluation first. Bloodwork and a fecal test can identify parasites, enzyme deficiencies, or endocrine diseases that need specific treatment. If a medical cause is found, resolving it usually stops the behavior.
Diet adjustments often help when no medical cause is found. A high-quality, highly digestible food or one with increased fiber can reduce stool appeal. Some dogs respond to food additives or supplements that alter the stool’s taste, which are fed to the dog whose stool is being eaten.
Environmental management is the most reliable short-term fix. Pick up feces immediately, supervise your dog on a lead during bathroom breaks, and separate dogs in multi-pet households during toileting. This physically removes the opportunity.
Training and enrichment address the behavioral side. Teach a strong “leave it” cue, increase daily exercise and interactive play, and provide puzzle toys that occupy mental energy. Ignoring the act (rather than reacting) reduces any attention-seeking reward, while rewarding alternative behaviors builds better habits.
According to research published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, a study of over 1,000 dog owners found that 16 percent of dogs engaged in frequent conspecific coprophagia observed six or more times, while 24 percent ate stool at least once overall.
What Not To Do When Your Dog Eats Stool
The single most common mistake owners make is punishing the dog after the fact. Scolding or rubbing the dog’s nose in the stool increases anxiety and stress, which often worsens the behavior instead of stopping it. Punishment also teaches the dog to avoid eating stool while you are watching, not to stop altogether. Instead, focus on prevention, redirection, and rewarding the behaviors you want to see. Consistency with cleanup and positive training methods reliably outlasts any punishment-based approach.
FAQs
Is coprophagia dangerous for my dog?
It carries some risk. Stool can contain parasites, bacteria, or viruses that cause gastrointestinal upset or more serious illness. Fresh feces from healthy dogs in the same household pose lower risk, but any stool from unknown animals should be avoided.
Do dogs grow out of eating stool?
Many puppies explore stool out of curiosity and naturally stop as they mature and learn house-training. However, if the behavior continues past puppyhood or starts in an adult dog, it usually signals an underlying medical or behavioral cause that needs addressed directly.
Will changing my dog’s food stop coprophagia?
It can, especially when the current diet is low in digestibility or fiber. A highly digestible food reduces undigested nutrients in the stool that make it appealing. Some owners see results with added fiber, digestive enzymes, or commercial deterrent additives that make the stool taste unpleasant.
References & Sources
- National Library of Medicine. “Evaluation of a commercial coprophagia deterrent and a behavioral intervention on coprophagia in dogs.” Primary research study on prevalence and treatment approaches.