Dog Eats Stools

• We have a eleven-month-old German Shepherd crossed with a Staffie. During the last two days he has started to eat his own stools as well as our other dog's. He is very alert and eats well.

Do we have to be concerned about this? Is it just a bad habit, or is it a sign of a health problem?

~~Wilma

Expert Reply

Hi Wilma,

Stool-eating is a much more common problem than you may realize. For the most part, it is an unpleasant habit that usually begins with a puppy's curiosity. Once a dog eats stools, the practice can become a bad habit that's very hard to break.

There is also a theory that a dog eats stools because there are still traces of nutrients left in the feces that weren't properly digested the first time through the system. This may be linked to the quality of dog food you are feeding. Your veterinarian can give you recommendations on the best dog food for your pet.

Stool eating, although unpleasant, is not in itself a health problem. The risk lies in what may be in the stools. Intestinal worms are parasites that live out their life cycle in a dog's digestive tract. When a dog eats infected stools, it may be ingesting worm ova, which will then result in a case of worm infestation. This will need to be treated by your vet.

My advice is to take your pup in for a routine exam and provide your vet with a stool sample from both of your dogs. Tell him/her about your puppy's new habit and let him advise you on the best course of action.

There are a few products on the market that, when added to your dog's food, are supposed to discourage stool eating. Since I've never used these products myself, I hesitate to recommend them, but your vet can probably tell you if they work.

Best of luck~~ Kelly