Coprophagia and Flatulence, are two words dog owners can find themselves being very embarrassed about due to the social stigma associated with the subject. Dog owners are therefore reluctant to speak to their veterinarians about the problem which leads to a deterioration of the human–pet bond. The habit can also be seen as a health risk due to the chance of transmitting parasites such as intestinal worms from animal to human.
Coprophagia takes place when a dog consumes its own faeces, the faeces of another dog, or that of another species; for example, cats, birds, and horses. It may become an obsession, making the habit extremely difficult to break. Correcting this behaviour, therefore, takes dedication, perseverance and patience from the owner.
What causes dogs to consume poop?
- Dogs have a natural instinct as scavengers, meaning they eat to survive, which can lead to them perceiving faeces as a potential food source.
- In the case of puppies, their mothers often ingest their faeces while cleaning them.
- Furthermore, eating poop can be a result of various underlying medical or behavioural factors, such as boredom, lack of attention from the owner, stress, or the strong odour that attracts dogs to faeces.
As a result, it is crucial for a veterinarian to examine both the dog displaying this behaviour and the animal whose faeces is being consumed in order to identify and address any potential underlying conditions.
How can the owner try to break the habit of coprophagia?
- The owner should avoid letting the dog watch when the faeces are being cleared up. To a Coprophagic dog this is seen as a valuable source of food and seeing it being removed may stimulate the dog to eat it faster. Cat litter boxes should be cleaned out regularly to avoid an accumulation of faeces and should be placed in an area where dogs cannot easily get to.
- Dogs often eat faeces to get attention from their owners. It is therefore extremely important to not react in any way when the dog is eating the faeces. We tend to want to shout and chase the dog away but unfortunately, even negative attention is still seen as attention. Rather distract the dog from eating the faeces by redirecting its attention to another activity such as playing with a toy.
- Boredom and stress are major triggers for Coprophagia. Daily walks or daily play sessions will stimulate the dog mentally and physically, relieving boredom and stress. Any stressors should also be identified and promptly corrected in order to break the habit.
- Change the taste of the poop. In the event of your dog eating poop at home, you can add yucca schidigera extract to their food to assist in changing the taste of the poop, and in turn, discourage them to eat it.
Does your dog's flatulence occur so often that it becomes embarrassing?
Flatulence is the emission of odours by animals resulting in embarrassing situations for pet owners. The emissions are normally considered as purely a nuisance by owners but the problem can also be a sign of intestinal tract disorders.
The majority of intestinal gas results from swallowing air and bacterial fermentation.
How to reduce flatulence:
- Choose high-quality food for your dog.
- Divide the dog food into 2 or 3 portions a day.
- Allowing for the food to be eaten in a quiet environment without competition will help reduce the speed at which the dog consumes its food and in turn reduce intestinal gas.
- Spray Copronat over the food. Copronat (V22705) is a natural food supplement containing Yucca Schidigera extract (YSE), which has been shown to control coprophagia and reduce offensive smells associated with flatulence in dogs and cats. Copronat works by changing the taste of the faeces to make it taste bad and unpalatable. The product is sprayed onto the food of the animals whose faeces is being eaten. If unsure as to which animal to treat, it is advisable to treat all dogs and cats in the household.
Please speak to your local veterinarian about the use of Copronat to treat Coprophagia. Alternatively, contact Afrivet for more information.
By Dr Rozanne Janson (Afrivet)
Afrivet Data on file :
Copronat liquid spray solution. Reg no V22705 (Act 36 of 1947)
Registration holder: Afrivet business management (Pty) Ltd Reg. No. 2000/011263/07
PO Box 2009 Faerie Glen 0043 Tel: 012 817 9060, Helpline: 0860 VEEARTS. www.afrivet.co.za