Best Poop Eating Deterrent For Dogs: Keep It Clean!

The best poop eating deterrent for dogs is the NaturVet Coprophagia Stool Eating Deterrent, a soft chew that makes your dog’s stool taste unpleasant to them. Deterrents like this work best alongside picking up poop right away and teaching a solid “leave it”, and a vet check is worth it first to rule out a medical cause.

“Coprophagia” is the medical term for a dog eating his own or another animal’s stool. It’s disgusting to witness, and it explains why your dog’s breath sometimes smells so bad.

Though your dog might be eating his own or some other animal’s poop for various reasons, it can expose him, and your family, to parasites and germs.

You can train your dog not to eat poop, but many dogs fall back into their old ways when you’re not watching. That’s where poop-eating deterrents can help your dog kick the habit.

Skip to 5 Safe & Effective Poop eating deterrents for dogs

Why Your Dog Refuses To Fall Out Of The Poop Eating Loop

Dogs may eat poop out of boredom, anxiety or a sense of isolation, or simply because they’re hungry and it’s there. Some people believe a lack of certain nutrients plays a role, but there’s little evidence for this in dogs fed a complete, balanced diet.

Here are some other reasons that might make your dog eat poop, his own or otherwise:

• Increased appetite due to underlying health issues such as Cushing’s disease, diabetes, intestinal parasites, poor absorption of food (for example, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency), or medications like steroids
• Not getting enough food, for example on a strict weight-loss diet
• Dogs confined in a kennel or a small room for long durations might start eating their own poop out of boredom or anxiety
• Abrupt changes can cause dogs to eat their poop out of stress
• Poop eating is common in multi-dog households, and many poop eaters target other dogs’ stool rather than their own. One theory is that it’s an inherited instinct from wolf ancestors, who kept the den clean by eating fresh droppings before parasite eggs could hatch
• Punishment during house training can teach some dogs to “hide the evidence” by eating it
• Some dogs learn poop-eating from their mothers, who eat it to clean after their puppies.

Your Dog Doesn’t Know Any Better, But You Should!

Poop eating is common in both wild and domesticated dogs, but that doesn’t make it harmless.

A dog eating his own fresh poop is relatively low-risk for him, though it’s gross and not great for you when he licks your face. While you're keeping an eye on the yard, also notice what the poop looks like: if your dog's poop turns white when it dries, his diet may need a closer look.

If your dog forms a habit of eating other dog’s or some other animal’s poop, he is at great risk of parasites and infectious diseases. Gastroenteritis, diarrhea, intestinal parasites, vomiting, loss of appetite, and lethargy are only the tip of the iceberg.

For their greater good, this is how you can stop dogs from eating their own poop:

• Training them with the “leave it” command when they go to sniff their poop, then rewarding them with a tasty treat for coming to you instead
• Picking up their stool as soon as they defecate, and walking them on a leash in the yard for a while so they can’t get to it
• Feeding a complete, balanced diet in the right amount, and asking your vet whether splitting meals into smaller, more frequent portions could help
• Giving them more exercise and enrichment, such as puzzle feeders and chew toys, if boredom is the trigger
• Not punishing them after the fact, since that can make some dogs eat poop faster to hide it

Call your vet if the poop eating starts suddenly, especially in an adult dog, or if it comes with weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, a bigger appetite or increased thirst. These can point to parasites or a medical problem that needs treatment, and a fecal test is a quick first step.

When Nothing Works, Put Poop Eating Deterrents To Work

If your dog keeps eating poop despite trying every trick in the book, then it’s time to introduce him to poop-eating deterrents. You give these products to the dog whose poop is being eaten, and they make the stool taste and smell even less appealing. This deters your dog from eating it, and with consistent use plus training, many dogs lose interest. In a multi-dog home, give the deterrent to every dog whose poop is being targeted, not just the one doing the eating.

To save you from the trouble of picking “the one” from an endless list, read on to choose the perfect one from the most versatile and best poop eating deterrents for dogs listed below: