All dog owners have their fair share of good and bad days. But the worst days are when your dog decides to eat his own poop. It is disgusting, disturbing, and absolutely unacceptable dog behavior that no parent should have to witness or tolerate. “Coprophagia” is a fancy term for your dog eating his or some animal’s stool.
Once you see your dog eating shit, morning cuddles and kisses go off the table right away. Now you know why your dog’s breath smells literally like shit sometimes.
Though your dog might be eating his own or some other animal’s poop for various reasons, it is hazardous for your dog’s and your entire family’s health.
You can train your dog against eating poop, but most dogs often fall back to their old ways too soon.
If you don’t want to doubt your dog every time he comes to kiss you good morning, it is better to uproot his poop-eating habits once and for all.
Poop-eating deterrents can help your dog kiss goodbye to his poop-eating habits so that you may finally kiss and cuddle in peace!
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Why Your Dog Refuses To Fall Out Of The Poop Eating Loop
Dogs eat poop out of anxiety and a sense of isolation, or surprisingly enough, they might also eat poop due to a lack of certain nutrients. Dogs might eat poop for specific bacteria that are present in them.
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 thyroid, cushing’s disease, or diabetes.
- 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 rampant in multi-dog households, as 85% of dogs eat other dogs’ poop over their own. This is because dogs have an evolutionary and instinctive habit of cleaning after younger and older dogs for the pack’s safety.
- 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 among dogs is a general phenomenon and is rampant in wild and domesticated dogs alike. While there may be a few benefits to eating poop, the ill effects outweigh them by a mile.
A dog eating his own poop is relatively safe for him but is gross and hazardous for you.
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 try to eat their dump
- Picking up their stool as soon as they defecate
- Supplementing your dog with the vitamins such as Vitamin B or others that he tries to get through fecal matter
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. These products make your dog’s poop “taste and smell worse than shit.” This deters them from eating it regularly, and eventually, they quit altogether.
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:
NaturVet Coprophagia Stool Eating Deterrent
Since it comes in the form of soft chews, this dog deterrent is easy to feed. This product offers the added benefit of curing your puppy’s bad breath and other unpleasant dog odors. Due to its unique blend of Chamomile, Yucca, Parsley, and a Proprietary Enzyme Blend which are suitable for dogs with food allergies.
The product is NASC, cGMP compliant, and entirely manufactured in the USA. NaturVet Coprophagia Stool Eating Deterrent comes in packaging of 60, 70, 90, and 130 pieces of soft chews and chewable tablets. Feel free to choose something which is up to your dog’s liking.
What we like: An ideal fit for pets with pre-existing food allergies.
- Is great at preventing bad breath and unpleasant dog odors
- Available in soft chews and chewable tablet form
- Consists of essential probiotics
- Contains no wheat at all
- Acts slowly and takes 2-4 weeks to work
Solid Gold Stop Eating Poop
This poop-eating deterrent by Solid Gold is all-natural, grain free, and breaks your dog’s poop-eating habit by making his feces taste bitter. Its holistic blend consists of peppermint for fresh breath and parsley oil for gut health.
A careful selection of digestive enzymes aid in the efficient digestion of food and reduces stool output. Being a holistic health promoter, this product is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. The omega fatty acids, probiotics, and high-quality proteins in these soft chews and powder promote gut health and overall well-being.
Feed these chews to your dog twice daily for the initial two weeks and only once in the following weeks. It generally takes 2-4 weeks for the product to work.
What we like: It works great as a digestive aid and helps to strengthen the immune system and gut health.
- Promotes gut health and physical well-being
- Is made from all-natural ingredients
- Contains Yucca Schidigera, and Chicory Root
- Soft chews are made from rice powder
- Powder form contains rice powder and beef liver
- Takes 2-4 weeks to show results
FOR-BID Coprophagia Deterrent
It was one of the first poop-eating deterrents to hit the shelves and has been a top seller since the 1960s. This formula does not alter the taste or smell of your dog food, making it easier to slip it into your dog’s food bowl by sprinkling it over his food as directed.
Usually, it takes only a week to show effects, but it might take 2-3 weeks more, depending upon your pet’s reason for eating poop. It provides the best value for money by treating and preventing bad breath from your dog.
What we like: It is the oldest and fastest-acting powdered coprophagia deterrent, making it super convenient to administer.
- Acts pretty fast
- No need to use it for long-term
- Doesn't affect a dog's digestive system
- Contains wheat and hence is not gluten-free
Zesty Paws Chew No Poo Bites
These chews are made of capsicum chili formula Capsimax, making your dog’s poop taste as bitter as possible. Furthermore, peppermint works as a great breath freshener, while the probiotics and digestive enzymes offer great relief to dogs suffering from constipation and gas problems.
Ingredients like apple cider vinegar, parsley, and cinnamon do a great job of aiding oral health.
What we like: Each chew has Inulin prebiotic, 1 billion CFU probiotic, and five different enzymes.
- Easy to make your dog consume the chews as treats
- Aids digestive health and relieves gas and constipation problems
- Consists of probiotics
- Peppermint ensures fresh breath
- Only available in a single flavor of chicken
PetNC Stool Eating Deterrent
If you are looking for a poop deterrent that is easy on your pocket and deliciously palatable, then these coprophagia tablets by PetNC are the best you can grab. Your dog will savor the liver flavor tablets and eventually thank you for them by not eating his poop at all.
These tablets aid digestion and are a mix of Yucca Schidigera Extract, Cayenne Pepper, Alpha Amylase, Parsley Leaf, Glutamic Acid, Chamomile, and Thiamine Mononitrate.
What we like: Cheapest yet the most effective poop deterrent in the market that provides the best value for money
- Most economical poop deterrent
- Made from all-natural ingredients
- The animal liver being used is not specified in the ingredients
Conclusion – Clean morning kisses again!
No dog owner can wait to rid their dog of coprophagia. With the right products and administration, it is possible for your dog to stop eating poop for good.
While making the list of the above-mentioned poop-eating deterrents, we ensured that there is something for everyone. Depending upon the issues that your dog face, pick the one that feels right and get rid of the nightmares that your dog gives you with his morning kisses.
You’re already doing great as a dog parent; we help you do better.
