It’s a beautiful day for a walk — you're enjoying the fresh air while your dog explores. But suddenly, before you can call them back, they’re eating something off the ground with surprising gusto. It’s not a stray treat or a half-eaten burger – it’s poo.
If you’ve caught your dog doing this, you’re not alone. While it’s unpleasant, coprophagia is more common than you might realise. The good news? There are steps you can take to help curb the habit.
Let’s start by unpacking the medical and behavioural reasons dogs eat poo — and clear up a few misconceptions along the way.
But before we dive in, it’s important to understand the difference between this behaviour in puppies and adults. It’s normal for young dogs to eat their own poo as they’re learning about the world around them through experience and mimicry, but they usually grow out of it. If this behaviour persists into adulthood, or you notice that your mature dog has started to eat poo, it’s worth speaking to your vet for a thorough health and wellness check.
Common medical reasons dogs eat poop
Sometimes, poop-eating is driven by underlying health issues, such as:
1. Malabsorption or enzyme deficiencies
Conditions like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) affect how dogs absorb nutrients. This can cause hunger and nutrient deficiencies, prompting them to scavenge — even for faeces.
Read more: Dog pancreatitis: a holistic guide to pain-free prevention and care
Read more: Why is my dog losing weight? Lyka's experts answer
2. Parasites
Intestinal worms and other parasites can steal vital nutrients, increasing hunger and scavenging behaviour.
3. Diabetes or Cushing’s disease
Both conditions affect metabolism and appetite, which can increase unusual eating habits like coprophagia.
Read more: Understanding diabetes in dogs: step-by-step management
4. Medication side effects
Drugs like corticosteroids can increase appetite and lead to pica — a condition where dogs eat non-food items like poo, dirt or plastic.
Next steps:
Book a check-up with your vet to rule out any medical triggers — it’s the first and most important step.
Share what you’ve observed, especially any changes in appetite, digestion or energy levels — it can make a big difference in getting to the root cause.
Behavioural causes of coprophagia
If your dog has a clean bill of health, it is probably time to explore behavioural causes.
1. Attention-seeking
If your pup craves your attention, they may learn that eating poo gets a big reaction — even if it’s a negative one.
Top tip: Focus on positive interaction and avoid reacting if it happens again. Over time, they’ll learn attention and engagement comes from better behaviour.
2. Stress, boredom or confinement
Dogs left alone or confined for too long may eat poo out of frustration or to clean up their space.
Top tip: Keep crate time under 4–6 hours, with regular toilet breaks and enrichment toys to entertain them.
3. Instinctual cleanup
Mother dogs often eat their pups’ faeces to keep the area clean, reducing the risk of pathogens and parasites. This is a common primitive instinct and usually ceases when the puppies become toilet-trained.
Top tip: If your dog has had pups, clean the area promptly to reduce the need for instinctual clean-up.
4. Copycat behaviour (mimicry)
A study1 has identified a possible link between mimicry and eating poop — dogs are more likely to engage in this behaviour in homes with multiple dogs and if they’ve seen other pups (like their mothers) doing it.
Top tip: Revisiting training routines like ‘leave it’ can be a great way to reinforce your dog’s obedience. Remember to be consistent and always use positive reinforcement.
5. Exploratory behaviour
Some seem to enjoy the taste or texture of faeces — especially when it comes to cat faeces, that is protein-rich and like a tempting meaty snack. You might notice your dog likes to eat chicken or duck poo or try possum droppings too. Part of this may be discovering new things with their mouth, but it may also be related to scavenging for tasty scraps.
Puppies also tend to explore with their mouths, and poop is just another object to check out. Most grow out of it when they discover more appealing things to eat and play with.
Top tip: Stay on top of poo patrol in the yard. No poop, no problem. Use age-appropriate chew toys for redirection training and to keep their mouths occupied with a much better alternative. Keep litter trays out of reach and regularly emptied or use a self-cleaning tray. Strengthen your dog’s recall and obedience with consistent and repeated training sessions.
6. Toilet training without positive reinforcement
Some dogs may clean up after themselves if they’re worried that an accident will get them into trouble.
Top tip: Always toilet train using positive reinforcement to mark desired behaviour. Any punishment-based training creates a negative dynamic and can be detrimental to your dog and your bond.
Read more: How to toilet train your puppy
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How can I clean my dog’s mouth after eating poo?
To reduce any health risks to you or your dog, minimise direct contact with their mouth until they’ve had a good rinse and refresh. Perhaps avoid their slobbery kisses for a while too.
Give your pup a thorough wipe with a clean, damp cloth to remove any residue. Just make sure you’re wearing gloves as a preventative measure.
Flush their mouth by giving them plenty of access to fresh water, some food, or dental chews like Turkey Dental Jerky, which contains peppermint to freshen their breath. Brushing their teeth with dog-friendly toothpaste, like Shy Tiger, is also a great way to clean their mouth.
Read more: A guide to brushing your dog's teeth
Is diet to blame for coprophagia?
Despite common belief, diet is an uncommon reason for dogs to eat poo. A 2020 study 2 found no strong link between coprophagia and nutritional deficiencies or diet type — whether dry, raw, or fresh.
So, if you’ve been switching diets hoping to stop the habit, it might be time to explore other causes with your vet.
How can a fresh food diet help?
Even though poop-eating isn’t usually caused by a nutritional gap, feeding real food can still make a meaningful difference — especially when the behaviour links back to digestion, appetite or nutrient absorption.
Better digestion means better nutrient absorption
For dogs with conditions like EPI or enzyme deficiencies, their bodies struggle to digest and absorb what they need from food. Fresh, highly digestible ingredients may be more easily broken down and used by the body.
Lyka’s meals are gently cooked, which helps preserve nutrient integrity while still being easy on the gut.
Protein that satisfies
Some dogs eat poop simply because they’re hungry or not feeling full for long. That’s where protein quality and quantity come in: high-quality protein supports steady energy and healthy appetite regulation.
Lyka’s meals are formulated with real, ethically sourced proteins — think grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, free-range chicken — that help dogs feel satisfied for longer.
Balanced meals, backed by science
Formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, Lyka meals are complete and balanced for all life stages. That means you're not just removing uncertainty about what’s in your dog’s bowl — you’re actively supporting their health across digestion, immunity, skin and behaviour.
When diet isn’t the cause, it’s still part of the solution
Even if poop-eating is behavioural, feeding fresh, real food gives you peace of mind. You’re not left wondering if your dog’s lacking something — so you can confidently focus on training, enrichment or managing environmental triggers.
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When to speak to your vet
Coprophagia isn’t always harmful, but it can lead to parasite transmission, gut upset or bacterial infection. Faeces can spread diseases like giardia, e-coli, campylobacter and salmonella – good reasons for you to be cautious and keep a close eye on you and your dog’s health.
If your dog eats poo occasionally, it may not be a concern. But if it’s frequent or paired with other symptoms like weight loss, gastrointestinal issues, or behavioural changes, it’s time to speak to your vet about possible underlying health problems.
Support your dog’s health with a real food diet
Whether coprophagia is linked to digestion, stress, or just a case of curious taste-testing, the key lies in patience, gentle guidance, and working closely with your vet when needed.
When it comes to nourishing your dog from the inside out, a consistent, nutrient-dense real food diet, like Lyka, is one of the most empowering changes you can make for you and your pup.
Real food. Real difference. Discover how Lyka can help support your dog’s health — from the inside out.
References:
1Diet and canine coprophagy
2Canine coprophagic behaviour is influenced by coprophagic cohabitant
