Very Icky Habit

[Katie and Ginger]

Ok, so this is really gross but I need help. Lulu (my 12 week old devil) has started to eat her poo. Why is she doing this. Is she missing something in her diet? I am trying to put the bitter apple to deter her, but she still is doing it. Help!

Katie:shocked:

[Goob]

Fear not Katie, that's a very commen problem. :shocked:

[Nancy]

Katie,

My little "angel" Molly, who is six, just started eating poop as well. From what I am told, not to worry.

Word of advise:

DON'T accept any kisses! :rotfl:

[oceangirls]

My girls don't do it, but I had a little boy dachsie who did.

Here's a link from the Drs Foster and Smith website with some information; also tells some products (like Forbid) that you can try using to deter her.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=77

[Patt]

If you are really lucky Lulu will grow out of it. It IS a disgusting habit to us but very normal to them. Possibly she is reverting back to when she was with her siblings and mama was always cleaning up the messes and she thinks that's the thing to do. Do the best you can in keeping it picked up and hope for the best. I've tried a lot of things and nothing worked for me. Another suggestion is adding pineapple juice to her food, although I haven't tried that one yet.

Here is more information.... the why's etc.,
http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/decoprophagia.html
http://dogexplorer.com/content/view/88/1/

[Courtney]

I've heard pineapple juice does work. You can also try adding digestive enzymes to the diet. A good place to get those is www.b-naturals.com. It's sooo nasty but a lot of dogs do it!

[K2]

I've heard about pineapple, too. Fortunately, I've never had to try it.

[jennie_c_d]

Teenie eats poo. She eats a *really* good diet, and she gets Prozyme. She eats Emma's poop, though, not her own. Emma tends to not digest her food real well (one of her many issues... I feed her a TON and she's still skinny) and I guess it still smells good? Emma's never eaten it, but Teenie will. She'll eat her own, on occasion. Mostly if it's on a pee pee pad (which makes me think she was punished for pottying inside at some point, poor kid).

[BethMH]

I gotta admit - Rueben's a pooper scooper too. The vet said more than anything, it's just gross. Nothing to worry about. And we have recently discovered that suddenly Patches has become one and she never used to eat poop. She's around 9 years old and is now picking up the habit. It's absolutely disgusting! I am going to have to try the pineapple juice.

[JanUet]

You have been given wonderful advice. Let us know if any of the methods worked for you.

[Katie and Ginger]

Thanks for all the advice girls! I am going to try the pinapple juice and see if it works. I'll let you know. :)