Coprophagia (eating faeces).
There are several reasons why your dog might eat its own or other animal’s faeces, and it is a relatively common behaviour. That said, it is not necessarily something we want our dogs doing for obvious reasons!
Nutritional Deficiencies: Dogs may eat faeces if their diet lacks certain nutrients or if they are not absorbing nutrients properly. This can happen in dogs with malabsorption issues or those on a poor-quality diet.
Instinctual Behaviour: In the wild, canines may eat faeces to keep their den clean and to avoid attracting predators. This instinct can carry over to domesticated dogs especially if their area isn’t regularly cleaned.
Curiosity and Exploration: Dogs often explore their environment with their mouths. Faeces can be an interesting smell or texture.
Attention-Seeking: Some dogs may eat faeces to get attention from their owners, even if it's negative attention. If a dog notices that their owner reacts strongly when they do this, they might repeat the behaviour.
Stress or Anxiety: Stressful situations, changes in environment, or anxiety can lead to coprophagia. This behaviour can serve as a coping mechanism.
Medical Issues: Certain medical conditions, like diabetes, Cushing’s disease, or parasites, can cause increased appetite or unusual eating behaviours, including coprophagia.
If a dog is regularly consuming faeces, it's important to consult a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical issues. NEVER punish your dog for eating faeces!
Behavioural modifications are more effective, such as keeping the living area clean, providing enough mental stimulation and physical exercise, and redirecting the dog’s attention to something other than eating faeces such as calling your dog over to sit and receive a tasty treat.