Why does the mother dog do this?
There are a couple of theories on why mother dogs eat their puppies poop. The simplest of these theories is that the mother eats the puppy poops to clean up the nursing area. When you think about it, it becomes pretty obvious.
It is a question of who else was going to do it? Leaving the puppy poop to collect where the pups feed would be an unsanitary mess and pose a serious health risk to the pups. Not only is it gross, but it would also attract pests like flies, and it would be a haven for bacteria and fungi.
A mother dog might also eat her puppies poop to protect them from predators.
Unfortunately, the puppy poop can draw more predators, especially opportunistic predators who hunt for easy pickings.
Mother dogs have most likely eaten their puppies poop for the first couple of weeks of their lives since their ancestors still roamed the wilds.
It makes sense that a mother dog would take this precaution, so it should be no surprise that the behavior has become an instinct.
Another reason mother dogs eat their puppies’ poop may be to preserve nutrients. The mother dog’s body has to dedicate an enormous amount of its nutritional resources to producing milk for her pups. So much so that one can usually see the physical strain it takes on her body.
By eating her puppies’ poop, a mother dog can reclaim any nutrients that the pup didn’t absorb, saving anything from going to waste.
The idea sounds pretty offputting by human standards, but it’s a common behavior in dogs. Professionals believe that this is one of the reasons that dogs eat their poop.
They may struggle to absorb all the nutrients in their food and essentially eat their poop to have a second go at it.
If your puppy keeps pooping inside, you may want to read this post: Puppy Won’t Poop Outside: Here’s What to Do
Is It Normal For A Mom Dog To Eat Puppy Poop?
The majority of dog owners become worried- and disgusted!– when they first see a mother dog eating their puppies’ poop.
Little do they know, this behavior tends to repeat itself over and over again! At some point, the shell-shocked owner is probably going to wonder in exasperation,
“Just when does the mother dog stop eating its puppies’ poop?!”
As off putting and unsanitary as it might look, you don’t need to be too worried! Believe it or not, this is perfectly normal behavior for a mother dog.
Also referred to as coprophagia, the act of dogs eating feces is natural and happens for various reasons. These reasons can either be medical or behavioral, depending on how and why it happens.
Abnormal Reasons Why Dogs Eat Poop
Eating their own poop or another dog’s poop is not a common behavior, and you’ll need to find out what’s causing it. Here are four reasons why an adult dog will do this.
Some dogs may have started eating poop when they are young because they feel like it’s a game. For example, when puppies are young, they may explore by grabbing their poop with their mouths. If your dog does this, you will probably run towards them and yell some form of “drop it.”
When this happens, some puppies may be startled and will drop the poop and never touch it again. Other puppies may interpret the yelling as an excited invitation to play.
As a result, they dart away, and then suddenly, an impromptu game of chase occurs. These puppies have learned another way to get their owners to “play” with them.
Your dog may not even necessarily want to play but might simply want you to engage with them. This is then carried over as your dog becomes an adult as a learned behavior that gets them attention.
It’s really difficult to not pay attention to a dog that’s eating poop.
If your dog is eating poop, they may not be feeling well.
When you have a puppy or dog that eats other dogs’ poop or his own poop, you should have your pet examined by your veterinarian. Coprophagia can be associated with diseases of the intestinal tract and sometimes other parts of the body (liver, brain, etc.).
If your adult dog has never been a poop eater and suddenly develops the habit in association with symptoms of disease, like weight loss, lethargy, discomfort, other behavioral changes, vomiting, or diarrhea, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Your veterinarian will need to perform diagnostic tests to determine if your dog has an underlying medical problem, such intestinal parasites, nutritional deficiencies, or gastrointestinal disease.
Other dogs eat poop as a displacement behavior when they are anxious. If an anxious dog is confined, they may defecate and eat their own poop.
Possible sources of anxiety that can cause coprophagia include:
Some dogs may learn as puppies to eat their poop if they have been repeatedly punished by their owners for defecating in the house.
The dog may eat the evidence because they’re worried about being punished.
Why Do Dogs Eat Poop? | Veterinarian explains why?
Have you ever caught your dog eating poop and asked yourself, “Ugh, why do dogs eat poop?”
Well, you are definitely not alone. Poop-eating, also called coprophagia in dogs, is not exactly a hobby that you would consider ideal for your furry family member.
Here’s everything you need to know about why dogs eat poop and what you can or should do about it.
Dogs eat poop for a variety of reasons. Some are normal and some are signs of an underlying issue. It’s normal and somewhat common for dogs to eat the poop of another species, but it’s uncommon for adult dogs to eat their own poop or another dog’s poop.