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  my chihuahua has begun to eat his feces. Help!

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Author Topic:   my chihuahua has begun to eat his feces. Help!
poppycorn
New Member

Posts: 8
From:chicago
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-19-2003 05:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for poppycorn     Edit/Delete Message
My 6 month old chihuahua has begun to eat his feces. He uses a housebreaking pad. As soon as he goes, he will pick it up, bring it into his bed and eat it. The problem is I am not always there to catch him. Any suggestions to help him stop doing this? I don't know what to do.
Thanks!

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nern

Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 11-19-2003 08:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for nern     Edit/Delete Message
There are several products you can get that are supposed to stop this problem such as Deter, Forbid and Prozyme. I added meat tenderizer to my puppies food and that seemed to work...I would ask your vet before trying the meat tenderizer though. The receptionist at my vet's office recommended me trying meat tenderizer.

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puttin510
Member

Posts: 1179
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 11-20-2003 12:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for puttin510     Edit/Delete Message
I think they learn this behavior from the mother. Thats how she cleans up after them. Try some of the methods above poster mentioned.

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goofie_newfie686
Member

Posts: 94
From:Canada
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-20-2003 09:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for goofie_newfie686     Edit/Delete Message
i also think they learn part of this from the mom.
My 7 month old havanese just stopped doing this. be stern when you catch him. clean up AS SOON AS HE's FINISHED and give him a reward if he doesnt turn to sniff it. or as he's going, sit a ways away from him with a box of treats. if he comes act like he's just won the world series or stanley cup.
then clean it up.

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Rosie's Mom
Member

Posts: 36
From:Canada
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-21-2003 01:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rosie's Mom     Edit/Delete Message
Dr. Peter Kross, DVM says...
Quote
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Dogs will commonly eat their own as well as other animals' feces. Puppies are known to eat their own excrement during paper training and housebreaking, and it is believed to be due to a combination of physiological and behavioral factors.

On the physiological side, since the digestion of food is not always complete, puppies still see nutrient value in their feces and view it as a snack. Often dogs are attracted to undigested rice, corn or peanuts in their stool if they happen to consume these foods. Maximizing digestion can help solve this problem. To do so, add enzyme supplements to their food, such as meat tenderizer (from the supermarket), papaya extract (a natural enzyme available at health food stores) or products from pet supply stores especially designed to help dogs digest. Mix the enzyme powder in each meal, and let it sit for 15 minutes prior to feeding it to your pet. This should eliminate the presence of anything they view as "good" in their stool. It will not help with the peanuts or corn, but these foods should not be fed to your pet in any event.

Another way to discourage coprophagy (the medical term for eating poop) is to coat the stools with hot sauce or vinegar, thereby making the experience of eating it unpleasant (as if it seemed great thus far!). Sometimes owners have to go to the extreme measure of injecting the stool with hot sauce so the pet gets the full extent of the bad flavor. Yet another method is through products which taste good when mixed in the pet's food and eaten, but turn bitter when excreted in the pet's feces (isn't science great?). Doing this or the hot sauce method for one to two weeks is usually enough to convince a dog that their food bowl is a safer spot for snacks.

On the behavioral side, many pets eat their stool during the training stages because they become confused about whether to go to the bathroom on or off the paper or outdoors. Just as potty training for kids is tough, telling a dog when and where to eliminate is emotionally stressful. They will feel bad about going in the wrong place and destroy the evidence by eating it. Owners often call me because they are concerned that their puppy has not had a bowel movement in a few days, but it usually turns out to be a case of recycling.
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End Quote.

I love that... recycling lol. My dog does it too. It's almost normal in a gross way.

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