posted 01-31-2004 09:02 PM         

I caught my 5 months old Lhasa Apso eating his poop. I don't know if he's needs vitamins or why he is doing so. Perhaps someone can tell if this is common in pups.

p.s. It has happen twice since then. I made an appointment with his Vet.

posted 01-31-2004 09:43 PM         

As for the nutrient theory, I thought of that too, but as long as you're feeding them quality food, I don't think that should be an issue, and plus someone else pointed out that it doesn't really seem like a dog would know when it's missing nutrients and seek them out, you know? Even most humans can't do that

Anyway, I think that for the most part it is simply an issue that a lot of young dogs have, and they will eventually grow out of it. For the past month or so with Cameron, we have simply been picking up her stools with a little scented baggy made for just that, immediately after she goes, so that she has no chance to "snack" (yuck!) It seems like a hassel to pick it up even when we are in the vacant fields by our house, but it is worth it because it prevents her from finding it later.

I figure by keeping her from doing it, she will eventually forget all about it and not have the desire any more, sort of the same philosophy as potty training. At least that's what I hope!

posted 02-01-2004 02:25 AM         

The problem is called, COPROPHAGIA.
It is quite normal for a dog to supplement there energy intake by recycling there faeces or eating other animals faeces.

Here is his suggestions and they do work.

1) Feed the dog several meals per day of a high fibre diet this reduces the hunger sensation which initiates coprophagia.

2) The dog should be trained to go potty on command and the faeces should be removed immediatly.

3) the more exciting your dogs life the less likely he will eat faeces. Thus plenty of training and exercise and playing with toys reduces the urges to eat faeces.

4) You can make the faeces less appealing to the dog by adding chemicals to the dogs diet, Most simply this involves iron supplements the kind reccomended to pregnant women to take Or there is Sulphar-containing amino acids maybe used o supplement the diet and this makes the faeces taste less pleasant. see your vet on what action he proposes you should take.

5) Remote punishment of dogs caught in the act of eating faeces throwing a light object which should be made to look like it has come from the faeces not the owner this in most cases helps alot.

Dietry managment is the key a high fibre high protien diet fed several times a day will help alot.

hope this was of some help to you.