My dog is about 8 months old. I caught him eating his own poop twice and I can smell it on his breath every time. Now tonight, two of his teeths fell out and they smelt like poop. Is his teeth falling out because he's eating his feces?
Responses (1)
There's a scientific name for this habit—coprophagia—and also both behavioral and physiologic reasons why some dogs view dung as a delicacy.
Perhaps the best way to stop the problem is through training and environmental management methods, such as:
Keep the dog's living area clean, including the yard, so there will be no poops for him to pick up.
Cat owners should keep that litter box clean or out of the dog's reach.
Supervise your dog on walks, and pick up after him immediately.
Training. Work hard on the commands "leave it" and "come." One simple exercise, is to teach your dog to come to you for a food treat as soon as he has eliminated. That way, the dog will develop a habit to run to you for a tasty tidbit, instead of reaching for the revolting recyclable on the the ground.