While eating feces is natural for rabbits, it is not as common in dogs. Rabbits are herbivores, and since they don’t have a rumen like cows, digestion of plant material takes place in the cecum with the help of microorganisms. Rabbits eat their own feces (a process called cecotrophy) because they are a source of proteins, vitamins, and nutrients that are reabsorbed in the small intestine.
Dog Feces
In dogs, as carnivores, digestion is a bit different, so eating feces (coprophagia) should not occur. You are most likely to encounter coprophagia in puppies. They may pick up this habit by observing their mother, who instinctively consumes their feces to protect them from predators. With proper training and diet, a puppy should easily grow out of this bad habit. However, it doesn’t always work, and sometimes adult dogs may continue to eat their own feces.
Eating Feces
Not every case is a bad habit rooted in puppyhood. A dog might eat its own feces out of boredom or stress, especially when left alone at home. Eating feces is also common in dogs living in poor conditions without enough food, where their only source of nutrients is their own feces.
However, if a dog continues to eat its feces despite being fed regularly, and if you have ruled out boredom or stress as causes, it could be a nutritional issue. This means the dog may not be getting enough nutrients from its food. They might still sense certain necessary nutrients in the feces and attempt to make use of them. Therefore, ensure your dog gets a varied diet even with a BARF menu. Use different types of meat, vegetables, fruits, and supplements. If the problem persists and you notice other behavioral changes in your dog, it’s best to consult your veterinarian.
If It’s Not Just Their Own Feces…
You may have experienced this yourself. You’re on a walk in the forest with your dog, and suddenly you notice they are enjoying horse manure. Dogs don’t only enjoy horse manure. If you have a rabbit or chickens, you might catch your dog eating their feces as well. To you, it’s disgusting, especially since the dog may lick you afterward. Additionally, feces may contain eggs of internal parasites, which your dog could ingest, particularly if they eat the feces of other dogs.
How to Prevent It
First, always correct your dog and scold them when they do it. It’s also important to ensure they have a balanced diet and plenty of exercise to prevent boredom. If even a visit to the vet doesn’t help and you don’t want to keep your dog on a short leash, you can walk them with a muzzle. This way, you can be sure they won’t eat feces or something toxic, such as rat poison.
Hopefully, this article has helped you better understand your dog, and with a well-balanced BARF diet, you won’t have to deal with this issue.
