'My dog eats cat poop out of the liter box'

My dog eats cat poop out of the liter box

Comment #50 stacey (86.154.163.147) -

my staffie has started to eat the cats poo and now the cat has started to poo everywhere exept in her litter tray. any advice

Comment #51 Christyna (98.27.219.141) -

my mix breed dog ears cat poop and we have put it in the closet, well even tho we block the door way he still gets in.

we tried putting a cover over it but it dont work cause he can still get to it.(by the way, he chews through baby gates). what else can i do?

Comment #52 ~CAPRI from Palm Beach County, FLORIDA -

My dog (3 yr. old Belgium Shepherd) eats cat poop as well! Yuck! And I don't even own a cat.

My horrible neighbors let their cat(s) roam where ever they want and they come in my yard and defecate. This has forced me to hav Drontal on hand to give him so he doesn't get worms from it. Now I watch him like a hawk when I let him out, but I will tell you that my vet told me exactly why he does it. She said that cats eat such a high-protien diet (and what is protien, but mainly meat) and that dogs love it and it's just like little meatballs to them! I hav never heard of the pills but if the pills are for the cats poop, I can't give it to the cat(s) since they belong to the neighbors, so that doesn't help me. Also putting chili powder would mean I would hav to locate said poop, and I never know where it is, the dog just finds it.

I will try the pills mentioned here, but mainly I let my dog out only when supervised closely, and that has helped immensely.

Lastly, in regard to the trash raiding, I hav a similar 'indoor fence' set-up where a beeper will go off (activated by a transmitter from a special collar) when ever he gets near the garbage, since the sensor is placed near the trashcan. I can put the sensor anywhere and it will keep him away from that area. The only downside is that he will scratch it sometimes and break it, so then I hav to buy another $15 collar, but I order them 3 at a time. Hope this helps!

~CAPRI

Comment #53 amanda (69.207.45.197) -

My female boxer does this I think that it is behavioral but really gross.

Comment #54 Dian Turbeville (71.2.181.93) -

I use the pill Excel I have noticed they do not eat their own as much.But now its like they have to have the Cat Poo;I mean really have to have it.I have 3 Chihuahua's I feel so bad there has to be something they are not getting in their diet I just started feeding them Solid Gold cause I read Some bad things about the Science Diet I had been feeding them all their lives they are 7 months Also I had to get the Adult kind they were out of the Puppy kind So I do see a couple things I can do to get them out of this;Get the puppy food and maybe get them some puppy vitamins;I don't know if I should take them back to S.D.they were doing it then also so My husband said to give the cat the pill also.

Comment #55 Dian Turbeville (71.2.181.93) -

Okay can you tell me about the shock collar and the indoor invisible fence will it work on my Chihuahua's the girl is about 5lbs;the boys are 2 1/2 lbs and the other is 3 1/2 lbs do they make collars for that small one of you said you had to buy 3 collars at a time well mine love to chew things up where do you buy these things or do you order them online if so let me know where please not only the poop but they are now running out when the door opens for very long they are house dogs paper trained but I do take them out for a run in the yard at least 3 times aweek but when I started that they started running out the door whenever they get the chance and I have'nt got a fence

Comment #56 Caroline (24.73.41.189) -

Our daughter just moved home with a 6 month old daushund puppie. We have 3 himmie's and an old Aussie. The puppy started eating cat poop.

Occassionally our Auusie will grab a turd, but she's very old, and very intelligent, and a simple 'no', and 'bad dog', and she stops for months. We've tried that with the puppie, along with a tap on the behind (gently).. no luck...

Alot of the suggestions require altering the CATS routine or diet, which in our case would seem either unfair, or not do-able (I don't know if anyone else has himayalans, but they are picky eaters, I don't think mine would eat pineapple)

Putting the cat litter in a different place might be do-able..

Comment #57 Steve Carson (64.229.208.157) -

I think dogs must all have a German heritage, ahhh the scheizer!!!

Comment #58 KF (216.39.183.34) -

We put up a baby gate to the room where the cat box is located. The dog does not jump over it (he can, but is trained not to), and the cats have a place to get away from the dog when needed. It is also great exercise for the cats, they have lost weight since we put the gate up. Hope that helps.

Comment #59 Misty (98.148.207.81) -

Yes This topic is just discusting!!!!!!! I have a 4 month old golden retriever (Bella) She loves cat crap tooo. I guess to them they are tasty little morsels!!!! (insert barfing sound now) EWWWWWWWWWWW...and of course wants to lick me right after....

In my house we have a name for it, Kitty Roca!!! I dont know if you all know the candy Almond Roca, but there pretty good!

They kinda look like cat turds rolled in almonds :)

And supposedly all us humans are supposed to belive that dogs have the cleanist mouth... Uh huh ya right!!!!

we keep those nifty trearts that are for dogs that are supposed to brush thier teeth!!!!!!!!!!! hmmmmm.... still leary about letting her lick my face!

Comment #60 Bethany (71.72.36.242) -

I didn't even realize this, but those vitamin treats really do work for this. I didn't buy them to stop this problem, but I also have had this problem with my mini dauchsand. I bought the vitamin treats to give him just because I thought he should be taking vitamins and since he started taking those he has not ventured into the cats litter box since!

Comment #61 Helen (79.66.4.60) -

This is a reply to Comment #55 Dian Turbeville.

The reason your Chihuahua’s are showing behavioural problems is because you are not giving them enough exercise. Any dog, no matter what their size should be walked every day. There is no such thing as a ‘house dog’. The reason they are running to the door when it's opened is because they are desperate to get some stimulation. The issue of them chewing is also because they are not exercised. They are so frustrated at being trapped inside that they are tying to get rid of some of their excess energy by chewing and destroying things around them. If you get a shock collar, this will make the situation a million times worse. They will become aggressive and traumatised.

If you take them out for a 30 minute walk twice a day (not in your yard) then I can guarantee that the problem will be solved instantly – just give it a go and see for yourself!

If you are unable to take the dogs for a walk yourself because of a medical/physical disability, then get a neighbour/friend to do it for you. Alternatively you could employ a dog walker.

I have a Chihuahua myself and I take him for 2 x 1 hour walks a day and he is extremely well behaved, he never dashes for the door and only chews on his dog toys.

As for eating cat poo – I think its just one of those things they do because it tastes so delicious for them. You just have to shout NO when you catch them at it!

Please read the link which explains why shock collars can be are extremely dangerous and can in many cases can make a situation much worse. They can result in an intense fear and avoidance of the location the shock collar is used. eg: owner’s back yard. In a recent case, a dog was trained with a shock collar by the owner walking the dog up to the boundary on the lead. Rather than learning to avoid that particular location, the dog learned to avoid the owner putting the lead on in the garden, through a display of extreme aggression. This is particularly problematic where the use of boundary shocks can become associated with the approach of people or other dogs towards the property. Another reason for failure to achieve the desired change in behavior is that dogs may learn that shocks are only applied when the collar is worn, leading to the unwanted behavior returning after the collar is removed.

• The use of shock collars and their impact on the welfare of dogs: A review of the current literature (2006)

Comment #62 pinka (216.220.216.164) -

Thankz

:)

My bluenose APBT

DOES THIS SOME TIMES

1CE AFTER SHE HAD THROWN UP

SHE ATE THO SHE HADN'T IN MONTHS SO IT MUST B THE DEFICENCY REASON

I'M GONA GET HER SUM VITAMN TREATS!

Comment #63 Bex (72.39.195.4) -

I HAVE THE ANSWER!!! My doxiepoo (dachshund/poodle) was doing this on a regular basis and I couldn't move the litter box because I have a very spoiled and picky cornish rex cat. I put some of the poop just outside the box, and sprinkled it with cayenne pepper. She went for it and got a mouthful of HOT cat poop. A couple times of this and she hasn't touched it since. Now don't go crazy with the cayenne, just enough to make it unpleasant. This is a lot better than having your dog swallow cat litter that turns to cement in their digestive system and needing surgery! Don't put any cayenne inside the box or it may prevent your cat from using it. Hope it helps, perhaps some dogs may enjoy muy caliente cat poop but mine sure didn't.

Comment #64 Shirley Isbill (72.73.232.177) -

I don't see any solutions to this problem. I will try these:

I HAVE THE ANSWER!!! My doxiepoo (dachshund/poodle) was doing this on a regular basis and I couldn't move the litter box because I have a very spoiled and picky cornish rex cat. I put some of the poop just outside the box, and sprinkled it with cayenne pepper. She went for it and got a mouthful of HOT cat poop. A couple times of this and she hasn't touched it since. Now don't go crazy with the cayenne, just enough to make it unpleasant. This is a lot better than having your dog swallow cat litter that turns to cement in their digestive system and needing surgery! Don't put any cayenne inside the box or it may prevent your cat from using it. Hope it helps, perhaps some dogs may enjoy muy caliente cat poop but mine sure didn't.

Comment #65 dog lover (65.29.151.154) -

heres a thought gi rid of the dumb cat

Comment #66 belinda (207.255.223.46) -

how do i stop my dog from eating cat poopfrom the litter box

Comment #67 cassidy (75.186.113.146) -

i have a chihuahua and all she does is eat cat poop. i swear i thought i was the only one. but reading all of your things makes me feel better. cause my do does the same exact thing. ITS SO GROSS.i wish she would just eat her food like a normal person. I was look for help on this; i found my answer.

if you dont know what to do here it is:

go to the pet store and look in the medicane section and get a for something to stop that. they have something that will make it taste bad to them.

Comment #68 TedM (64.230.64.240) -

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Dog Eating Cat Poo?

--

SOLUTIONS!

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Hi there, my name is TedM, and my dog ALSO eats the yummy cat treats in the big blue box. If you read over this entire topic, you will see that A LOT of the dogs who eat this poo are, indeed, puppies.

It's a behavioral thing, sorta.

There is a MEDICAL term for this CONDITION (Yes! It is a CONDITION, not your dog wanting to bug you. After all, the dogs seem to mostly be eating the cat food. It is called Dog Coprophagia, and it occurs mostly in puppies but can occur at any time in their life.

Now a lot of people on the forum are saying this and that about nutrients, but I'm not spending 50 dollars on some random enriched treats just to find him addicted to chewing on poo.

Here is a step list of different things you can do from the ehow.com list of ways to stop COPROPHAGIA, or eating animal poo.

Step1

There are many treatments we'll go through step by step to help your dog kick his nasty eating habits. Some of these can be combined or done separately until you find what works for you and your dog. Its not always an easy fix. We have friends who have gone round and round to fix this problem. The first thing many dog owners try is commands - such as "Off." If you aren't the Alpha in your pet relationship (I know I'm not! Sorry Cesar Milan) then this usually doesn't work. Especially when your dog is drawn to cat poop or other poops to feast on. If you think commands can work for you trying a local obedience class through the city you live in or through a Petsmart type store can help in just general behavioral problems as well.

Step2

Make slight adjustments. Do you only feed your dog once a day and maybe they are still hungry? Try feeding them twice a day. Do you give your dog exercise or walks for lengths of time throughout the day? Keeping your dog cooped up can lead to boredom and displays of coprophagia.

Step3

Keep your living area clean from poop. I know this isn't always easy when your dog is getting into the litter box but if you make a habit of keeping the area free of poop and cleaning up right after kitty then this will deter your dogs problem. This may not stop him from trying to eat poop in public places where he has access so other methods may have to be utilized as well.

Step4

Food adjustments. My best friend swears that putting some vinegar and cayenne pepper on the feces itself to discourage her dog did the trick. I've heard of pickles and pineapple being used as well on top of the poop to turn your dog off to eating the cats doo doo. Be careful what you use or your dog may start liking it even more!

Step5

Help in a can! There are several products I've seen at my local pet store (Like SEP or Stop Eating Poop). Other names are Forbid or Deter. These are chemical solutions to spray or put on the poop so your dog isn't drawn to eating it. Basically the main ingredient is glutamic acid which causes the poop to become bitter to taste and your dog stops eating it.

Step6

If you feel uncomfortable buying a product in store you can visit your vet for a prescription for glutamic acid or other such clinically proven pills which will do the trick. These items can cost a little more but usually stop the problem immediately and give you some peace of mind instead of following your dog around with cayenne pepper and pineapple all day long. Of course, the dogs we know who have been on a prescription have had to stay on it for quite some time. When they stopped taking the pills they started eating cat poop again.

Comment #69 DebbieF (71.108.111.52) -

Our Border Collie has been eating cat poop for a couple of years. She has been on Wellness dog food, one of the top rated dog foods out there. She also gets a thirty to forty-five minute walk a day. Anyway, she has developed pancreatitis because of it, according to the vet. She has become very ill and will likely die of it if not kept out of the cat poop. So this is just a warning to let you know what happens if it continues. We have had to isolate the cats to the laundry room and garage.

Comment #70 me (66.32.25.71) -

4 words that do not go to gether Dog eat cat poop

Comment #71 Lynn (24.206.174.64) -

My French Bulldog is a poo connoisseur as well. Cat poop. She has an eye infection, conjunctivitis, that she most likely got from the poop. So I'm treating her for that.

In the amount of time you take to sprinkle the poop with cayanne and whatnot, i can just clean it, which i have to do anyways. I can't move the box because i have a cat that doesn't jump.

I think the best thing to do is to pay more attention to the dogs. Make sure they are exercised, well fed, and loved. If they wander over to the box... pay attention and catch them in the act. They KNOW its wrong when you say "NO".

If you find some miracle behavior training that will help, let me know. I don't want to add to my dogs sensitive digestive system, and make her sicker than she already is. So I watch her. And she's kenneled when i'm gone, if I can't take her with me.

Comment #72 Armando Diaz (74.197.164.217) -

She is a house trained, playful, obedient, loving and funny, toy poodle. She does not poo or pee inside the house. She lets me know when she has to go and never fails. But, when she goes out to the lawn if she finds a morsel of her own half digested poo poo, she eats it. She comes back and tries to hide because she knows she messed up. She knows I hate it when she does that so she tries to avoid me. Then I know.

I am going to design a muzzle that that is not overly restrictive when she goes out. I will know she did not had desert when she comes back. I will see if it works.

Comment #73 Korrie (70.20.140.189) -

My Pomeranian i dont think i spelled it right but he goes down and gets poop outta my cats litter box and eats it we have to scare him to drop it i say "eh" he drops it looks up and runs to me and tries to lick me its soooo nasty XP he does everything wrong but i really wanna know a way to get him to stop

Comment #74 Anii (76.18.59.127) -

Hi guys,

I have a 8 month maltese. I own both her mom and herself and a cat. Since she was about 4 or 5 months I noticed that she ate my cat's stool. I catch her once grabbing it from the litter box and when I screamed her name she immediately grabbed it in her mouth and took it to her bed. I went crazy and grabbed her and open her mouth and took it out. I cleaned her teeth quickly because It was really gross. Anyways what I did was I moved her bed upstairs and I don't let her go anywhere the litter box. Hasn't happened since.

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