Eating feces (poop) is very common. The disorder has a name called coprophagia. It is very gross and very common. It can spread some pretty nasty parasites and bacteria, and speaking from personal experience poop vomited onto the couch is incredibly nasty.
For many dogs, coprophagia is a sign of an overly rich diet. For some dogs, it can also be a sign of major gastrointestinal disease. If allowed to go unchecked, it can also become an obsessive disorder.
What to do?
If your puppy is eating poop, a parasite and bacterial evaluation is required. If normal, we might advise a diet change. There is a dietary supplement that can added to your puppy’s food to make the poop taste really nasty (like it really tastes good to start with?). This works well if started soon.
If your dog starts eating poop at an older age, then a more thorough health evaluation and testing are required…for parasites, pancreatic diseases, liver diseases, diabetes, food allergies, food sensitivities, and intestinal disorders. If all is normal we can try the same treatment as puppies.
Unfortunately, in older dogs, poop eating can be a sign of an obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as physical illness. Due to inactivity, poor training, and poor early socialization, these dogs suffer from anxiety, manifested by their unappealing palate. These dogs require behavioral modification as well as treatment with pheromones, supplements, and in many cases, medication (to assist the training). In some dogs, treatment is for life.
Early intervention is critical. Remember that coprophagia isn’t just gross. It can be a sign of illness and if not stopped early, can become a lifelong problem for you and your pet.