I have two English Cockers, one of which has eaten his own poo on and off since he was a pup. Now my other one has started too - lately they have even started eating other dogs poo when we are out walking. Please. please, please can anyone tell me why??? is it a behaiour thing?? or maybe a some kind of dietry deficiency ??? an suggestions would be gratefully received.

Hi, I have just got a lab puppy and she has done exactly the same! I was quite worried so i called the vet and he says it's just a bad habit and hopefully she'll grow out of it and that many dogs do this, mine also licks up her own wee!

Shelly

You can always use the search facility here on the site , there have been lots of threads on the subject ..here is one to start you off : Poo Eating

HTH

Melody :)

coprophagia,nasty!
there are many theories to why.ive had dogs that do it but most stopped after a few weeks.

hi
my lab puppy started to do that to and a friend adv just to say no pull away and not make a great fuss which i have tried and glad to say it has worked so far fingers crossed

`Hi, I have a GSD and she has a bit of a nervous tendancy. She goes through phases where she gets quite "depressed" and low and this normally brings on her digestive problems which then leads to her eating her own poo. (thankfully it has become a rare proplem now but when she was younger it happened more often) The vet basically said that her body doesn't digest her food properly so when it passes through it is still very much like her dinner (if that makes sense) so although to us it smelt and looked normal to her it ws her dinner!!
Thats propbably not related to your 2 but it is another reason. When she first started it before we realised she had this problem they first put it down to her being a puppy and said she will grow out of it and it was common.

Hi

I read your dogs problem, I could not help but notice most of the replies concentrated on a bad habit. We however have had a very different experience. I thought you might like an alternative theory.
I had experience two cocker spaniels (from the same breed, both dogs were related via pedigree)
Both from birth starter to eat their own poo. We took the dogs to the vet, and they took a sample of their poo for testing. We discovered on both occassions this was caused by a pancreas deficency, called Tripson Deficency. (Not sure on correct spelling). Another sign we noticed was the dogs were hungry all the time and looked thin.
It may be worth discussing this with your vet. The treatment involved tablets which compensated for the underactive pancreas.

Hope this helps.

http://www.cybersoup.com/anew/pets/cats/stoolconsume.html