Is Your German Shepherd Eating Poop? Here's Why
Why Do German Shepherds Eat Their Own Poop?https://www.anythinggermanshepherd.co...
German Shepherd owners love their dogs for all kinds of reasons, but poop eating sure isn’t one of them!
In fact, if there is one behavior that seems literally designed to provoke the up-chuck reflex in you, it is the sight of your GSD going to town on their own pile of steaming poo.
Yuck.
So let’s now turn our attention to understanding why on earth your well-fed, much-loved German Shepherd might feel the need to eat their own poop, and how to stop them from doing this.
1. They Are Hungry
While it is unlikely your dog is physically feeling hungry, it is possible there’s an underlying dietary deficiency driving the behavior, which can arise for a number of different reasons.
Hidden food imbalance
Even if you’re feeding your GSD a dog food that is labeled as “complete and balanced,” studies have shown that what the manufacturer label states is not always entirely accurate.
So you may have to look for other clues – like poop eating – to detect when there may be a mismatch.
Your dog has parasites
When your dog has parasites, they’re essentially eating for the parasites as well as for their own body.
And unfortunately, eating poop is one of the primary ways a dog can pick up parasites in the first place.
So even if you don’t see other evidence that your dog has parasites, if they start to eat poop more frequently, consider getting your veterinarian to do a fecal culture.
Your dog can’t absorb the nutrients in food well
EPI is the best-known medical problem associated with poop-eating, and arises when the pancreas isn’t pumping out enough digestive enzymes to absorb the nutrients from the food.
Drugs can also cause poop eating
Drugs used to treat canine health issues like diabetes and Cushing’s disease may also cause an increase in hunger or a desire to eat poop.
Your GSD has pika
Pika is a condition where the animal develops the habit of eating non-food items, including stool.
2. Behavioral Reasons
Your puppy could be curious about their poop
While we can’t know this for sure, it is quite possible that puppies who play with their poop or eat it are simply exploring their sensory world.
Your GSD puppy wants more of your attention
When your puppy came home with you, potty training became a big part of daily life. Your puppy probably got lots of attention and praise when it was potty time and things went well.
So it’s quite possible that your puppy (or even adult dog) still returns to playing with and eating their poop as a way to get your attention.
Your German Shepherd could also be acting out of instinct
Wild canid females have often been observed eating the feces of their young to try to remove the scent to throw potential predators off their trail.
Some canine behaviorists have theorized that domestic dogs may also do this for the same basic reason – it’s a protective instinct.
How to Deal With German Shepherds Eating Their Own Poop
Removing access to the poop
Teaching “leave it” with the poop
Adding something to make the poop taste bad
Using a head or muzzle restraint
Changing something in your home environment
Adding more excitement to your dog’s life
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