When it comes to the health of our beloved pets, it’s essential to have a good understanding of what’s normal behavior and what’s cause for concern. One behavior that can leave pet owners feeling confused and even alarmed is if their pup is eating poop. It’s an unpleasant sight that can cause distress, and the question of why dogs eat fecal matter may be on the forefront of pet owners’ minds. One potential cause of this behavior could be worms. This begs the question: do dogs eat poop if they have worms? In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the answer to this question. We’ll provide an overview of the different types of worms that can infect dogs, the symptoms that may indicate that a pup has worms, and whether or not eating poop is a sign of a potential problem. By the end of this post, pet owners will have a better understanding of the possible causes of their pup’
Why Do Dogs Eat Their Poop?
There are numerous explanations for why dogs ingest their own or other animals’ feces, and there are several things to take into account. According to researchers, the following factors can influence whether a dog eats feces:
Dogs may also lick their own or another dog’s poop in order to smell and taste it and learn more about it. Some people think that eating the poop after the inspection could be a way to erase any proof that the dog or the other one ever visited the area.
The general health of the dog engaging in coprophagia is one of the most frequently cited explanations for this behavior. Some people think that dogs who eat poop are trying to replenish their digestive enzymes in their gut. This is due to the fact that most of the commercial dog foods currently on the market are very different from what dogs were designed to eat. In some cases, this can lead to an enzyme imbalance in the dog’s digestive system.
An additional frequent explanation for this behavior is a vitamin deficiency, most frequently vitamin B. Although dog owners frequently want to blame their dog’s unusual behavior on a medical issue, the truth is that coprophagial activity is rarely caused by this.
There is a lot of evidence to the contrary of the common belief that dogs cannot understand or express human emotions.
In the past, people used to think that rubbing their dog’s nose in the defecation and sternly telling them “no” would be the most effective method of stopping them from going potty in the house. “Newer research not only shows that this is a bad housebreaking method, but it may also be a factor in some dogs engaging in coprophagia. Like human children, most dogs want to please their family pack, so if they anticipate getting “in trouble,” they may try to conceal the evidence.
Younger puppies who have pooped in the house and been threatened with the “nose rubbing” method have frequently been seen eating their waste to avoid being shamed by their pack or to avoid having their nose rubbed in it again. Additionally, since their face is being rubbed in their waste, young dogs may interpret the nose-rubbing technique as a cue to eat it.
As a side note, rubbing your dog’s nose is NEVER the right response; it leads to poor bonding between you and your dog and can seriously impair their development and ability to understand what is expected of them.
Some canine instincts have persisted despite dogs being domesticated, and for some dogs, these instincts are more pronounced. Dogs that roll in feces to cover their scent and dogs that circle around before lying down (a behavior known as denning) are two examples of these instincts. These instincts can be lost as dogs are bred, but occasionally they still appear to be as strong as ever. This may be another reason why some dogs eat poop.
Wild dogs rely on a variety of strategies to protect their families and hide from predators. When there are young pups in the den that are not yet old enough to leave the pack, wild dogs will urinate there. The mother frequently eats the waste of her pups to keep them safe because the smell of this waste can attract predators. Some pups may imitate their mother’s behavior if they see her doing it.
Dogs live in a society where there is always one dog at the top, and all other dogs in the pack are subservient to this pack leader. Researchers have occasionally observed coprophagia by submissive pack members, but notably, only the feces of the dominant pack members are consumed in these instances.
The more submissive pack members may be identified as those who engage in coprophagia even though the majority of domesticated dogs do not live in packs.
Neglect is one of the most regrettable causes of canine coprophagia. Like most animals, a starving dog will turn to eating anything to survive if given no other option.
Coprophagia is frequently observed in dogs whose owners have abandoned them, either by tying them up outside or leaving them in the house after they have left. When dogs are rescued from these kinds of situations, they frequently exhibit coprophagiac behavior even after being housed in a secure environment and given a nutritious diet.
Here is a graphic that explains why dogs eat feces and how to stop them.
Coprophagia is a common way for deadly diseases and parasites to spread, such as:
When a dog consumes the feces of another dog that has these parasites, they may take in live worms or worm eggs that are still inside their host. The dog with coprophagia will start to exhibit signs of contamination once it consumes these feces. Coprophagic dogs frequently have worms, including some of the following:
In addition to affecting dogs, hookworms can also infect humans and live in the small intestine of the infected animal. Even though hookworms are incredibly small, once they have infected a host animal, they are very challenging to remove.
Since hookworms feed on the animal’s blood and harm the intestinal mucosa, they can cause problems for the infected animal, including anemia. Even though canine hookworms rarely cause human illness, they occasionally do, so it’s crucial to treat a dog with hookworms right away with a dewormer. Learn more about hookworms.
Different animals can harbor tapeworms, which can develop to enormous sizes and starve their hosts. More than a thousand different species of tapeworms lay eggs that are excreted in feces.
Once the tapeworm has established itself in the newly infected dog’s intestines after ingesting the infected dog’s feces, the newly infected dog will start to exhibit symptoms. A veterinarian should treat tapeworm infestation. Learn more about tapeworms.
Another difficult parasite to get rid of is roundworms because they produce a large number of eggs that can remain viable in soil for up to 10 years even after leaving the host. In other words, a dog can get roundworms from eating infected feces or from soil that has been contaminated by those feces. A dewormer that a veterinarian has prescribed should be used to treat roundworms. Learn more about roundworms.
A dog with active parvovirus or a dog that has received effective treatment for parvovirus can transmit the devastating parvovirus disease through their dog’s feces. Many puppies with this disease are diagnosed, but many never make it past the early stages of infection.
Depending on the subtype of the disease, the infected dog’s intestinal or circulatory systems may be negatively impacted by parvovirus, which is extremely contagious. White blood cells and bone marrow are two examples of vital cells that can be quickly destroyed by parvovirus when it attacks rapidly dividing body cells.
Fluids and antibiotics are given as part of the parvovirus infection treatment to eradicate the infection. While most dogs rarely recover from parvovirus, those that do frequently have scar tissue in the organs affected by the virus as a result of their survival.
Heartworms are worms that damage the heart tissue of an infected animal, ultimately causing death. Heartworms are particularly common in dogs, and once they have infected the heart tissue, they are very challenging to eradicate.
Regular heartworm prophylactic administration can easily prevent heartworms. When heartworms become established in a dog, treatment focuses on using arsenic-based substances to poison the existing worms. Unfortunately, many dogs who have already been compromised by the infection do not recover from heartworm treatment.
Infectious canine hepatitis causes liver infection as well as the development of a bleeding disorder and can be spread through feces, saliva, urine, blood, and nasal discharge. Dogs with this illness may display a number of symptoms, such as fever and spontaneous bleeding.
Infectious canine hepatitis is treated by addressing the symptoms that each dog presents with.
The campylobacteria found in the gut causes campylobacteriosis. Small puppies are the ones who are infected the most, and they frequently present with severe diarrhea that, if left untreated, can quickly lead to dehydration and eventually death. Although campylobacteriosis typically clears up within a week, in young puppies, this period of time can be fatal.
To avoid dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance, any young dog suspected of having campylobacteriosis or exhibiting significant diarrhea needs to be treated right away by a veterinarian. Fluids and a course of antibiotics are part of the treatment for campylobacteriosis.
How To Stop Your Dog From Eating Poop
To ensure your dog is healthy, the first thing you should do is make an appointment with your veterinarian. The most crucial item you need to cross off your list is ruling out any health conditions.
Your veterinarian might suggest a course of treatment (e.g., medication) if they identify an underlying condition. g. particular diet, multivitamin or medication to relieve anxiety). Focus on preventing or distracting your dog from eating its poop if your veterinarian finds no health issues.
There are some products on the market designed to prevent your dog from eating their own feces, but these items can be both expensive and ineffective. Eliminating temptation is the best course of action. That entails accompanying your dog outside to use the restroom and cleaning up any leftover poop quickly.
You might discover that putting your dog on a leash while they use the restroom keeps them away from their waste as well. Say “no” or “leave it” and move your dog away from the waste if your dog tries to eat their own poop.
Is There Something Missing In His Diet?
The answer to this is usually “No”. Most dogs and puppies with coprophagia are fed wholesome food that offers a balanced diet.
Stool eating may be the result of extreme hunger and a need for nutrients in a stray dog who is left to fend for himself and is frequently on the verge of malnutrition. But for a well-cared-for pet, it’s extremely unlikely.
A large portion of the food your puppy consumes, however, is indigestible to him and a sizable portion of it passes through his digestive system largely undigested if it contains a lot of additives, fillers, and other ingredients.
When this occurs, your puppy may find the stools more appealing because they contain many of the same ingredients as those in his food bowl.
In these situations, switching to a high-quality, premium dog food that your puppy can actually fully digest can be helpful.
You can do a few things to deter or stop your dog from participating in his very own poop fest.
Make sure your dog is receiving a high-quality, nutrient-rich diet. Good dog food is highly digestible and causes fewer stools, and because it doesn’t contain the undigested fillers and other junk that cheaper, lower quality foods do, those stools are undoubtedly less appetizing as potential snacks. For more information on this, see my list of the top 10 dog food options.
Watch that you dont give your pup too much food. Overfeeding may cause undigested dog food to end up in his feces, which smell and taste incredibly delicious to Fido!
Scoop the poop from your yard promptly. Don’t just leave the mess and wait to clean it up on the weekend (or whenever). Do it on at least a daily basis. Pick up your dog’s waste as soon as it leaves his body when you’re out walking him. before he has a chance to snack on it!.
FAQ
What happens if my dog eats poop with worms?
There definitely are health concerns when dog eats feces. He might pick up parasites from a wild animal or stray pet, or if he already has worms, he might keep reinfesting himself. Additionally, parasites from feces, such as hookworms, can be acquired through the skin.
Can a dog get worms from eating their own poop?
Illnesses Transmitted Through Coprophagia. The act of coprophagia can spread a number of deadly diseases and parasites, such as: Worms Parvovirus.
Why is my dog eating its poo?
Sometimes eating feces is a reaction to stress, boredom, or anxiety. When your dog is left alone at home for an extended period of time, they may eat their own waste because they have nothing else to do.
Do dogs poop when they have worms?
Your dog’s poop may contain signs of worms, though some parasites must be viewed under a microscope. Parasites can cause other infection symptoms, such as diarrhea, itching, or a lack of energy, even if you can’t see worms. Your pet’s best parasite prevention and treatment options will be suggested by your veterinarian.