Question:
My husband and I have a 9-month-old Maltipoo, whom we love dearly. Unfortunately, he has a disgusting habit -- Jaxon eats his own feces. Unless we follow him around the yard with a scooper, he will always eat his feces after he defecates. How can we resolve this problem?
M. & N.C., Chesapeake, Va May 17, 2010
Answer:
Many people with dogs like yours have cured this coprophagic expression of canine dysbiosis (a digestive or nutritional problem) with brewer's yeast, probiotic capsules or tablets, live plain yogurt, kefir or digestive plant enzymes (from papaya and pineapple). Go to a local health-food store, and check out the dog-food section for organic, whole-food-ingredient brands that other stores probably do not carry. Better-quality dog foods may have the essential nutrients that your dog craves and that are lacking in his present diet. The behavioral/psychological dimensions of coprophagia are considerable, ranging from an anxiety-driven vice to simply cleaning up, like a mother dog keeping the den clean for her pups. So never scold your dog when caught in the act, but rather, ignore and try aversive conditioning, putting hot-pepper sauce or cayenne pepper on some feces left in the yard as bait.
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