As a dog owner, one of the most frustrating and perplexing behaviours I’ve encountered is coprophagia, or poop eating. Despite how common this issue is, it’s still disconcerting and often leaves us questioning our furry friends’ health and nutrition. Through extensive research and personal experience, I’ve found that the right diet can significantly curb this unpleasant habit.
In this article, I’ll share my insights on the best dog food for poop eaters. These recommendations are based not only on nutritional content but also on factors such as palatability, ingredient quality, and the presence of essential vitamins and minerals. My goal is to help you understand why your dog might be engaging in this behaviour and how adjusting their diet can make a substantial difference.
We’ll delve into specific brands and formulas that have shown promising results in reducing poop eating. Additionally, I’ll discuss the importance of a balanced diet in maintaining your dog’s overall health and well-being. Whether you’re dealing with a puppy or an adult dog, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to make informed choices about their nutrition.
So, let’s embark on this journey together to find the best dog food for poop eaters. Your dog’s health and happiness are worth the effort, and with the right approach, you can tackle this issue head-on.
Best Dog Food for Poop Eaters: Top Choices for a Healthier Pet
As a dedicated dog owner, I understand the frustration and concern when your furry friend exhibits the unpleasant habit of eating poop. This behaviour, known as coprophagia, can be distressing, but it’s often linked to dietary deficiencies or health issues. By choosing the right food, you can help address this problem and ensure your pet gets the nutrients they need.
In my experience, selecting a dog food that focuses on high-quality ingredients and proper nutrition can make a significant difference. It’s essential to look for options that provide balanced meals, rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals, which can help curb the desire to eat faeces.
Recommended Foods for Reducing Coprophagia
Here are some of my preferred choices of dog food to help mitigate poop-eating behaviours:
- High Protein Content: Foods with a higher protein content can satisfy your dog’s nutritional needs more effectively. Look for options with real meat as the first ingredient, such as chicken, beef, or lamb.
- Added Probiotics: Digestive health plays a crucial role in preventing coprophagia. Dog foods fortified with probiotics support a healthy gut, reducing the chances of your dog resorting to eating poop.
- Balanced Fibre: Proper fibre levels aid digestion and can help make stools less appealing to dogs. Foods with natural fibres from vegetables and grains are beneficial.
- Limited Fillers: Avoid dog foods that contain unnecessary fillers like corn, soy, or wheat. These ingredients offer little nutritional value and can contribute to digestive issues.
In addition to these specific features, it’s vital to choose dog foods from reputable brands known for their commitment to quality and safety standards. By doing so, you can help ensure your dog receives the best possible nutrition to combat coprophagia and lead a healthier life.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| High Protein Content | Satisfies nutritional needs, reducing the desire to eat faeces |
| Added Probiotics | Supports digestive health, decreasing coprophagia tendencies |
| Balanced Fibre | Improves digestion, making stools less appealing |
| Limited Fillers | Ensures higher nutritional value and better digestion |
Ultimately, addressing coprophagia with the right diet involves a combination of high-quality ingredients and balanced nutrition. By focusing on these key aspects, you can help your pet break the habit and enjoy a healthier, happier life.
Understanding Why Dogs Eat Poop: Common Causes and Solutions
As a dog owner, it can be quite alarming and confusing to discover that your beloved pet is eating poop. This behaviour, known as coprophagia, is surprisingly common and can be attributed to a variety of reasons. Understanding the underlying causes is crucial in addressing and curbing this unpleasant habit.
There are several potential explanations for why dogs engage in coprophagia. These can range from dietary deficiencies to behavioural issues. Identifying the root cause is the first step towards finding an effective solution that will improve your dog’s health and well-being.
Common Causes of Coprophagia
- Dietary Deficiencies: One of the primary reasons dogs may eat poop is due to a lack of essential nutrients in their diet. If their regular food is not providing the necessary vitamins and minerals, they might seek out other sources, including faeces, to compensate.
- Digestive Enzyme Deficiency: Some dogs may not produce enough digestive enzymes, leading them to eat poop to access the undigested nutrients found in faeces.
- Behavioural Reasons: Stress, boredom, or anxiety can also lead to coprophagia. Dogs might eat poop as a way to cope with these feelings, or even due to attention-seeking behaviour.
- Medical Conditions: Certain health issues, such as diabetes, thyroid problems, or parasitic infections, can increase hunger or alter digestion, prompting a dog to eat poop.
- Learned Behaviour: Puppies may learn this behaviour from their mothers during the early stages of life or from other dogs in their environment.
Solutions to Curb Coprophagia
- Improving Diet: Ensure your dog’s diet is well-balanced and rich in essential nutrients. Consult with a veterinarian to find a high-quality dog food that meets all of your dog’s dietary needs.
- Enzyme Supplements: Adding enzyme supplements to your dog’s meals can aid in digestion and help reduce the urge to eat faeces.
- Behavioural Training: Engage your dog in regular training and exercise to alleviate boredom and reduce anxiety. Positive reinforcement can be effective in discouraging coprophagia.
- Health Check-ups: Regular veterinary check-ups can identify and treat any underlying medical conditions that might be contributing to the behaviour.
- Environmental Management: Keep your dog’s living area clean and promptly dispose of faeces. Supervise your dog during walks to prevent access to faeces from other animals.
By understanding the reasons behind your dog’s coprophagia and implementing these solutions, you can help your pet overcome this habit and ensure their overall health and happiness.
Key Ingredients to Look for in Dog Food for Poop Eaters
When selecting dog food for a pet that has a habit of eating poop, it’s crucial to focus on the ingredients that can help mitigate this behaviour. Proper nutrition plays a significant role in addressing the underlying causes, whether they are nutritional deficiencies or behavioural issues. Understanding what to look for in dog food can make a substantial difference.
In my experience, the right dog food can help discourage this unpleasant habit. By choosing products with specific ingredients, you can improve your dog’s overall health and potentially reduce their interest in eating poop.
Essential Ingredients for Curbing Poop Eating in Dogs
Here are the key ingredients to consider:
- High-Quality Proteins: Ensuring your dog gets enough high-quality proteins from sources like chicken, beef, or fish can address deficiencies that might lead them to seek out alternative protein sources in faeces.
- Digestive Enzymes: Including digestive enzymes in their diet can improve nutrient absorption, making sure your dog gets the necessary nutrients from their food and isn’t tempted to eat poop due to deficiencies.
- Fibre: Adequate fibre from ingredients like pumpkin, sweet potatoes, or peas can help improve digestion and stool quality, potentially making stools less appealing to your dog.
- Probiotics: Adding probiotics can promote a healthy gut flora, aiding in digestion and nutrient absorption, which might reduce the behaviour.
- Essential Vitamins and Minerals: Ensuring the dog food is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, zinc, and iron can prevent deficiencies that might lead your dog to eat poop.
- Natural Flavour Enhancers: Sometimes, adding natural flavour enhancers like broth or certain herbs can make the food more appealing, which might reduce the desire to eat poop.
By focusing on these key ingredients, you can select a dog food that not only meets your pet’s nutritional needs but also helps in curbing the behaviour of eating poop. Remember, a balanced diet and addressing any underlying health issues are essential steps towards improving your dog’s habits and overall well-being.
Highly Recommended Dog Foods for Reducing Coprophagia
As a devoted dog owner, I understand the frustration that comes with trying to prevent your dog from engaging in coprophagia, or stool eating. It’s not only unpleasant but can also be unhealthy for your pet. Fortunately, choosing the right dog food can play a significant role in curbing this behaviour.
I’ve spent a considerable amount of time researching and testing various dog foods that claim to address this issue. Through my experience, I’ve found that certain high-quality foods, rich in nutrients and tailored for specific needs, can make a noticeable difference in deterring dogs from eating faeces.
Effective Dog Foods to Deter Stool Eating
Here’s a detailed look at some of the best options available:
-
Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula:
This food is formulated with optimal levels of protein and fibre, which helps promote proper digestion and nutrient absorption. The added probiotics also support a healthy gut, reducing the likelihood of your dog developing coprophagic tendencies.
-
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin:
Designed specifically for dogs with sensitive stomachs, this food includes easily digestible ingredients and prebiotic fibre to support gut health. It also contains omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E to nourish the skin and coat, promoting overall health and reducing stool eating.
-
Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat:
This option is ideal for dogs with digestive issues. The low-fat content and highly digestible proteins help maintain digestive health, while a blend of dietary fibres encourages a balanced gut flora, deterring the dog from eating faeces.
These products have been chosen based on their ingredients, nutritional benefits, and positive effects on digestion and overall health. By providing your dog with high-quality, easily digestible food, you can help reduce the occurrence of coprophagia and ensure your pet stays healthy and happy.
Remember, alongside dietary changes, it’s important to maintain regular veterinary check-ups and provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation for your dog. A holistic approach is often the most effective way to address and eliminate undesirable behaviours.
Grain-Free Options: Are They Effective for Dogs Who Eat Poop?
As a dog owner, I know how frustrating and concerning it can be to see my dog engage in coprophagia, or poop eating. It’s a behaviour that has puzzled and annoyed many pet parents, leading us to explore various dietary changes in hopes of curbing this unsavoury habit. One popular trend I’ve come across is switching to grain-free dog food. But does it really help with reducing poop eating?
Grain-free diets have gained popularity for several reasons, primarily due to concerns about allergies and digestive issues related to grains in dog food. The theory behind using grain-free options to combat poop eating suggests that some dogs might be seeking out additional nutrients missing from their diet, which they might try to obtain by eating faeces. By providing a more balanced diet, free of potential allergens or difficult-to-digest grains, we hope our dogs will feel more satiated and less inclined to engage in this behaviour.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Grain-Free Diets
When I first considered switching to a grain-free diet for my dog, I did some research and consulted my vet. Here’s what I found:
- Nutrition Balance: Grain-free dog foods often rely on alternative carbohydrate sources such as sweet potatoes, peas, or lentils. These ingredients can provide a different nutrient profile that might be more satisfying for some dogs.
- Digestive Health: Some dogs indeed have grain sensitivities that can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort. By eliminating grains, these dogs might experience better digestion, reducing the compulsion to eat poop.
- Allergy Management: For dogs with specific grain allergies, a grain-free diet can alleviate allergic reactions, potentially improving overall well-being and reducing abnormal behaviours like coprophagia.
Despite these potential benefits, it’s important to remember that not all poop eating is driven by dietary deficiencies. Behavioural factors, such as boredom, anxiety, or even learned behaviour from other dogs, can also play significant roles. Therefore, while switching to a grain-free diet might help some dogs, it’s not a guaranteed solution for all cases of coprophagia.
Ultimately, I found that a multifaceted approach, combining dietary adjustments with behavioural interventions, worked best for my dog. Consulting with a veterinarian to tailor a specific plan, including whether a grain-free diet is suitable, can provide the best chance of success in addressing poop eating behaviour.
Homemade vs Commercial Dog Food: Which is Better for Dogs Who Eat Poop?
As a dog owner, it’s frustrating to witness your furry friend eating poop. This behaviour, known as coprophagia, can stem from various nutritional deficiencies, stress, or simply curiosity. Addressing this issue through diet is a crucial step. I’ve explored both homemade and commercial dog food options to determine which might be more effective in curbing this unpleasant habit.
Homemade dog food allows me to have complete control over what my dog consumes. I can ensure that every ingredient is fresh and nutritious, tailored specifically to my dog’s needs. This level of control is particularly beneficial for dogs with specific dietary requirements or food allergies. However, preparing homemade meals can be time-consuming and requires a solid understanding of canine nutrition to avoid imbalances that might contribute to further behavioural issues.
Commercial Dog Food: Convenience and Balance
Commercial dog food offers a convenient alternative, with many brands designed to provide balanced nutrition. These products are formulated by veterinary nutritionists to meet the dietary needs of dogs, potentially addressing deficiencies that might lead to coprophagia. Quality commercial dog foods often include additives like probiotics and enzymes that aid in digestion and improve overall gut health, which can reduce the tendency to eat faeces.
Pros and Cons of Homemade Dog Food
- Pros: Full control over ingredients, customisable to dog’s needs, fresh and natural.
- Cons: Time-consuming, requires extensive nutritional knowledge, potential for imbalanced diet.
Pros and Cons of Commercial Dog Food
- Pros: Convenient, nutritionally balanced, includes beneficial additives like probiotics.
- Cons: Less control over ingredients, potential for lower-quality ingredients in some brands, can be expensive.
Ultimately, the choice between homemade and commercial dog food depends on your dog’s specific needs and your lifestyle. If you have the time and knowledge to prepare balanced meals, homemade food can be an excellent choice. However, if convenience and guaranteed nutritional balance are priorities, high-quality commercial dog food might be the better option to help curb your dog’s poop-eating habits.
Understanding the Role of Probiotics in Deterrent of Coprophagia
As a dog owner seeking solutions for poop-eating behavior, I delved into the science behind it and stumbled upon an intriguing ally: probiotics. These microscopic organisms, often referred to as ‘good bacteria,’ play a pivotal role in maintaining gut health, which directly correlates with a dog’s propensity to consume feces.
My research unveiled that a well-balanced gut flora is essential in deterring coprophagia, the medical term for poop eating in dogs. Probiotics contribute to this balance by fostering an environment where beneficial bacteria thrive, consequently reducing the likelihood of such undesirable behavior.
The Mechanism Behind Probiotics’ Impact on Coprophagia
- Probiotics bolster the digestive system, enhancing nutrient absorption and reducing the chances of undigested food particles in stool, which can attract dogs to consume their waste.
- By promoting a healthy gut microbiome, probiotics help in regulating bowel movements, potentially decreasing the appeal of feces to dogs.
- Furthermore, probiotics aid in strengthening the immune system, minimizing the risk of gastrointestinal issues that may trigger coprophagia as a response to discomfort or illness.
Transitioning Your Dog to a New Diet: Tips and Tricks
When it comes to changing your dog’s diet, a gradual transition is key to ensure their digestive system adapts smoothly. Rushing the process can lead to upset stomachs and reluctance to eat the new food. Here are some strategies I’ve found effective in transitioning my furry friend to a different diet:
Firstly, mix a small portion of the new food with their current diet. This allows your dog to become familiar with the new taste and texture without overwhelming their system. Start with a ratio of about 25% new food to 75% old food and observe how they respond. If they tolerate it well, gradually increase the proportion of the new food over the course of several days or even weeks, depending on your dog’s sensitivity.
- Monitor your dog’s stool consistency and overall well-being during the transition period. Loose stools or gastrointestinal discomfort may indicate that you’re transitioning too quickly.
- Be patient and consistent with the transition process. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither should your dog’s dietary change. Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to transitioning their food.
- Introduce the new food during regular mealtimes when your dog is hungry and more likely to be receptive to trying something new. Avoid mixing it with treats or snacks, as this may confuse their taste preferences.
Remember, every dog is unique, so the transition period may vary from one furry friend to another. By following these tips and closely monitoring your dog’s response, you can help them adjust to their new diet comfortably and successfully.
Expert Recommendations on the Best Dog Food for Poop Eaters
Dogs eating poop can be a concerning behaviour for pet owners, but selecting the right food can often help mitigate this issue. After consulting with veterinary professionals and pet nutritionists, here are some expert recommendations on the best dog food for poop eaters:
1. High-Quality Protein Sources
Look for dog foods with high-quality protein sources such as chicken, beef, or fish. These proteins are more digestible for dogs, reducing the likelihood of undigested nutrients in the stool, which can attract poop eaters.
2. Fiber-Rich Formulas
Fiber plays a crucial role in digestive health and can help regulate bowel movements. Opt for dog foods that contain adequate levels of fiber, usually sourced from ingredients like brown rice, sweet potatoes, or peas. This can help firm up stools, making them less appealing to dogs prone to coprophagia.
3. Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes
Consider dog foods that include probiotics and digestive enzymes. These ingredients promote a healthy gut microbiome and aid in proper digestion, potentially reducing the chances of nutrient imbalances that may lead to poop eating behaviour.
4. Limited Ingredient Formulas
For dogs with food sensitivities or allergies, a limited ingredient diet may be beneficial. These formulas contain fewer ingredients, making it easier to pinpoint and eliminate any potential triggers for coprophagia.
5. Veterinary Consultation
Before making any significant changes to your dog’s diet, it’s essential to consult with your veterinarian. They can provide personalized recommendations based on your dog’s specific needs and health history, ensuring the chosen food is appropriate for addressing poop-eating behaviour.
Best Dog Food For Poop Eaters


Didn't find the right price? Set price alert below
Skinners Field & Trial Salmon & Rice 15kg , Complete Dry Adult Working Dog Food, Gentle Digestion, Glossy Coat
Features
| Part Number | 3945 |
| Model | 3945 |
| Color | red |
| Is Adult Product | |
| Release Date | 2011-04-14T00:00:01Z |
| Size | 15 kg (Pack of 1) |
| Language | English |


Didn't find the right price? Set price alert below
NutriPaw Pre, Pro & Postbiotic Digestive Treats For Dogs - Gut Health, Sensitive Tums, Anal Glands, Scooting, Loose Stools, Smelly, Itchy Ears, Enzymes Great...
Features
| Part Number | 0000 |
| Model | 0000 |
| Warranty | 45 Day Money Back |
| Size | Single Pack |


Didn't find the right price? Set price alert below


Didn't find the right price? Set price alert below




Didn't find the right price? Set price alert below
Burns Pet Nutrition Hypoallergenic Complete Dry Dog Food Adult and Senior Dog Original Chicken and Brown Rice 12 kg
Features
| Part Number | 5060084772175 |
| Model | 5060084772175 |
| Warranty | 1 year manufacturer |
| Size | 12 kg (Pack of 1) |

| Price history for Burns Pet Nutrition Hypoallergenic Complete Dry Dog Food Adult and Senior Dog Original Chicken and Brown Rice 12 kg | |
|---|---|
|
Latest updates:
|
|

Didn't find the right price? Set price alert below




Pooch & Mutt - Health & Digestion, Complete Dry Dog Food (Grain Free), Salmon and Sweet Potato, 10kg
Features
| Part Number | GR00142212 |
| Model | 195511/3854 |
| Color | transparent |
| Release Date | 2015-03-30T00:00:01Z |
| Size | 10 kg (Pack of 1) |
| Language | English |

| Price history for Pooch & Mutt - Health & Digestion, Complete Dry Dog Food (Grain Free), Salmon and Sweet Potato, 10kg | |
|---|---|
|
Latest updates:
|
|

Didn't find the right price? Set price alert below
Q&A:
What should I feed my dog if it eats poop?
If your dog is eating poop, it might indicate a nutritional deficiency. Consider switching to a high-quality dog food with balanced nutrition.
Are there specific ingredients I should look for in dog food to prevent poop eating?
Foods with high protein and fibre content can help deter poop eating. Look for ingredients like chicken, turkey, sweet potatoes, and brown rice.
Should I consider a raw food diet for my poop-eating dog?
Raw diets can be beneficial, but consult with a vet first. Raw diets need to be properly balanced to ensure your dog gets all the necessary nutrients.
Can I add supplements to my dog’s diet to stop it from eating poop?
Yes, certain supplements like digestive enzymes or probiotics may help. However, always consult with a veterinarian before adding any supplements to your dog’s diet.
How can I train my dog to stop eating poop?
Training techniques such as teaching the “leave it” command or using deterrent sprays can help discourage poop eating behaviour. Consistency and positive reinforcement are key.
