Why Do Dogs Eat Cat Poop?

So your dog comes over, wagging their tail furiously, and eager for some kisses. But then you notice a few crumbles of cat litter stuck in the fur around your dog’s mouth, and you immediately know what has happened. Your dog has been raiding the litter box again. Gross, right?

It might seem pretty weird to us, but the average dog will eat some cat poop at some point. If you’ve ever wondered why dogs eat feces (also known as coprophagy), this article will answer all your questions and give you advice on what to do if you see your dog eating cat poop.

Is It Normal for Dogs to Eat Cat Poop?

It's not uncommon for dogs to eat cat poop at certain stages of their lives. In fact, it may be necessary for them to do so.

Mother dogs lick their puppies to keep them clean, and they ingest the fecal matter in the process. Young dogs are born without bacteria in their intestinal tract, but they need bacteria to properly digest food. The quickest way to obtain it is by eating stool from animals that already have those bacteria in their system.

In reality, a mother dog teaches her puppies to eat stool when she cleans them, so it's not as gross to dogs as it is to us. But how does this apply to an adult dog that's caught raiding the litter box?

Reasons Why Dogs Eat Cat Poop

There are two major categories of reasons why dogs will eat feces. Most cases involve behavioral causes, but there are some medical reasons as well.

Behavioral Reasons

Unfortunately, in many dogs (and perhaps most), eating feces becomes a habit. In fact, some dogs actually seem to enjoy eating it. This can become a very difficult habit to break. Your dog is getting rewarded with something they like each time they are able to access the “prize” (a dirty litter box), so they are motivated to try again in the future. Much like us grabbing the bag of potato chips even though we know it isn’t a healthy snack, dogs will be drawn to the litter box even though they know they aren’t supposed to.

Boredom is another common reason why pups will start eating feces. Since they explore the world with their mouths, the litter pan is no exception, and then they find a treat stashed there, which keeps them coming back. Dogs that have ample playtime and get lots of exercise and interactive time with their families are less likely to develop coprophagia.

Another surprising reason some dogs start to eat feces is if they have an accident in the house. If you have punished your dog in some way (even by yelling or scolding), they know they will be punished for their accident, so some dogs will hide the evidence by eating it. This is just one reason why you should always use positive potty training techniques and never punish your dog for accidents. Once they discover they like the taste of fecal matter, the situation can spread to the litter box as well.

Lastly, some dogs will begin to eat feces during periods of stress. Much like people with comfort foods, dogs will turn to the things they enjoyed as puppies to relieve their stress. For some dogs, this may include coprophagy.

Medical Reasons

Even though it’s less common, medical causes for dogs for dogs eating cat poop are diagnosed on a regular basis.

The most likely reason tends to be malnutrition in cases where dogs are being fed a diet that does not meet all of their nutritional needs. Most commonly, we see this in dogs being fed a homemade diet, or one that has not been AAFCO-certified to meet all of the nutritional needs for that particular animal (this information is found on the label).

Other causes may include intestinal parasites, poor intestinal absorption, and some types of hormonal or endocrine imbalances. Occasionally, senior dogs who suddenly develop the habit may be suffering from cognitive dysfunction.

The good news is that if your vet identifies a medical cause for your dog’s coprophagy, you can deal with the underlying condition to prevent more significant problems. The treatment may also help eliminate the desire to eat stool.

Can Dogs Get Sick From Eating Cat Feces and Cat Litter?

Unfortunately, there are some concerns with dogs that eat another animal’s feces.

First, if the other animal has any intestinal parasites or certain harmful bacteria, like E. coli or Salmonella, it is possible for your dog to contract these diseases.

One seldom-considered facet is that if the cat is taking medication, the residues from that drug may still be in the cat's feces when the dog consumes it, which may affect the dog.

And of course, whatever your dog eats can be spread to your family through their kisses and saliva. Always wash your hands well after interacting with your dog, and try to avoid kisses—especially if your dog is known to enjoy raiding the litter box.

How to Prevent Your Dog From Eating Cat Feces

This can be a tough habit to break, and it will likely take some patience and willingness to try different approaches.

Try switching to positive training methods

Most importantly, don't punish your dog for going to the cat box. This can actually make the problem worse, particularly if your dog eats stool in part as a reaction to stress. There are other ways to break the habit without punishment. If you've tried this before, talk to your vet about finding a dog trainer who can teach you positive training methods.

Clean the Litter Box Often

One technique that's very effective but labor intensive is to clean the litter pan very frequently—preferably, each time your cat uses the box. Although self-cleaning litter boxes are on the market, some cats are afraid of these, so be aware of this if you decide to get one. Follow all the advice from the company and keep both the old and new boxes available for a while to get your cat used to the idea.

Keep Your Dog Active and Engaged

It's also a good idea to keep your dog active and engaged. This will help, particularly if the habit was developed out of boredom. Tired dogs often have less interest in causing trouble, and lots of outdoor playtime will make it less likely for your dog to come inside and look for presents in the litter box.

Check Your Dog’s Diet and Slow Down Their Eating

Make sure you are feeding your dog a well-balanced diet. Talk to your vet about what you’re feeding your dog and ask for recommendations. Another thing you can try is to slow down how fast your dog eats. You can do this by using a treat ball to dispense food. This helps improve digestion and reduces the instinct to eat feces.