Why Does Your Dog Eat Feces? Causes, Concerns, and What to Do

Discovering that your dog eats feces — whether their own or another animal’s — is one of those moments that can leave you equal parts baffled and concerned. You’re not alone in wondering what’s going on, and the good news is that this behavior, while undeniably unpleasant, is actually more common than most pet owners realize. Understanding why it happens is the first step toward addressing it effectively.

Common Causes

The behavior of eating feces is known in veterinary circles as coprophagia, and it can stem from a surprisingly wide range of causes. Some are purely behavioral, while others point to an underlying medical issue that deserves closer attention. Context matters a great deal here — a puppy experimenting with their environment is very different from an adult dog who has recently developed this habit out of nowhere.

Here are some of the most common reasons your dog may be eating feces:

• Nutritional deficiencies or malabsorption: If your dog’s body isn’t absorbing enough nutrients from their food, they may instinctively seek out feces as an alternative source. This is especially common with deficiencies in B vitamins and other essential nutrients.
• Behavioral and learned habits: Puppies often explore the world with their mouths, and some pick up coprophagia simply through curiosity. Dogs who were raised in overcrowded or stressful environments may also develop the habit as a coping mechanism.
• Attention-seeking behavior: If your dog has learned that eating feces gets a strong reaction from you — even a negative one — they may repeat the behavior simply to engage your attention.
• Anxiety, boredom, or stress: Dogs who are under-stimulated, anxious, or confined for long periods may turn to coprophagia as a self-soothing behavior, much like other compulsive habits.
• Underlying medical conditions: Conditions such as parasites, diabetes, thyroid disease, Cushing’s disease, and certain medications like steroids can increase appetite dramatically, sometimes leading your dog to eat things they normally wouldn’t.

It’s worth noting that mother dogs instinctively clean up after their puppies by consuming their waste, so this behavior has some roots in natural canine instinct. However, when it persists or develops in adult dogs, it warrants a closer look.

Age and environment play a meaningful role in how and why coprophagia develops. Puppies between 4 and 9 months are the most common experimenters, and in many cases the behavior simply resolves on its own as they mature. When it appears for the first time in a middle-aged or senior dog with no prior history, that’s a different story — a sudden onset in an older dog is more likely to have a medical explanation and should prompt a vet visit sooner rather than later.

Diagnosing the underlying cause typically begins with a thorough history. Your vet will want to know when the behavior started, how frequently it occurs, what type of feces your dog is consuming, and whether any other symptoms are present. From there, a fecal parasite exam, complete blood panel, and urinalysis can help rule out conditions like intestinal parasites, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), diabetes, and Cushing’s disease — all of which have been linked to increased scavenging and appetite-driven coprophagia. EPI in particular is worth highlighting: it’s a condition where the pancreas fails to produce enough digestive enzymes, leaving dogs in a near-constant state of nutritional hunger despite eating normal amounts of food.

There is also a social learning component that often goes unnoticed. Research from the University of California, Davis, found that coprophagia is more common in multi-dog households, suggesting that dogs can learn the behavior simply by observing other dogs. If one dog in your home has developed the habit, it’s worth monitoring your other pets closely and intervening early before the behavior spreads.

Symptoms to Watch For

Coprophagia itself is the primary behavior of concern, but it can sometimes be accompanied by other signs that help paint a clearer picture of what’s going on with your dog’s health. Paying attention to these additional symptoms can be incredibly helpful when you speak with your veterinarian.

Watch for the following alongside the feces-eating behavior:

• Weight loss or poor coat condition, which may suggest a nutritional deficiency or malabsorption issue
• Increased appetite or thirst, which can indicate metabolic conditions such as diabetes or Cushing’s disease
• Vomiting or diarrhea, particularly if your dog has been consuming feces from other animals, which can introduce harmful bacteria or parasites
• Lethargy or changes in energy levels, which are general signs that something may be off internally
• Signs of anxiety, such as pacing, excessive panting, destructive behavior, or difficulty settling
• Visible worms or abnormal stool, which may point to an active intestinal parasite load

If your dog seems otherwise healthy and happy, the cause is more likely behavioral than medical. But when multiple symptoms are present together, it’s a strong signal that a vet visit is in order sooner rather than later.

Symptom Severity at a Glance

Symptom	Risk Level	Action Required
Eating own feces occasionally, no other symptoms	Mild	Monitor at home; review diet and routine
Poor coat condition or mild weight loss	Mild	Schedule a routine vet visit within 1–2 weeks
Vomiting or diarrhea after consuming feces	Moderate	Call your vet within 24 hours
Significant or rapid weight loss	Moderate	Schedule a vet visit within 24–48 hours
Marked increase in thirst or urination	Moderate	Call your vet within 24 hours; bloodwork needed
Lethargy combined with vomiting and weight loss	Serious	See your vet promptly — same day if possible
Visible worms in stool or around the hindquarters	Serious	Contact your vet today for fecal testing and treatment

Breeds Most at Risk

While coprophagia can affect any dog, certain breeds appear more prone to the behavior based on documented tendencies toward food obsession, anxiety, or digestive sensitivity.

Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are among the most commonly reported breeds for coprophagia, and it’s not entirely surprising. Both breeds are famously food-motivated and tend to have indiscriminate appetites — they’re the dogs most likely to hoover up anything that smells remotely interesting. Their strong scavenging instinct, which made them excellent working retrievers, also makes them less discriminating about what goes in their mouths.

Border Collies and other high-drive herding breeds are disproportionately affected by anxiety- and boredom-driven coprophagia. These are dogs bred for relentless mental and physical activity, and when that need goes unmet — even partially — they’re more likely to develop compulsive or displacement behaviors, including feces eating. If you share your home with a working-breed dog, enrichment isn’t optional; it’s essential.

Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties) have a noted predisposition to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), the digestive enzyme deficiency mentioned earlier that leaves dogs perpetually undernourished despite adequate food intake. Because EPI drives intense, nutrition-seeking hunger, Shelties and other breeds with EPI susceptibility — including German Shepherds — are at higher risk of coprophagia as a downstream symptom of that condition.

What You Can Do at Home

If your dog is healthy and the behavior appears to be habitual or curiosity-driven, there are several practical steps you can take at home to discourage it.

The most effective first step is cleaning up immediately. Removing feces from your yard and during walks as quickly as possible eliminates the opportunity for the behavior to occur. What isn’t there can’t be eaten, and consistency here goes a long way.

Review your dog’s diet carefully. Make sure you’re feeding a high-quality, nutritionally complete food appropriate for your dog’s age, size, and activity level. If you have any doubts about whether their nutritional needs are being met, your vet can recommend adjustments or supplementation, particularly with digestive enzymes or B vitamins.

Increase mental and physical stimulation. A bored or understimulated dog is far more likely to engage in unwanted behaviors. Regular exercise, puzzle feeders, training sessions, and interactive play can make a meaningful difference in reducing anxiety-driven habits.

There are also deterrent products available — both food additives that make feces taste unpleasant and sprays for outdoor areas — that some owners find helpful. These can be worth trying as part of a broader management strategy, though they work best when combined with other behavioral interventions.

If your dog is eating the feces of other animals, such as cat feces from a litter box, consider placing the litter box in a location your dog cannot access. This is a simple environmental fix that removes the temptation entirely.

When to See a Vet

While coprophagia is often behavioral, there are clear situations where a veterinary visit is the right call. You should schedule an appointment if the behavior has started suddenly in an adult dog with no prior history of it, as this can indicate a new underlying medical issue. Similarly, if your dog is losing weight, drinking more water than usual, showing signs of gastrointestinal distress, or appears lethargic, don’t wait to seek professional advice.

Your vet will likely recommend a physical exam along with bloodwork, a fecal parasite test, and possibly urinalysis to rule out medical causes. If a health condition is identified, treating it directly often resolves the coprophagia as well. For cases that are confirmed to be behavioral, your vet or a certified veterinary behaviorist can recommend a targeted training and management plan tailored to your dog’s specific needs.

How Pet Insurance Can Help

Diagnosing the root cause of coprophagia may involve diagnostic testing, specialist consultations, or treatment for an underlying condition — costs that can add up quickly and catch you off guard. Having a solid pet insurance plan in place means you can focus on getting your dog the care they need without the added stress of unexpected bills.

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For times when you need immediate guidance from a licensed veterinarian without leaving home, telehealth services can be a lifesaver.

For more clinical details on canine health, you can refer to the professional guidelines from the Merck Veterinary Manual.

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Discovering that your dog eats feces is undoubtedly an unpleasant surprise, but it’s a problem that is very much manageable with the right information and support. Whether the cause turns out to be behavioral, nutritional, or medical, there are clear steps you can take to help your dog — and to bring a little more peace of mind back to your daily walks. You’re already doing the right thing by looking for answers, and with a little patience and guidance, this is absolutely a behavior that can be resolved.