My
dog is eating his poop! How can I get him to stop?
There's nothing that freaks dog owners out quite
as much as the sight of Fido chowing down on his
own poo! Don't worry, Fido's not some kind of deviant.
This is a fairly common behavior called coprophagia.
There are many reasons that Fido may be eating his
feces, so it may take some experimentation to figure
out what it will take to fix his problem.
Dogs can start eating poo for the simple reason
that they're hungry or they think the poop tastes
good. Feeding the dog a larger amount of food or
splitting the food into multiple feedings instead
of one big meal might help to prevent him from getting
hungry for a poo snack. Changing the kind of food
you're feeding Fido may also help, since a different
dog food can change the flavor of his poo and he
might not enjoy it quite as much.
A food change may also help if you're feeding a
low-quality dog food and Fido's eating his poo because
he's not getting sufficient nutrition from his food.
You might also want to have your vet test a stool
sample, since parasite infestations can also cause
Fido to miss out on some of the nutrients in his
dog food.
Some dogs will eat feces out of boredom or anxiety.
Be sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise and
attention. Obedience training can also help. Giving
Fido toys to play with and bones or other chew toys
will give him something to occupy himself with (other
than poo!).
Some dogs will eat poop in their crate or confinement
area or in the yard in an attempt to keep the area
clean. Be sure to pick up any poo promptly so Fido
doesn't feel the need to do it himself. Don't let
him watch you clean up, since some dogs seem to eat
poop as an imitative behavior... he sees you doing
it and mimics the behavior.
You should also be careful about correcting Fido
for this behavior, since some dogs seem to use poo
eating as an attention getting activity. If you jump
up and start screaming and chasing Fido around when
he tries to eat his own poop, he'll realize that
he can get some action and attention from repeating
the behavior. Better to calmly stop him if you see
him looking like he's about to eat his poo. Use the
other methods mentioned here instead of correction
to stop this behavior.
If you've tried the all of the above and haven't
been able to resolve Fido's problem, you might want
to give Fido an anti-coprophagia supplement. You
can buy them over-the-counter, but you may want to
check with your vet before using them if you have
any questions. There are two good products, Forbid
and Deter, that you can easily find at the pet store
or online. When digested, the supplement gives Fido's
poo a bad taste (as if poo didn't taste bad enough
already!) so he'll be less inclined to eat it.
There
are white things in my dog's poo that look like spaghetti...
what are they?
Fido most likely has roundworms, a common intestinal
parasite in dogs. Wondering how he got roundworms?
The four most common ways a dog gets roundworms are
consuming worm eggs from soil, eating an animal with
roundworms, nursing from a mother dog with roundworms,
or puppies can be infected during embryonic development
if the mother dog has roundworms.
Try not to be too grossed out... just take him to
the vet to have a stool sample tested. Your vet will
give you a deworming product that will easily resolve
this problem. You'll likely have to treat Fido two
to three times a few weeks apart so worms in all
life stages are killed by the deworming medication.
Talk to your vet about regular preventive deworming
at home to prevent future infestations.
Another possibility to consider... if Fido chews
on rope toys that are made up of thin, white strings,
you may want to check to see if he's ripped one apart...
sometimes a suspected roundworm infestation turns
out to be strings pulled off of a rope toy and swallowed!
There are
white things in my dog's poo that look like grains
of rice... what are they?
If Fido has a tapeworm infestation, you may see
tapeworm segments that look like grains of rice in
his feces. You may also see them around his anus
or on his dog bed. There's even more bad news with
this one... the most common way dogs get tapeworms
is from swallowing an infected flea, so Fido probably
has a worm problem AND a flea problem. Take him to
the vet for treatment of both.
To prevent future infestations, talk to your vet
about deworming your dog regularly at home and be
sure to keep Fido on a good flea control program
year-round.
What do I
do if my dog has diarrhea?
Although diarrhea isn't always a big deal, medically
speaking, it always seems like a big deal when it's
impacting your housebreaking program. Even housebroken
dogs can have occasional accidents when they have diarrhea
they can't control. However, even if the initial accident
is caused by uncontrollable diarrhea, having accidents
can be come habitual if Fido gets used to going potty
in the wrong area. So, when Fido has diarrhea and it
lands in the wrong place, it's important to get the
diarrhea under control immediately and be sure that
you're especially vigilant about supervising Fido and
giving him regular potty trips for a few days after
a bout of diarrhea so he stays in the habit of going
potty in the right area.
Occasional diarrhea occurs with most dogs and can
be caused by a food change, by stress or when Fido
eats something he shouldn't that doesn't agree with
his digestive system. It can also be caused by parasites,
viruses, allergies, infections or other medical conditions
that require veterinary intervention.
Fido's diet is the first thing you should consider
when digestive problems occur. Has he eaten anything
unusual, such as a new brand of food, treats or chew
bones? Did he pick something up on the street, go
dumpster diving in your kitchen and eat your fast
food leftovers or gobble up a whole bowl of your
cat's food? You may notice a pattern to Fido's diarrhea
incidents, which will make it easy to resolve.
If a food change seems to have caused Fido's diarrhea,
it may be because the new food doesn't agree with
him or because you changed his food abruptly. When
changing foods, a gradual approach works best. Don't
wait until Fido's food bag is empty to buy a new
brand. You'll need some of the old food to mix in
with the new. For most dogs, the best approach is
starting with 3/4 of the old food and 1/4 of the
new, then going to half and half, then to 3/4 of
the new food and 1/4 of the old before feeding exclusively
the new food. Stay at each phase for 3-4 days to
give Fido's system a chance to adapt. If you find
that he continues to have digestive problems even
with this slow approach, the new food might not be
right for him and you may have to go back to the
old food or find another that agrees with Fido's
tummy.
Overfeeding can also cause soft stools or diarrhea
in some dogs. Check to be sure you're feeding Fido
the proper amount by checking the feeding guidelines
on the dog food packaging or by talking to your vet
about the appropriate amount of food to give Fido
at each meal.
If you find that Fido has diarrhea after you give
him new treats or chew bones, try giving him fewer
of them to see if you can slowly acclimate his system
to them. If that doesn't work, try a new brand or
type.
If Fido's stealing Kitty's food, put the food up
high where your cat can get to it, but Fido can't.
Be sure that Kitty's bag of cat food isn't accessible
to Fido, since cat food in large quantities can be
very hard on Fido's system.
If Fido's getting diarrhea after digging around
in your trash can, get a covered trash can or put
it in an area that isn't accessible to him. Better
yet, get the help of a trainer and teach that naughty
dog to stay out of the trash!
Many dogs can get diarrhea when they're stressed
out. If Fido's this kind of sensitive guy, obedience
training him on your own or with the help of a trainer
can be useful, since it will build his confidence
and help him to deal better with stress. Try to keep
a consistent schedule for Fido, since structure in
his day will help Fido if he's the kind of guy who
gets a bit rattled by change. Be sure to get Fido
plenty of exercise, which will also help with his
stress level. If these things don't seem to help,
you might want to try an over the counter or herbal
anxiety reducer for dogs or call your vet for help
with your dog's anxiety issues.
If Fido seems to feel fine and his diarrhea is not
accompanied by any more serious symptoms (fever,
lethargy, vomiting, refusing food or water), there
are a few things you can try to "firm things
up". However, if diarrhea is accompanied by
any of the more serious symptoms or if the diarrhea
lasts more than a day, you should take Fido to the
vet immediately. If Fido's very young, very old or
very small, he can become dehydrated quickly, so
you should take him to the vet promptly if he has
diarrhea.
When Fido has diarrhea, he'll benefit from a bland
diet of boiled chicken and rice, or for a mild case
of diarrhea, you can just add some plain, boiled
white rice to his regular food. The rice helps to
firm things up and, in some cases, it's all he'll
need to get back to normal.
Rice water can be used to get the same result. This
is effective if Fido's feeling too icky to eat. To
make rice water, simmer 3 cups of white rice in water
for 20 minutes, then strain out the rice and keep
the liquid. Give the liquid to Fido every few hours
when he has diarrhea.
Diarrhea control tablets for dogs are available
online or at your local pet store. These are good
to have on hand for occasional, unexpected diarrhea
episodes.
If your dog has frequent or regular diarrhea, enzyme
supplements or probiotic supplements given on an
ongoing basis can also be helpful, but you need to
try any treatment recommended by your vet first,
since regular or frequent diarrhea definitely requires
a visit to the vet's office.
Help!
What can I do about my dog's gas problem?
First of all, please don't invite us over for dinner
until you've resolved this problem.
Dogs can have gas problems that range from mildly
amusing to stomach turning and stinky to dangerous
and deadly. Of course, most gas isn't dangerous to
Fido, but it can make him a less pleasant companion
for you (and anyone else with a nose).
If Fido has occasional gas attacks, his gas is likely
caused by something he ate. Figure out if he's had
anything unusual, like a new brand of dog food or
treats, a new kind of chew bone or some table scraps.
If you're able to find the culprit, of course, you
should discontinue giving it to him, since it clearly
doesn't agree with his system. Occasional gas problems
can usually be resolved by giving Fido an anti-gas
medication for dogs. It's a good idea to have some
on hand, just in case!
If Fido has frequent gas problems, the first step
is to consider a food change, since something in
his dog food might not agree with him. Be sure to
change foods gradually by mixing the old food with
the new, since an abrupt change can make his tummy
troubles even worse. You may also find it helpful
to give him an over-the-counter probiotic supplement
or enzyme supplement on an ongoing basis. Many owners
find that adding plain yogurt with live cultures
to Fido's food will decrease the stink factor, if
given regularly.
Although most cases of gas are just bothersome to
us and a bit uncomfortable for Fido, gas can be a
real problem, since it can be a sign of a more serious
medical issue, especially if Fido is a big, deep-chested
dog whose breed is prone to bloat or gastric torsion,
a condition in which the stomach bloats and flips
over inside Fido's body, causing a medical emergency
that can lead to death. If you notice that Fido's
gas leads to his stomach seeming extremely bloated
or rigid, or if he seems to be in a lot of pain,
you must get him to a veterinarian immediately. If
Fido's a large breed dog, you should talk to your
vet about whether he might be at risk for this problem
so you know what to look for.
Frequent or regular gas may also be a sign of other
digestive disorders, so, of course, it makes sense
to consult with your vet if Fido has big gas problems.
Also, remember that a bit of gas can be a sign that
Fido needs to poo, so it's a good idea to give him
a potty trip when you notice that he's stinky.
My dog's
pee is leaving big brown spots in my grass... how
can I fix this problem?
Contrary to popular belief, you can have a dog and
still have a beautiful, green lawn. There are several
possible solutions that will allow you to save your
grass. The most obvious solution is to encourage
Fido to urinate somewhere other than in the middle
of your lawn. You can get into the habit of taking
him for walks so he potties off of your property
entirely, or you can encourage him to go potty in
one area of your yard, like a back corner or side
yard, where his pee stains won't be a problem. To
teach him to go in one area, he'll need to be on
his leash every time you take him out. Take him directly
to the area where you want him to pee, then let him
run and play in the rest of the yard only once he's
emptied out in the appropriate area. You'll have
to be very consistent about accompanying him outside
if you choose to do this training, and you'll find
that it works best if you start it early in training,
before Fido gets in the habit of using your whole
yard as a toilet.
Another very effective way to prevent brown spots
is to water down the spot where Fido went potty right
after he goes. Keep the hose or a full watering can
handy and water the spot immediately. This will dilute
the urine and prevent it from burning the grass.
The easiest solution to this problem is to use a
grass-saving supplement (with your vet's approval,
of course). These over-the-counter supplements are
given daily in pill or powder form, and they'll change
the ph of Fido's urine so it no longer burns your
grass.
If your grass is already burned, you can treat existing
spots with a lawn repair product that will help your
grass to get back to normal as quickly as possible.
My
dog gobbles down his food so fast, he throws it up
after eating. What can I do to slow him down?
If Fido is a canine vacuum when his food bowl hits
the ground and you're feeding him only once a day,
you might try changing to two meals a day so he's
not famished when it's time to eat. You'll give the
same amount of food, just split it into two portions
instead of one.
Changing to a food with a different kibble size
can also be helpful. If Fido doesn't tend to chew
his food, you might try larger kibble, since he'll
likely have to chew them more than he would smaller
ones. If he already eats large kibble and swallows
them whole, switching to smaller kibble might allow
him to keep his food down, even if he's not willing
to take the time to chew.
Feeding Fido using a "Brake-Fast" bowl
will slow him down nicely. This bowl has raised plastic
knobs in the middle of it, so Fido's forced to eat
around the knobs instead of just sticking his face
in the middle of the bowl and inhaling his food.
Or you can do what we used to do in the days before
the "Brake-Fast" bowl... put a full soup
can or a large rock or brick in the middle of Fido's
bowl for the same effect.
You
say I should take stool and urine samples to the
vet if my dog is having problems. How much do I need
and how do I collect the samples?
Aaaah, one of the great joys of dog ownership...
sample collection. Not everyone's favorite pastime,
but if you know how to do it, it isn't so bad. The
good news is that, for most tests, your vet will
only need about a tablespoon of urine, which shouldn't
be too hard to get.
Stool samples are fairly easy to collect. You'll
need to get your sample from a fresh pile, so you
should accompany Fido to his potty area and collect
as quickly as you can. Use a clean plastic bag turned
inside out. Put your hand inside the bag and grab
some poo from the top of the pile... you want a "clean" sample,
so you don't want to include the part that touched
the ground, since it can have dirt or plant material
in it. If you see evidence of worms in Fido's stool,
try to include the worm in the sample you take to
the vet. Turn the bag right side out, seal it and
you're done! If you can't get to the vet right away,
you'll need to refrigerate the sample. We know you
don't particularly want poo in your fridge, so get
to the vet asap!
Collecting urine samples is a bit trickier. Take
your dog outside, preferably on leash so you're right
there to collect the sample when the time comes.
For female dogs or male dogs who squat to pee, the
best collection tool is a clean aluminum pie pan
or a clean, shallow plastic food storage container.
For leg-lifting male dogs, duct tape a clean plastic
cup or a fairly deep food storage container to a
broom handle or stick, so you get get it into the
urine stream when he lifts his leg. To get a clean
sample, you don't want the first few drops of pee
to be included in the sample, so start collecting
mid-stream. Seal the sample in a jar and you're ready
to go. Again, you'll need to refrigerate the sample
if you can't get to the vet right away... if you
need to do this, be sure to mark the sample clearly
so nobody gets a surprise when looking for something
to drink!
If you're not able to collect a urine sample, contact
your vet. Most vets will help you to collect a sample.
Allow Fido to have free access to water before going
to the vet, then don't allow him to urinate before
he goes in. If you think you won't be able to stop
him from peeing when he gets out of the car, leave
him in the car and see if a veterinary technician
can meet you in the parking lot with a container
to help you collect the sample. If that doesn't work,
you may be able to leave Fido at the vet's office
for a few hours until he's ready to produce a sample. |
