Oh… my special boy dog. We’ve been through a lot since we left New Jersey: his late night escape from the hotel room as we drove cross country, an attack at the dog park, learning to slip out of his collar, and getting hit by a car and losing his tail. Now Moose has developed a new bad habit: snacking on animal droppings.
Yes, my special boy has started eating poop. MUCH to my dismay and disgust.
So why do dogs eat animal droppings?
- A dog’s taste buds aren’t as sensitive as human taste buds. The smell and the texture of the droppings can make them very appealing.
- Droppings do contain nutrients and enzymes that the dog’s diet may be lacking.
- Herbivore droppings can help ease digestive issues — much the same way that grass can help ease an upset tummy.
The best thing you can do if your dog is snacking on things he shouldn’t is limit access. If you have a fenced-in yard, make sure you pick up frequently. In my situation — no yard, only walks — I just have to be extra diligent. I try to guide our walks around the land mines so Moose isn’t tempted to nibble. I always pick up Moose and Lally’s piles, and when I’ve got extra baggies, I try to pick up the other pet messes around the apartment.
In case it is a digestive issue, I’ve been adding more veggies to breakfast and dinner for the dogs. Hopefully, the nutrients and enzymes will satisfy whatever Moose is seeking out in the animal droppings. My dogs are usually happy to eat cooked carrots in with their dinner; pumpkin and pineapple are chock full of great enzymes for digestion, too.
I’ll tell you this much — Moose’s new favorite snack makes me think twice about kisses and cuddles these days!