My senior dog eats poop. What supplements can help stop this?

Eating feces is a very gross habit that is unfortunately common in dogs. Since this is a recent behavior change for Mahtzee, it's possible that it could be related to an underlying medical problem of some kind - some illnesses such as diabetes and Cushing's disease can cause an increased appetite, which can lead to eating all sorts of unappetizing things that he may not have been interested in before. Your vet can do some simple blood tests to check for these problems, so it might be a good idea to have this done if he hasn't had any lab work recently. If everything checks out normal, then it may be that Mahtzee has simply developed a taste for poop - this sometimes happens, sadly! In that case, I would recommend teaching him a "leave it" command to prevent him from eating feces on your walks. To teach this, carry some tasty treats with your in your pocket when you take him for a walk. If he shows interest in something on the ground that you don't want him to pick up, say "leave it!" and show him a treat - give him the treat as soon as he looks up at you. Over time, he will start to turn away from whatever he is sniffing and look expectantly at you as soon as you give the command.

Gizzy is adorable! Thanks for including a picture! You didn't mention if the gas or diet was a recent change, but if the diet is the same and the gas and eating stool is new, then it certainly wouldn't be a bad idea to have your veterinarian examine Gizzy just to be on the safe side. There are a large number of reasons that dogs will eat their own stool. I am attaching a link to a handout that discusses that in more detail below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1613 There are food additives that you can use for this problem, but if Gizzy's diet has not changed recently, then it would be worth having your vet look for a reason for this behavioral change. If your vet examines Gizzy and does not find any medical cause for his problems, certainly a diet change is a good thing to try. I have been pleased with Wellness Senior and Orijen Senior if you are looking for a senior dog food. Be sure to transition slowly to a new diet to prevent an upset stomach. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

She may be eating it out of boredom, in an attempt to correct a nutritional deficiency or due to cognitive dysfunction (senility/dementia). Have Lexieann examined by your veterinarian. Review her diet with your vet. Provide toys and tasks to keep her engaged and busy. Pick up stool right away and restrict access to areas where there is stool. A diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction may require comprehensive diagnostics and a consult with a veterinary behaviorist.

Hi and thank you for your post. Eating feces is not well understood as to the cause but it can be related to not getting enough nutrients in the diet or a malabsorption issues or intestinal parasite. You may talk to your vet about malabsorption disease such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or IBD and the possibility of intestinal parasites. Other diseases such as diseases of the adrenal glands or thyroid can increase appetite and can contribute to eating feces. I would recommend some blood work and fecal parasite screening at your veterinarian's office soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi thanks for using PetCoach. Tootsie could certainly be exhibiting some signs of anxiety. Dogs can also develop some cognitive dysfunction as they get older as well. There are some diet some supplements that can possibly help with cognitive dysfunction, as well as medications. It maybe worth a visit to her veterinarian, to discuss options and try to differentiate whether this may be anxiety or cognitive dysfunction. Here’s a bit more information on cognitive dysfunction and some foods or supplements that may help https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/behavior-counseling-senior-pet-cognitive-dysfunction https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/nutrition-for-dogs-with-cognitive-dysfunction-syndrome-cds https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/behavior-counseling-senior-pet-behavior-problems https://indoorpet.osu.edu/dogs/aging_pets/cds

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! As you pointed out, they may be eating poop due to a deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Please remember that sometimes this is behavioral in nature. You can consider adding a multi-vitamin to their daily regimen. You may find these online or at your local pet store. If adding this, you would not have the need to feed them more which would likely result in weight gain. Good luck!

It could be Luella Rose is suffering from a nutritional deficiency, she could have intestinal worms, or it may be she simply likes the taste. Make sure you are feeding her a high quality dog food like Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, or Iams. Also make sure her deworming treatments are up to date. Finally, keep her away from other dog's poop as best you can. I hope this helps!