Dogs

In This Article Why Do Dogs Beg? View 3 More +

In This Article What Is the Canine Good Citizen Test? View 2 More +

Watching your puppy eat poop is the one thing that makes you reconsider how much you want those puppy kisses. Unfortunately, eating stool (a behavior called coprophagy or coprophagia) is actually a very normal behavior in puppies, though it isn’t a behavior we want to encourage. Understanding why your puppy eats stool and learning how to address this behavior appropriately will help prevent it from becoming a lifelong habit. So … why do puppies eat poop? Why Is My Puppy Eating Poop? If your puppy consistently ingests stool, talk with your veterinarian. There are many possible reasons for a puppy to eat poop, and knowing if the cause is medical, behavioral, or a combination of both can help you eradicate the behavior successfully. Puppies Eat Poop To Mimic Their Mothers  Before puppies are weaned, it’s very common for the mother dog to eat the stool her young produce. This is a primitive, evolutionary behavior that developed to keep the den clean and protect the puppies from disease, parasites, and predators. The smell from large amounts of stool accumulating in a den would certainly draw unwanted attention! Young puppies learn how to be a dog from their mother by mimicking her behaviors, so it’s not uncommon for them to also try eating their own—or their litter mates’—stool. This behavior can sometimes be thwarted by picking up any stool the puppies produce before they have the chance to snack on it. Puppies Eat Poop Because of Poor Digestion  Another theory behind coprophagia is that some puppies develop the habit after not digesting their food well. If food is digested poorly, this might cause portions of the stool to have the same smell and taste as their puppy food. This similarity may inspire some puppies to eat the stool. Causes of poor digestion can be diet formulation, parasites, or abnormalities in the digestive tract. Inadequate weight gain or gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting or occasional diarrhea may warrant further investigation into your puppy’s intestinal health and diet. Boredom and Stress Can Cause Puppies To Eat Poop Puppies with inconsistent socialization and activity can develop many bad habits in an effort to entertain themselves or feel more in control of their environment. Though chewing on crates and furniture is more common, some puppies might eat their poop. Consistent, frequent playtime and interaction is important to help prevent this unwanted behavior. If your schedule requires your puppy to be alone for extended periods of time, talk to your veterinarian about age-safe dog toys that will keep them entertained and stress-free. Puppies Eat Poop Because They’re Not Getting Enough Food Though rare, coprophagia can develop simply because your puppy isn’t getting enough nutrition. Growing puppies require many more calories than adult dogs and should be fed a diet specifically designed for their needs. Young puppies should be fed three or four times a day on a consistent schedule. If you have questions about how much or how often you should feed your puppy, talk to your veterinarian. Intestinal parasites can also leech nutrients from your puppy, leading to clinical signs that are similar to when they aren’t getting enough food. Your veterinarian can look for evidence of intestinal parasites through fecal testing. Puppies Eat Poop To Get Your Attention Getting upset and yelling at your puppy is a very common reaction when you see them doing something as gross as eating poop. Unfortunately, most puppies can’t distinguish negative interactions from positive interactions, so pet parents might be unintentionally reinforcing this behavior. Some puppies will quickly learn that they get attention from their humans if they eat poop—and they’ll start to do so just to get a reaction. Puppies Eat Poop To Avoid Punishment On the other hand, puppies who recognize yelling and punishment as something to avoid may eat poop to hide the fact that they have defecated where they aren’t supposed to while being house-trained. Therefore, punishment tactics should never be used with puppies to help with house-training or stool-eating. Instead, put effort into praising good behaviors (like when your puppy poops outside). When a puppy poops on the floor, ignore them and just clean it up well. When they potty outside, praise them. Your puppy will learn that they get attention for pooping outside, not for pooping inside and eating it.

Jump to section What Causes an Itchy Dog? How To Help Your Itchy Dog

They are the unsung heroes of war. Whether called war dogs or military working dogs, canines have become an indispensable part of modern warfare. Praised for their detection capabilities, these dogs have saved untold number of lives in the Middle East and Afghanistan sniffing out bombs and weapons caches. When not on the job during deployment, military working dogs also provide relief and happiness to the troops with whom they work. “When I was with my dog, I could tell her the same stories over and over and she’d act like it was the first time she heard it,” Technical Sergeant Patrick Meade says about Liska, the dog he deployed with to combat. There also were times Liska provided levity that made war a bit more bearable. Meade recalls one time in particular: He and Liska were on a helicopter with about 60 troops, and Liska was happily running back and forth receiving pats from the servicemen. In fact, she was so happy that she didn’t want to leave when Meade disembarked. “She wouldn’t come,” Meade says with a laugh. “It was like she was saying ‘there are 60 people to pet me.’” Curious about these courageous canines? Here’s what you need to know.

Every Pug parent knows that a home is not complete without their dark-eyed, sweet-faced Pug, so gift them with a sign that says it all. The “It’s Not a Home Without a Pug” sign is a perfect gift for any Pug lover you know. Designed and manufactured in Virginia, the wooden sign measures 10 inches by 5 inches and features a beautiful picture of a Pug, a message in black font that reads “It’s Not a Home Without a Pug” and some small, red paw prints. The attached rope makes it easy to hang in any room.,Pug parents love anything that reminds them of their pint-sized puppers, so what’s better than giving them Pug-inspired dog gifts as a way of saying, “I love you as much as you love your dog.” Pugs are known for their big personalities, idiosyncrasies and heart. There is no quelling the love that Pug parents feel for their fur babies, so take a look at these fun Pug gifts for dog lovers to help them let their “Pug flag fly.”

Why Do Some Vets Offer Non-Anesthetic Teeth Cleaning? With the benefits of dental care performed under anesthesia being so obvious, why do some vets even offer non-anesthetic teeth cleanings? Their thought is most likely that a little dental care is better than nothing for those pets whose parents won’t agree to anesthesia, but that doesn’t make it a good option for you and your pets. The best way to limit the number of teeth cleanings a pet will need over the course of their life is to brush their teeth daily. Talk to your veterinarian about types of home pet dental care that will keep your pets happy and healthy. Featured Image: Adobe/worlock1,WRITTEN BYJennifer Coates, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary…,Dogs and cats need routine dental care just like humans. Without it, plaque and tartar build up on a pet’s teeth, which eventually can lead to painful gingivitis, periodontal disease, infections, tooth loss, and even problems in the rest of the body (heart disease, for example). Even with good home dental care, pets will eventually need a professional dental cleaning. This really shouldn’t be too surprising—this is what is required with our own teeth, after all. But there is one big difference between how our teeth and our pet’s teeth should be cleaned: Pets need to be put under anesthesia for the cleaning to be safe and effective.

When you and your beloved dog are faced with pet emergency, the first thing on your mind is determining how to keep them safe. Learning how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on your pet can literally save your dog’s life in some scenarios, so it’s important to understand the steps for each. Whether you’re here to learn “just in case” or you’re currently facing an emergency situation, our straightforward guide, created in conjunction with veterinarians, can help. Consider bookmarking this page for easy access in the future.

In This Article Why Do Dogs Stare at You When They Poop? View 2 More +

When it comes to our dogs’ well-being, pet parents tend to focus on things like exercise, training, and belly rubs.   But nutrition plays just as big a role—and one nutrient that sometimes sparks questions is vitamin C. So can dogs have vitamin C? The short answer is yes—but it’s not always necessary.