Puppies eat their poop primarily due to natural, instinctual, and behavioral reasons. It is a common behavior known as coprophagy.
Reasons Puppies Eat Poop
- Motherly behavior: Puppies may imitate their mother who cleans up their living area by eating feces to keep the den clean, which is an instinctual behavior to protect them from disease and parasites.
- Nutritional needs: Puppies might consume feces to obtain nutrients that are undigested or missing from their diet, such as certain fats, proteins, or minerals.
- Curiosity and learning: Puppies use their mouths to explore the world, leading to poop-eating out of curiosity or playfulness.
- Hunger or insufficient feeding: Puppies that are hungry or not fed adequately may eat feces to satisfy nutritional deficits.
- Behavioral triggers: Stress, boredom, anxiety, or seeking attention can also lead to this behavior in puppies.
Most puppies outgrow this behavior with maturity or with training and proper diet. However, if it persists or suddenly starts in an adult dog, it is advised to check for health issues or nutritional deficiencies with a veterinarian.
