{"id":1115,"date":"2018-03-14T11:46:59","date_gmt":"2018-03-14T18:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rocklinranchvet.com\/blog\/?p=1115"},"modified":"2025-04-22T07:36:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T14:36:14","slug":"dogs-eat-cat-poop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocklinranchvet.com\/blog\/dogs-eat-cat-poop\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do Dogs Eat Cat Poop? \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DogThere are few things grosser than finding out that dogs eat cat poop. Although we can\u2019t believe they do it and don\u2019t understand the allure, dogs sure seem to enjoy it, no matter how much we protest.<\/p>\n

It turns out this disgusting habit is a result of natural dog behavior. At Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital<\/a>, we explore the reasons behind this tendency and what owners can do about it.<\/p>\n

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The Reasons Dogs Eat Cat Poop<\/h3>\n

Dogs are scavengers and omnivores; the sad truth is, dogs eat cat poop because it\u2019s there and they can. It doesn\u2019t indicate a nutritional deficiency, and it\u2019s not a behavior problem they can be trained out of (unfortunately).<\/p>\n

Dogs in the wild, stray dogs, or rural-living dogs will eat anything and everything to survive. Your city dwelling dog has this natural tendency as well, even though they\u2019re well fed. You probably know dogs will eat anything<\/a>, including carpet, socks, rocks, and everything in between. We\u2019ve seen evidence of all these things on x-ray images at our hospital!<\/p>\n

The scientific term for poop eating is coprophagia. It might start in puppyhood, but most of the time, the habit begins when dogs first discover the litter box has tasty treats inside. After that initial taste, the behavior is reinforced every time they get a snack from there.<\/p>\n

Is Cat Poop Bad for Dogs?<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s common for dogs to eat cat poop, and most of the time, they\u2019re fine. Aside from mild gastrointestinal upset, many dogs have no problems at all. However, there is some risk of your dog contracting harmful bacteria or parasites from cat poop. To make matters worse, some of the bacteria, like salmonella, can be transmitted to people. It could also be harmful if your dog ingests a large amount of litter, but all of these risks are relatively minimal. If your dog routinely raids the litter box and has diarrhea or is constipated or if you\u2019re concerned about their health, please give us a call<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prevention<\/h3>\n

So how can you prevent this disgusting behavior? Well, once the habit is established, it\u2019s nearly impossible to break. Scooping the box immediately after your kitty uses it also isn\u2019t realistic. Instead, prevention is the best medicine. Here are some tips and ideas:<\/p>\n