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-   -   Dog eating cat poop found outside (http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=65060)

JW-CKCS August 20th, 2009 05:45 PM

Dog eating cat poop found outside
 
Hello - new member here. We have 2 dogs (Cavaliers) and 2 cats. For several years, both cats were strictly indoor, with the litter box in the basement where the dogs could not reach it. Now we are letting the cats out into the fenced backyard to roam around while we are at home. Since then, they prefer to poop in the yard instead of in the box. If the dog finds the poop before me, he eats it.

I have read other postings regarding dogs eating poop from the litter box and saying it's relatively harmless, but what about poop found outside? Is there any danger to the dog eating this? Can they pick up parasites from it? It's not long before any poop outside gets discovered by flies and they start laying eggs on it. I find it gross, but if there is genuinely no danger to the dog then I can put up with the situation, and try to be vigilant.

thanks

budgrrl August 20th, 2009 08:59 PM

Coprophagia - eating poop.
While I am certainly not a pro in this area, I do believe there are several reasons dogs eat poop - particularly cat poop: simply, it tastes good to them (gag); cat poop contains fairly high levels of protien (perhaps changing foods to one that is higher in protien might help); hunger; boredom; etc.

I would think that it would not be particularly good for them as poop can contain various parasites (giardia, coccidia, roundworms, etc).

My dog as a puppy used to think the litter box was her own buffet table! I solved it simply with a covered litter box. I was concerned about her digesting (or rather inability to digest) the litter.

I suppose if they are all out in the yard together, the best thing is to be very diligent on cat poop scooping.


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