horse poop

[Joan and Rags]

Ok, My dog loves to eat horse poop. Anyone else out there with this problem? I was told it is a sweet treat for them. I don't know. My husband just gets disgusted and calls her *#&8%mouth. Is this a harmful treat? Will she get parasites? I'm going to take her to the vet next week and ask, but I thought I would share.

[Oonagh]

Having been a lifelong horsewoman I remember someone along the way told me the Navajo word for 'dog' is 'manure-eater' and that was one of the major reasons dogs were kept in the campsites. We have always had dogs in and out of our barn and many of them have sampled the road apples...

[Stella]

Our dog tries to eat goose poop if we are walking down near the lake, disgusting!!!

[Brenda Hetzel]

I've heard if you get the right dog food then they wont eat poop so much because they are getting their nutrients from their food.

[Jamie Petro]

I'm still waiting for my doodle, but my dachshund eats poop every day on our walk. This disturbs me more than I can tell you! It's mostly cat poop, but sometimes she'll go for dog poop too. Some piles she'll pass right by, but some she can't resist. We have to constantly watch her.

[LeAnn, Lucy & Rusty!!]

ROFL.. I know I shouldn't laugh.. especially since there seems to be cause for real concern.. but Lucy LOVES horse nuggets - which to her must taste like chicken nuggets!!!

[fergie11]

I wouldn't feed it to them but if you live on a farm or frequent one regularly with your dog, they do it. You dog is not strange or anything. I think all dogs like horse poo. Fergie spends a great deal of time with horses. She loves to help with chores. Sometimes when she comes home she poops hay so I know she must of got into something. I think they build up a tolerance for this sort of thing and then their system eventually is able to handle it. But, I do tell her to quit it when I see her do it.

[Zoe, Benny and Tyler]

Horse and cow poop can contain parasites which can cause meningitis and hackles infection. This desease can lead to death and therefore please don't allow your dog to eat it. The poop is a delicacy for dogs and tastes good in their opinion but it is dangerous.
Unfortunately I have some experience as my Benny got meningitis and hackles infection as a puppy. He was born on a farm and ate horse and cow poop there. He almost died and had to stay 2 days in ICU. Therefore PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't allow your dog to eat it.

[Moose&Mica]

Horses are vegetarians and don't completely digest stuff they eat, so it could be a matter of there being veggie matter in the poo. Maybe your pooch is craving greens or chlorophyll. If the horses are eating sweet feed, then it could be the "sweet treat" idea. My dogs personally love goose poo or cat poo....not that I allow them to eat it if I can catch them at it. ICK. We had farm dogs and I don't remember any of them eating the poo.....rolling in it maybe. I don't recall a problem with parasites, but hopefully the vet can shed more light. Good luck!