Vet puts new spin on "Potty Mouth Bella"

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I spoke to Bella's Vet yesterday regarding her constant poop snacking. (Bella, not the Vet). She explained, like our breeder did, that it is a learned behavior, but instinctual as well, especially with females. It appears the mother dogs will clean up their litters poop in the wild so predators don't find the pups.  She went on to say it was her way of protecting me from predators ( Gosh, I feel so protected now, thank Goodness there's no poop to signal my where abouts), and that it is her way of keeping her environment clean. (Yeah, like she lives in a slop house!)  She gave me the great news that it is VERY hard if not IMPOSSIBLE to totally eliminate (no pun intended) the problem once they are poop eaters. She recomended "For-Bid" food additives and meat tenderizer in her diet, but it would probably be something I will need to feed her for a long time, if not forever.

 SHe also said to keep up with the Heartworm meds since she is starting to eat other dogs poops as well. No problem there,so good to know I will be getting my moneys worth out of my heartguard budget.

On the bright side, she MIGHT eat less as she gets older, but no guarantees there either. She went on to warn me about diapers too!!!! OYE!!. Grandson comes next week to live with us for awhile and we will have diapers galore!  The fun just keeps coming with the saga of the Potty Mouth Bella.

 

[Lynda Kamrath]

My male dogs love cat poop.  I have not been able to break them of that either.  I swear all the neighborhood cats come to my native garden to do their thing and the dogs love to run up there and sniff out the poop.  On the trails also they love to find large cat poop.  They don't eat coyote or other dog poop, but something about the kitty poop that is like filet mignon to them.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I'm so sorry for laughing out loud but you do have a way of adding humour to a really gross problem.  At least you have somewhere else to share it (ie here) because it's not something you're likely to share at a dinner party or family gathering! 

On a similar but unrelated matter.  I remember a man talking on the radio about the problem of dog owners not picking up poo in the local park.  He found a solution.  He sprinkled 'hundreds and thousands' (the coloured sprinkles you put on cakes) every time he came across a poo.  It made them look so gross that the dog owners soon got the message!!!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Jane, how nice of you. I have a brother who lives in Key West and I can ask him to send it, or if you remember the name of the store I can see if they will ship. Most stores down there do. I will look online for it as well. But thank you for your kind offer. Laurie, I agree that she certainly could've skipped this life lesson from mom. Jane, Guinness and Murphy, I am on her like white on rice and going right behind her and dousing it with hot sauce and cayene pepper. Re-did my voodoo hocus pocus again too. Waiting for the For-Bid to come in that I ordered. The vet did say they tend to slow down eating it with age. (Her age, not aged poop) Sometimes I feel I talk in circles. Or that's what DH says. He just hasn't learned to listen in circles yet....poor man. Thanks ladies. I will keep you updated on the Saga of the Potty Mouth Bella.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I was remembering that my brother had the same problem with his female Lab.  He was able to cure this after a few weeks of constantly watching her, and correcting the minute she even went to smell her poop.  I can't remember the details now of how he did this, but I will ask him.  She did completely get over it though, so there is hope.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This is one instance where Bella should not have listened to her (doggie) mother :) Maybe you will get lucky and she will just outgrow this habit.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Sue - I was supposed to go to Key West this next week - where they have a store that sells nothing but hot sauce of all types, sadly trip has yet again been moved - now to April.  But if you still haven't found some Hell's Inferno (we love hot and this stuff hurts!) - I'll get you some and ship it to you!!!!  I too once had a poop eater - I feel your pain.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Oh, I just deleted my response - reading about poo makes my halfsheimers kick in.  What I said the first time was that my dil has a dog that ate poo for about a year and a half - very disgusting techniques she had also!  My dil tried the diet changes like pineapple but they didn't work for her.  Gradually though Pippi has quit.  Thank goodness.  I do know that cayenne pepper worked for my mom's dog who chewed her chair legs.  She made a paste and smeared it on and the dog got the hint. Hope hot sauce muy caliente works.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Thanks for the thoughts but she has been tested for parasites and being as she was still nursing at 10 weeks and getting Fromm, vitamin deficiencies really isn't a factor. She just picked this habit up from watching her mom and it being partly instinct. And yes, my dogs do eat better than we do on most given days! I would actually be more worried about parasites if she at deer,goose and cat poops. So far just hers and a select few others, but I at least know she is parasite free so not reinfesting herself.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Wow, Bella eats a lot better than my DH does on any given day. I am no expert and just thinking out loud, but has Bella been tested for any vitamin deficiencies, parasites, etc? Other than that, I have no idea what makes a dog eat gross stuff, but I know my two love deer poop, goose poop, and cat poop..and sometimes our walks at the park consists of them trying to get the goodies and me screaming, "Leave it" and gagging:)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

LOL Laurie, What's so funny though, is that I feed her such good tasty homecooked food you would think she'd be a little more selective by now!!!  I can just hear her little mind talking:  "let's see, ground sirloin with beans, sweet potatoes, cranraisens, a can of salmon and some organic carrots to top it off for dinner and OH LOOK... there's some CRAP for dessert, yum-yum"  Really is an insult to the chef wouldn't you say?