Molly is a poop eater...oh my!

[Daelene & Molly]

I need help from anyone who knows what to do about poop eating.  It started after we gave Molly some pumpkin to firm up her poop.  Not wanting to leave our other dogs out of the pumpkin treat we gave them some and that's when the recycling began.  The other day she was running around the back yard with our 90lb labs poop hanging out of the corner of her mouth looking as my DH said "like a puppy with a cigar".  I don't want her to smoke!!!  I have tried canned pineapple to no avail, we pick up poop but are not diligent enough to get every poop I guess. Whenever Molly comes in from the outside I now wipe her face with a baby wipe & brush her teeth.  I no longer want doodle kisses from her and she has no idea why LOL. I have heard that MSG works but is that safe, and how much do I use??  Any and all suggestions are much appreciated.  Thanks ♥

[Shawn,Dana, Guinness and Barney]

We had the same problem with Sprocket. Our vet recommended giving him half a banana a day. After a few weeks of this it was no longer a problem. She said it was a potassium deficiency.

[Daelene & Molly]

We will try the banana for Molly and still continue the pineapple for Bear & Heidi.  Molly is not eating her own poop.  Thanks for the tip.

[Linda and "Toby"]

What's odd is that "adding pureed pumpkin" to dog food is one of the things people do to stop dogs from eating poop - and in this case it may have started the problem. I found this article online. I don't know if it will help but it might be worth reading: http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/stop-dogs-eating-dog-p...

 

Years ago I had a yellow lab that ate poop all the time. It was such a nasty habit. Especially when she would throw it back up in the house. (Once on the sofa!) Yeah, reaaallllly gross. If you find a way to break this habit, please share it with us. This is good-to-know info! 

[Daelene & Molly]

That was a interesting article.  We are trying the pineapple still, but maybe we were not putting enough pineapple in the food.  We will also try more exercise and stimulating her more with more training.  Thanks Linda.

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

HI Daelene - I posted a similar thing last week.   Our 5mo loves to follow around the 2yo dog and wait for him to poop so he can get it.   I am right there with bags in-hand but he will literally be under Boomer's tail waiting!   I now carry a squirt bottle (and poor Boomer can't poop peacefully any more)...I have to let them out separate when I know its poop time.    The puppy does not eat his own poop and does not eat Boomer's poop either if its not immediately upon him going.   I've actually stood near Boomer's poop for 5-10 minutes before picking up to see if Milo would come near it (so I could use it as a training opportunity) and he won't even come near it if its not "fresh"....so I am right there with a bag every time Boomer poops but as I said - Milo is right there too (under the tail waiting!)    9 out 10 outside potty breaks are separated now - which is a bummer because they use to potty and then play...but not any more.    I hope he outgrows it!   I haven't tried pineapple because I figured it'd change the taste of Boomer's food and I hate to "punish" him for something his puppy-brother is doing.   KWIM?    Good luck.

[Daelene & Molly]

I do.  I know that we have to be more diligent about following the dogs outside when they poop but it's not always feasible.  Molly likes both fresh and not so fresh, LOL The dogs really like the pineapple by the way.  We put the chunks right on top and they go after them first.

[Patty, Roxy & Spencer]

The only way to stop this is to PICK UP ALL THE POOP!  I know it is hard to do, but your pup is loving the smell and the taste of the pumpkin poop and any other that is new to her.  You may also check with your Vet.  But, usually in the puppy stage is is because the new poopy smell is so good they want to eat it!  When we got Roxy we didn't have this problem, but when Spencer came, OH My!....He loved eating the new food/poop.  I couldn't believe I had a poop eating puppy!  We started really picking up the poop right after every pooping session.  I know it is a lot of time, but it has paid off.  The only problem we have is when we go on walks where a lot of other dogs are walked and some don't pick up their dogs messes.  Spencer will have a nose is some grassy area and I'm knowing this might be a really happy poop smelling/eating time for him.  If we aren't on it we have a smelly ride home!  Usually it is the new smells that they are drawn to, so picking up the poop is really important until they get used to it.  Good luck.

[Daelene & Molly]

Thanks Patty.  We don't have a problem with Molly going after other dog's poop, just Bear's.  We stopped feeding the pumpkin but too late, Molly has developed a taste for Bear's poop.  We are trying everything and did check with the vet who said that some dogs like poop for no other reason than...liking poop.  All three dogs eat the same food, yet Molly just likes Bear's poop.  It's gross to think that we have a poop eating doodle but reassuring to know that we are not alone.

[Daelene & Molly]

An update on the poop eating....we are feeding all of our dogs TOTW, started out with the salmon then my husband decided to switch to another flavor-same brand.  Happened to coincide with the pumpkin feeding and Molly eating Bear's stools.  We went back to the salmon and believe it or not Molly will not touch the poop.  I guess to her the salmon tastes good just the first time around :)

[Linda and "Toby"]

How interesting! Good to know!!!

[Daelene & Molly]

I laugh looking back at all the research I was doing, all the different things we tried.  And all it took was going back to the salmon TOTW.  Like they say "different strokes for different folks" ☺

[Katie V]

I had the same problem with my Toby the only thing that worked was Forbid, you can get the packets from your vet.  YOu will need to sprinkle this on Molly and Bears food, it has no taste to it and won't harm the dogs.  Toby stopped going after Brady's poop within a day of eating the Forbid on their food.  Initially, I was against any form of medicine but nothing and I mean nothing worked (we tried everything you listed and more)!  

 

The meat tenderizer had a ton of MSG in it and made them sick so we stopped using that immediately.   I would recommend against the msg! 

Hope this helps let me know how you make out! Good Luck!