What Is Coprophagia In Dogs?Coprophagia in dogs is an official term for 'dogs eating poop'. Yuk!...I hear you say, but although it's deemed anti-social in our human world, coprophagia is fairly common in the dog world. It's more often seen in puppies of up to a year old, but dogs of any age can indulge in this (disgusting!) habit. Before our dogs became domesticated, the mother would lick her puppies' bottoms to stimulate bladder and bowel movement and then would eat any resultant faeces. This was the mother's way of protecting her puppies from potential predators; removing the obvious signs (and smell) of young puppies thus keeping them safe. You'll still see mothers cleaning her puppies in this way today as the instinct is still strong and drives her to 'protect' her young puppies.
Sometimes, however, dogs or puppies will begin to eat their own poop, and there are many reasons for this. If you'd like to learn more about why dogs eat poop simply follow the link. If you catch your puppy eating poop, it's best to stop it now before it can become a (bad) habit and too difficult to break. Aside from being a pretty anti-social habit, the ingested faeces can also pass on unpleasant diseases and/or parasites to your Cocker Spaniel. On the other side of the coin, an infestation of worms or parasites could result in a deficiency of essential nutrients in your dog, causing him to resort to eating his own dog poop in a bid to obtain the extra nourishment he needs. That's why it's especially important to ensure your pet is up to date with his vaccinations, as well as the usual parasite and worming treatments. There are many reasons why dogs eat poop and there are many different ways of addressing the problem. Try one, or a combination of these solutions to help stop your puppy eating poop. The really good news is that your puppy will eventually grow out of it! Important Note - Underlying Medical Problem
If you believe this could be the case, or if attempts to stop his anti-social habit have failed, it's important that you consult your vet who will quickly diagnose, or rule out, any medical problem.
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In fact, it's believed that by keeping her nest area clean, she's also teaching her puppies not to soil in their own den.