So your darling dog pooped in the yard. No problem. You get a broomstick and a dustpan and prepare to clean up the mess. When you come back, the poop is gone. Puzzled, you wonder where it went, when you notice your pet licking his lips, as if he just ate something. Gross.

It's normal for some animals to eat their own feces or other animals' feces. This is called coprophagy, and is evident in insects (flies and dung beetles), rabbits, hamsters, pandas, gorillas and rats. It sounds disgusting, but they do it mostly to get nutrients from the digested feces.

Dogs are among the most popular animals that perform coprophagy, and although it's natural, it can become abnormal and unhealthy. Too much feces consumption can lead to health dilemmas like intestine worms, pancreatic problems, digestive system failure and intestinal cancer.

Snacking on poop doesn't seem bad, but in the long run, you'll see the negative things it brings. If you're really concerned for your darling pet, you have to find a way to get rid of his coprophagy tendency. Here are some ways how.

Why Does He Eat Poop?

Before you can eliminate coprophagy, it's important to know first what causes it. It makes the condition more understandable, and perhaps, eliminating these causes will help your dog stay away from this behavior.

Coprophagy occurs because:

• It's an old trait. Many expert believe coprophagy has been passed through the ages. The close cousins of dogs, wolves and coyotes, often eat feces when they have a low food supply. They also ingest feces to replenish their vitamin supply. For example, they eat herbivores' feces to get B vitamins.
• To protect their offspring. When a bitch gives birth, coprophagous behavior is often seen. The mommy eats the feces of her puppies. They do it in an attempt to hide the presence of litter from possible predators.
• It's observed from other animals. If you live in an place where other animals that perform coprophagy are present, your dog might observe them and imitate the habit.
• They are stressed or anxious. This often occurs in kennel situations. It also happens when an owner has scolded or punished the dog for defecating inappropriately. The dog will start to think defecating is wrong and they'll try to eliminate the evidence.
• It tastes good. Even though it's disgusting for us, some dogs find feces pleasant-tasting, drawing them to eat it.

Now that you know the primary reasons why dogs eat their stool, you can now move on to eliminating the problem completely.

Clean The Mess

Observe your dog's environment. Is it neat and dirt-free, or is it always littered with poop and other materials? How often do you clean it? Is his dog house well-maintained? Coprophagy may be an inborn trait, but the environment where your dog is also matters. If your dog always sees feces, then he'll become more tempted to munch on it.

One way to stop the habit is to help your dog stay away from the poop itself. Always check that his doggy environment is clean and poop-free. Whenever you see him defecate, scoop the feces up immediately and put it in a trash can. Make sure your dog won't be able to get his paws on it. Clean his doghouse at least once a week to make sure no feces remains inside. As long as the environment's poop-free, your dog will be able to break the coprophagy habit.

Pay Attention

Some dogs eat their poop not because of any trait, but just because they want to be noticed. When their master doesn't pay them any interest, they pull off this stunt, so they'll get the attention they want.

Show your dog that he doesn't need to chew on his poop just to get your TLC. Shower him some affection and spend some time with him. Cuddle him every now and then, take him out for a walk, or play with him. Even a pat on the head can lift up his spirits in an instant. Giving him some quality time will not only make him happy, but also help him stay away from his coprophagy tendency.

No To Other Animals

Dogs are smart and they are very observant creatures. It's wonderful how they can do tricks and all, but sometimes, this observant trait brings them more harm than good. For example, when they stay around animals that consume feces, they might think it's okay to do the same. They will then be tempted to eat their own, or worse, that other animal's poop.

To solve this dilemma, make your darling pooch stay away from other animals. If you can, don't have too many pets at home. Your dog might pick up strange behavior and habits from them, like poop-eating. If you must have other pets, then keep them in a places where your dog can't reach or be with them.

Use A Diversion

When trying to make your dog stay away from the poop habit, you need to give him something that will distract him and divert his attention. Give him something he can play with, like a chew toy, a rag hide bone or a squeaky doll he can chew on. Let him go out and exercise. When he's having a fun time playing, he'll remain happy and will stay away from coprophagy urges.

If your dog still can't get poop off his mind, try this tactic: get a roundish pet toy and lace it with peanut butter. He can lick and chew on it, but he won't be harmed. Plus, he'll get to taste a yummy flavor.

Make It Taste Horrible

Dogs think poop is yummy, no matter how smelly and yucky it is for us. Since most pooches eat it because of its taste, one way to make them turn away from it is by making it taste disgusting for them. This method works best when the behavior has just begun.

Here's one easy way: when the dog defecates, put some cayenne pepper, Tabasco sauce or chili powder all over the feces. When the dog tries to eat it, he'll find the taste unbearable and he'll refrain from eating it. Keep repeating this tactic until the dog is able to resist the habit completely. Just be careful, though. Sometimes, dogs acquire a fondness for Tabasco, so this might not work.

Another idea is to make the feces taste horrible by adding something to the dog's diet. You can buy products like Dis-Taste or For-Bid from pet shops, then add them to your dog's food. When he poops, his stool will be so horrible-tasting, he'll turn away from it. Keep doing this until your dog has broken the habit.

Change His Diet

One of the main reasons why your dog likes to eat his waste is his appetite and nutrition needs are not satisfied with his present food intake. Think about what food you serve to him. Is it sufficient for his big and hearty appetite? Is it varied, and does it contain all the nutrients he needs?

When your dog has coprophagy, it might be necessary for you to have some dietary changes. Stop giving him commercial pet food, especially the dry type, for a while. Switch to natural meals you prepare yourself. Add a lot of protein in his food, like cottage cheese and eggs. Make sure he doesn't get excessive carbohydrates, but he should have enough B vitamins.

If you must, add a multivitamin to his diet. Providing your dog with the right nutrition makes him crave feces less. As long as your dog is well-fed and well nourished, he won't be tempted to chew on poop anymore.

Be Nice

Some dogs are coprophagous because they get horrible treatment from their owners. For example, their owner just ignores them, and fails to take them out on walks, so they can't defecate properly. They have no other choice but to poop inside the house, and when the owner finds out, they are scolded, sometimes even harmed. Their fear and trauma cause them to eat their feces.

Remember this: dogs are animals, but they also have feelings. They can get emotionally hurt or distressed, even by the slightest raise of your voice or even with just a gentle slap. Be very nice to your pets, and learn how to treat them properly. Make it a point to spend time with them. When they do something bad, don't lose your temper, but scold them in a mild-mannered way. Let them feel that they're loved. Eventually, they won't feel anxious and afraid, and they won't eat poop anymore.

Being responsible for your pet includes watching out for his well-being and all habits that might be harmful for him, like coprophagy. If your dog has this strange and yucky eating disorder, try to get rid of it by using these tactics. Soon, he'll be happy, healthy and poop-free.