SYMPTOM
Coprophagia (eating faeces)
Owners may observe their dog consuming its own faeces or those of other animals, a behaviour that can appear suddenly or become more persistent over time.
Normal behaviour and scavenging
In most dogs, eating faeces is ordinary canine behaviour rather than a sign of illness. In one large owner survey, around one in six dogs had been seen eating dog stools on at least six occasions. Those dogs were more often described as greedy eaters and more often lived with other dogs, most of the stools eaten were fresh, and no link was found with diet. The survey also found no link with age, and very few of the frequent stool eaters were under a year old. Puppies are still widely described as investigating and eating faeces, with the habit usually settling by adulthood, so the sources do not fully agree on this point. A bitch nursing a litter normally eats her puppies' faeces while keeping the nest clean. Many dogs are also drawn to the faeces of other animals, and raiding a cat's litter tray is a familiar example. Curiosity, learned habit, attention-seeking and boredom can all keep the behaviour going.
Nutritional deficiency or malabsorption
Less commonly, coprophagia develops when a dog is not absorbing nutrients from food properly despite eating enough, and the partially digested material in faeces may still hold nutrients. This pattern tends to stand out when it begins in an adult dog that previously showed no interest in faeces. It is typically accompanied by other signs, such as weight loss, a large appetite or changes in the stools.
Digestive enzyme insufficiency
When the pancreas does not produce adequate digestive enzymes, food passes through the gut largely undigested. The resulting faeces may contain substantial unprocessed nutrients, making them more attractive to the affected dog. Coprophagia is reported in dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
Dietary composition
A large owner survey found no clear link between coprophagia and the type of diet fed, which weighs against diet composition being a major driver in most dogs. A biologically plausible idea remains under discussion: a diet that is poorly digested could leave more nutrient content in the stool, potentially making it more attractive to some individuals, though this has not been demonstrated directly.
Stress or anxiety-related patterns
Some dogs develop coprophagia in response to environmental stressors, confinement, or anxiety. This may represent a displacement behaviour or a response to discomfort, and is sometimes observed in dogs experiencing significant changes in their routine or living situation.
Increased appetite from medication or hormonal disease
Some medicines increase appetite as a side effect, and corticosteroids and phenobarbital are recognised examples in dogs. A dog on one of these that develops or increases coprophagia may simply be eating more of everything, including faeces. Hormonal conditions that increase hunger, such as diabetes mellitus or Cushing's disease, can produce a similar pattern. In these situations the coprophagia tends to appear or worsen alongside a wider increase in appetite rather than as an isolated change.
Why timing matters
Early observation
When coprophagia appears for the first time in an adult dog that previously showed no interest in faeces, it may warrant more attention than long-standing behaviour present since puppyhood. The sudden onset of this behaviour in an otherwise well-adjusted adult dog can sometimes indicate a shift in digestive function or nutritional status that is not yet apparent through other signs.
Later presentation
Persistent coprophagia, particularly when it intensifies over time or develops alongside other changes such as weight loss, increased appetite, or alterations in stool consistency, may suggest an underlying process affecting nutrient absorption. The combination of coprophagia with these additional signs tends to provide more diagnostic context than the behaviour in isolation.
The trajectory of coprophagia can be informative. Behaviour that resolves with dietary change or environmental modification may suggest different underlying factors compared with behaviour that persists or worsens despite such adjustments. In some dogs, coprophagia may be the first visible sign of a digestive process that later manifests with more obvious gastrointestinal changes.
Conditions commonly associated
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
Coprophagia may develop in dogs with EPI as the body attempts to recover unabsorbed nutrients from partially digested faeces.
Compulsive Behaviour in Dogs
In some dogs, coprophagia may develop as a compulsive behaviour pattern, persisting beyond any nutritional or medical trigger.
Pica in Dogs
Eating faeces is a common form of pica, sometimes occurring alongside a taste for other non-food items.
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Dogs with hepatic encephalopathy may show coprophagia alongside other behavioural changes, possibly because altered brain chemistry affects appetite regulation and normal behavioural inhibition. The behaviour can appear as part of a broader pattern that includes disorientation and changes in awareness.
The page on this condition is being checked again and is offline for now.
Lymphoplasmacytic Enteritis
Coprophagia can develop in dogs with lymphoplasmacytic enteritis, particularly when the intestinal inflammation impairs nutrient absorption. The behaviour may reflect a response to malabsorption, as the faeces retain undigested material that the dog attempts to reclaim.
Eosinophilic Enteritis
Dogs with eosinophilic enteritis may eat faeces when the underlying inflammation reduces the efficiency of nutrient uptake in the small intestine. This can occur alongside weight loss, intermittent diarrhoea, and other signs of gastrointestinal disturbance.
Intestinal Lymphangiectasia
Coprophagia may appear in dogs with intestinal lymphangiectasia, where protein loss and malabsorption may leave some dogs seeking nutrients from unconventional sources. The behaviour often coincides with weight loss, diarrhoea, and low protein levels in blood tests.
Attention-Seeking Behaviour
Coprophagia can become part of a learned pattern when a dog discovers that eating faeces reliably produces a strong response from people nearby. The behaviour may begin for other reasons but persist because the attention it generates, even if negative, reinforces the action.
Intestinal Parasites
Coprophagia can develop in dogs with intestinal parasites when incomplete digestion or malabsorption leaves undigested nutrients in the stool, which the dog may then attempt to reclaim. The behaviour may also reflect gastrointestinal discomfort or altered gut function associated with the parasitic burden.
When to explore further
When coprophagia develops suddenly in an adult dog that has not previously shown this behaviour, particularly if it persists beyond a few weeks.
When coprophagia is accompanied by weight loss, increased appetite, or changes in stool consistency that suggest a broader digestive pattern.
When the behaviour intensifies over time despite environmental management or dietary adjustments.
When coprophagia occurs alongside other signs such as flatulence, increased stool volume, or coat deterioration.
When a dog regularly eats faeces, particularly those of other animals, the parasite and public health side of the behaviour becomes relevant whatever its cause. Faeces can carry organisms with different routes to people. Roundworm (Toxocara) eggs are not infective at the moment they are passed; they need to develop in the environment for about one to four weeks before they can infect a person, so the risk builds up in contaminated soil, bedding or on the coat rather than from freshly passed faeces. Salmonella can pass more directly, for example through a dog licking hands and faces after contact with faeces. Most Giardia carried by dogs belongs to dog-adapted types that appear to pose a low risk to people, though this cannot be assumed in every case. Young children and people with weakened immune systems tend to be the most vulnerable members of a household.
Noting when coprophagia began, whether it targets the dog's own faeces or those of other animals, and what other changes may have occurred around the same time can help build a picture of the underlying pattern. Observing whether the behaviour correlates with changes in appetite, stool quality, or body condition may provide additional context for understanding its significance.
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026 · Dr Alastair Greenway MRCVS