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This information is provided by
Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice of your
veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the
diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.
Licking or eating faeces is not
normal behaviour, but it is seen occasionally in cats and dogs Eating
faeces is called coprophagia and although it is very unpleasant for owners, it
is generally not harmful for the animal. It is abnormal behaviour which
may have a medical or a behavioural cause, for example :
- Inadequate food intake leading to hunger or starvation
- Gastrointestinal, pancreatic or liver disease resulting in an inability
to digest or absorb food properly and hunger (especially pancreatic
disease)
- If the faeces contains large amounts of fat (as it does with some
disorders eg pancreatic disease) it may be more palatable to a dog which
is hungry due to poor digestion
- Boredom
- Psychological stress
In some cases coprophagia may be part of a syndrome in which the animal
eats unusual materials and objects - called pica.
Correct diagnosis requires a veterinary examination, and the treatment of
coprophagia involves :
- Denying access to faeces. Remove the animals own stools as soon as they
are passed. Prevent access to other animal's stools.
- Diagnosing and treat any underlying gastrointestinal, pancreatic, or
liver disease
- Correcting any underlying behavioural problem
- Increasing physical activity of the animal to avoid boredom
- Ensuring that the animal is fed a high quality, highly digestible,
complete ration in sufficient quantities to meet the animals energy
needs.
Updated October 2013
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