Why French Bulldogs eat poop?
Ever caught your lovely Frenchie feasting on its poop and wondered why?
Well, in this article we will tell you why poop-eating is common among French Bulldogs and how to stop it
Why French Bulldogs Eat Poop
Nutritional deficiencies and malabsorption
If your Frenchie is lacking some important nutrients in its diet or is unable to properly absorb certain nutrients in its food, it may eat poop. Additionally, if your dog is not digesting its food correctly, it will pass through its system and come out smelling and looking the same way it ate it in the first place.
Poor nutrition or digestive issues will make your Frenchie eat poop as it appears like an attractive source for it to get the missing nutrients.
Hunger or food obsession
Any dog that is suffering from starvation or severe malnutrition is likely to eat anything it comes by, poop including. Frenchies that are on steroidal treatment may experience increased appetite and hunger leading them to eat poop in a bid to top up on their food.
Medical issues
Sometimes, coprophagia, or the tendency to eat poop, may be an indication of an underlying health issue. Diseases such as diabetes, cushion disease, hypothyroidism, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and other gastrointestinal issues may lead to increased appetite causing a dog to eat feces if they don’t get anything else.
Some illnesses may also change the smell and consistency of poop encouraging a dog to eat the stool. If your Frenchie suddenly starts eating poop, it’s important to consult a vet.
Instincts
Mother dogs tend to lick and ingest their puppies’ feces to keep them clean. Frenchie puppies are thus highly likely to pick this natural behavior at an early age. While some puppies will outgrow this tendency, others may continue it into adulthood.
Additionally, Frenchie puppies love to explore the world around them, particularly by smelling and eating anything they come across. As such, they may eat poop during their escapades.
Anxiety, Fear, or Stress
A Frenchie that is severely stressed, depressed, or under anxiety or fear may result in poop-eating as a soothing mechanism. This is particularly common in dogs that are experiencing separation anxiety or are distressed out of isolation. A Frenchie will also eat its poop as a way of hiding evidence to avoid punishment especially if the dog associates the feces with punishment.
Attention-seeking or boredom
Frenchies are highly social dogs. As such, leaving them alone for long periods will result in boredom. Consequently, a bored dog will try to look for things to indulge in as a way to fight the boredom, including eating poop. Frenchies also eat poop as a way of getting their owners’ attention. This is because you are likely to shout and overreact every moment you see it eating feces. As a result, your Frenchie may repeat this behavior just to get your reaction.
Inappropriate association with food
If your Frenchie’s eating area is placed too close to the potty area, it may associate poop with food. This happens because they are unable to distinguish between the odor of the food and that of the poop.
They love the taste of poop
While it may sound disgusting to humans, some dogs find the taste of poop appealing. Since poop is simply digested food, your dog may be attracted to it.
Restrictive confinement
Frenchies who are kept in small spaces for extended periods are likely to develop a habit of eating their excrement. This is particularly common in dogs that are saved from overcrowded shelters.
Intestinal parasites
If your dog is infected with intestinal Parasites like roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms can infect your dog and get nutrients from its diet causing malabsorption and inflammation. This leads to poop eating.
How to Stop Poop Eating
These are some steps you can take to stop your Frenchie from eating poop:
Talk to your vet
The first step you should take to prevent your Frenchie from eating poop is to find out the root cause of the behavior. It’s thus important to get in touch with your vet to rule out any medical issues before addressing the issue. Your vet may also recommend supplements or food that you may add to your dog’s diet.
Feed a well-balanced diet
Ensure you give your Frenchie a high-quality, well-balanced food that’s appropriate for their age and activity level. A good diet should contain all nutrients that support overall health and functioning including proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Talk to your vet for suggestions and recommendations for the best diet for your pup.
Clean your dog’s poop immediately
Ensure that there are no piles of poop in the compound by cleaning up immediately your pup is done with his business. By getting rid of the poop, you’ll also get rid of your dog’s temptation to munch on it. You’ll also be denying it the opportunity to explore and taste the stool.
Give lots of attention and sufficient exercise.
A bored dog is likely to engage in undesirable behaviors including poop eating. As such, it’s important to ensure that your Frenchie gets all the attention he needs and wants. Avoid leaving your pup alone for long periods. Ensure you also keep it physically and mentally stimulated by giving sufficient exercises and providing lots of interactive toys.
Address the anxiety or stress
If your dog’s poop-eating habit results from boredom or stress, find out the root cause of this and attempt to treat it. If it’s suffering from separation anxiety, not leaving it alone for long durations and providing them with lots of interactive toys will help.
Keep your dog on a leash during walks
Frenchies are natural explorers and love to explore by tasting everything they come across. As such, it’s crucial to always keep them on a leash while walking to keep them from eating what they shouldn’t.
Distract your Frenchie and reward good behavior
Yelling and punishing your Frenchie when it eats its stool will only make it worse. Instead, you should employ positive reinforcement techniques and praise it whenever it displays good behavior by not eating its poop. You can also distract your dog from the feces using treats or any other thing.
Train your dog
Teach your Frenchie some basic instructions like come or leave it. You can teach them to come for a treat after they are done pooping. This will help them develop a habit of coming for the reward rather than turning to the poop.
Why French Bulldogs Eat Poop- Final Thoughts
Poop-eating is common among French Bulldogs. This may be caused by various reasons. If your pup suddenly starts feasting on its feces, find out the cause and address it to discourage the behavior.