Coprophagia

Dear Dr. Lee,

My 4 year old yellow lab, Kenny, is a beloved family member, but he does have one annoying vice. He eats his own stool! He especially likes it when it is frozen, and sometimes brings his "snack" into the house. This is beyond disgusting - what can I do about this?

Ken's Fans in Bridgeport


Dear Ken's Fans,

Coprophagia, the oral consumption of feces, is a normal canine behavior that is not very acceptable by human standards. Coprophagia is not an indicator that a dog is being fed a substandard diet or has digestive problems. It is thought that this behavior was one inherited from wild canine ancestors who did not always have access to regular nutrition, and needed to scavenge to stay alive.

The best way to prevent coprophagy is to pick up stool in the dog's yard as soon as it is deposited. This will deny the dog the opportunity to eat his own, or his housemates feces. If out walking in public areas, keep your dog on a shorter leash so that you can prevent his contact with the feces of other dogs whose owners do not pick up after them (shame on them!). Another technique is to place a muzzle on the dog before going outside to inhibit stool consumption.

Other commonly suggested methods include using a powdered food additive (Forbid), mixing meat tenderizer, cottage cheese or pineapple with food, or lacing already deposited stool with cayenne pepper or hot sauce. While these additives do make the stool distasteful, the most persistantly coprophagic dogs will be able to smell which stools are "doctored" and which are not, thus know which piles are less distasteful to consume.

If your dog consumes the stool of other animals, monthly broad-spectrum deworming becomes especially important for the health of the dog, and to keep him from shedding intestinal parasite eggs that could potentially infect the humans he shares his house with. This can be acheived through monthly, year-round administration of heartworm preventatives such as Sentinel, Interceptor, Heartguard Plus, or Revolution.

Sincerely,
Dr. Lee

Update: Destructive Scratching solution

This is a follow up to the post "Destructive Scratching" that was posted in June 2009.

I have recently come upon a new interactive device meant for cats. It is called Pavlov's Cat Scratch Feeder, and it consists of a scratching post that holds dry treats or cat food. When the cat uses the scratching post, some food is automatically dispensed, and the cat is rewarded for scratching in an appropriate place! Wow!

Reducing the stress of cat transport

Since Syracuse is a college town, I have had several college students and professionals come in for health examinations because they are taking a cat home for the summer, or they are moving to another part of the country. One of the most frequently asked questions is "can I sedate my cat for travel?"

Sedation of felines for transportation is not particularly desirable, and some sedatives can cause blood pressure changes that can be dangerous during transport. A cat owner who has advanced notice of travel plans can help the cat travel without the use of sedatives, and thus more safely by acclimating their cat to the carrier and to traveling (at least in a car). Here are some tips that were published in AAHA's Trends magazine this past March:

1. Socialize cats and kittens to the carrier and to traveling.
- Keep the carrier out and accessible in the home.
- Make and maintain a positive association with the carrier by making it a comfortable resting, feeding, or play location.
- Take the cat in the carrier on periodic car rides with positive experiences (i.e., not just to the veterinary office).

2. Withhold food prior to travel to help prevent motion sickness. It may also make the cat more interested in treats at the end destination.

3. Use Feliway on and in the carrier on a routine basis and just prior to transportation. Feliway is available from veterinarians, and is also marketed at major pet stores as Comfort Zone for Cats. Placing a worn item of clothing in the carrier from a favorite person can also help to make the carrier more welcoming.

4. Provide cover or hiding options in or over the carrier during transportation. A blanket or towel draped over the carrier can work very well.

If the cat owner can take the time and make the effort to acclimate the cat to travel, it can be a better experience for all.