What is Coprophagia?

What is Coprophagia

Humans find feces eating, aka Coprophagia, one of the most disgusting behaviors that their dog could engage in; yet to your dog it is perfectly normal.

Vets have found that diets with low digestibility, containing relatively low levels of fiber and high levels of starch, increase Coprophagia.

Therefore, high-fiber diets may decrease the likelihood of your dog eating feces. To discourage this behavior, feed nutritionally complete food in the proper amount. If changes in his diet do not seem to work, and no medical cause can be found, you will have to modify his/her behavior through environmental control before it becomes a habit.  

There are some tricks you can try, such as adding an unpleasant-tasting substance to the feces to make them unpalatable or adding something to your dog’s food which will make it unpleasant tasting after it passes through the dog. The best way to prevent your dog from eating his stool is to make it unavailable – clean up after he eliminates and remove any stool from the yard. If it is not there, he cannot eat it.

Never reprimand your dog for stool eating, as this rarely impresses your dog. Vets recommend distracting your German Shepherd while he is in the act.

Another option is to muzzle your dog when he/she goes in the yard to relieve his/herself; this usually is effective within 30 to 60 days.

Coprophagia is mostly seen in pups 6 to 12 months old, and usually disappears around the dog's first birthday.

Remember the first ingredient in every formula of your partner’s food needs to be animal sourced protein from trusted sources, for superior taste and nutrition. Sweet potatoes provide complex carbohydrates for all-day energy, while fruits and vegetables add powerful natural antioxidants for optimal health and vitality. Remember the main things your GSD requires and the systems they support.

Protein blends provide dogs with the amino acid building blocks necessary for ideal lean body condition. Natural fiber ingredients, including prebiotic fiber (dried chicory root), help support healthy digestion. The right antioxidant formulation contains guaranteed levels of selenium and vitamin E help support a healthy and active lifestyle. Omega Fatty Acids- a blend of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids from fish meal, flaxseed and either chicken fat or canola oil helps keep the skin and coat healthy and shinny.

The Valentine for your K-9

Valentine's Day is a holiday where we recognize the emotional aspects of the heart. While you are out running around buying cards, flowers and chocolates, ask yourself when was the last time your K9 partner received his/her Heartguard. Heartworms are very common in dogs throughout the U.S and are among the MOST DAMAGING parasites in dogs. However with routine care they are almost 100% preventable. Heartworms are transmitted by Mosquitoes and once mature they take up Residence inside your K9 Partner’s Heart and large blood vessels of the lungs.

Heartworms cause disease by clogging the heart and major blood vessels leading from the heart.
They also interfere with the valve action in the heart, by clogging the main blood vessel, the blood supply to other organs of the body is reduced, particularly blood flow to the lungs, liver and kidneys, causing these organs to malfunction and eventually shut down. The American Heartworm Society recommends year round prevention. Although they are seeing a Universal growing trend that has cost many dogs their lives; people skipping heartworm preventative, because it’s cold out or it’s just not Mosquito season in their region. Many of the Heartworm preventives today also help protect against fleas, and intestinal parasite control for roundworms, whipworms and some even help protect against tapeworms.
Over 300 dogs die a year from undetected heartworms. Many Veterinarians devote a entire month to heartworm awareness and give discounts on screenings. The best way to screen for Heartworms is by having your Veterinarian administer a blood test on your K9 partner, once if not twice a year.
Clinical stage signs of Canine Heartworm Disease:
Early Infection- No abnormal clinical signs
Mild Disease- Cough
Moderate Disease- Cough, exercise intolerance, abnormal lung sounds.
Severe Disease- Cough, exercise intolerance, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), abnormal lung sounds, hepatomegaloy (enlargement of the liver), syncope (temporary loss of consciousness due to poor blood flow to the brain), ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), abnormal heart sounds and death. Stop by your Vet's office schedule a Heartworm test and pick up some preventative for that Special K9 that lives depend on.