You may have noticed your beagle friend doing the disgusting thing of eating its own poop or of other animals. As bad as this is, it is rather a very natural behaviour in dogs and especially beagles.
The scientific term for eating faeces is coprophagia, and it is pretty typical among dogs. 23% of dogs consume their own excrement (eating poop at least one time).
Hounds like Beagles are the breed of dog most likely to ingest dog waste. 33% of households with many dogs reported a tendency of ingesting dog waste. Only 20% of houses with a single dog did. Dogs who take food off tables, like beagles, are much more prone to consume faeces.
Exclusively, 15% of dog poop eaters consume their own waste. They only consume that of other dogs. Beagles, however, frequently favour their own due to chance.
Up to one day-old excrement is preferred by 92% of dung eaters. Compared to intact males, females are more prone to consume faeces.
Why do Beagles eat their poop?
Beagles eat poop for a whole host of reasons, including boredom, learnt behavior, stress, nutritional deficiencies, attention-seeking, hunger and food obsession, and many more – plus the fact we may make a big song and dance of it!
But there is more to it. Below are more reasons why Beagles eat their poop.
Why Does My Beagle Eat Poop? – Here are Some Reasons
Your beagle friend eating poop could be because of various reasons. Let’s look at them.
1. Your Beagle is Bored
We know how babies get inquisitive when they are left alone for an extended period of time. They tend to put anything they find in their mouths. This is the same for dogs, especially beagles, who are easily bored when left alone for a long time.
Beagles, like any other dog breed, love attention, care and physical activities from time to time. Thus, if you leave your beagle unattended for a long period, it could get boring, start to experiment with things on its own, and this is when they usually end up eating their own poop.
2. Your Beagle is Experiencing Stress and Anxiety
Another reason beagles eat poop is when they are under stress or feeling anxious. Just as humans, dogs do feel stressed and anxious too. A tumultuous environment and separation anxiety, being confined for an extended period of time are some factors that can cause your dog stress and anxiety.
When this happens, beagles tend to exhibit unusual behaviours such as being aggressive or eating poop.
3. When You Feed Your Beagle Dog Food with Fillers
Diet with filler foods such as corn, wheat, husks and soy in them only make your beagle hungrier faster than usual and does not provide any essential nutritional value for your dog. They only fill up your beagle’s tummy but are quickly digested, leaving your dog hungry sooner than usual.
The short digestive tract of dogs means they process foods very quickly. This leaves your dog hungry and searching for food. With nothing in sight, fresh poop will be its only option and to your dog, it looks good and tastes good, so it just eats it.
4. When Your Beagle is a Nursing Mother
If your beagle is nursing its new puppies, you may have noticed her eating their poop. This is the natural instinct of beagle nursing mothers to keep their puppies safe from predators. They eat the poop to get rid of the scent by which predators track them.
5. They learnt it from their mother and You
When beagle pups watch their mother eat their poop, they think it’s a good thing, and they learn from her. You may be wondering what exactly we mean, given that you do not and would never eat poop.
Thing is, whenever you go to clean up your beagle’s poop, it thinks it is something worthwhile to be always picked up by you. With that mindset, your beagle then thinks it is okay to eat it.
6. Hiding the Evidence
There is a school of thought propounded by some dog owners that beagles eat their own poop to hide their bad behavior of pooping indoors. To avoid being caught and ‘punished,’ beagles tend to eat their own poop.
7. Beagles are Natural Scavengers
Beagles were naturally bred to hunt. Their instinct to constantly be on the lookout for food meant they would scavenge for whatever they could get their paws on. If it looks like food, then it’s good enough to be eaten.
8. Mistaken Attention Seeking Gestures
Once you spot your beagle eating its own poop, you may shout, gasp or wave your hand in an attempt to get its attention to stop it.
However, your dog may mistake your gestures for a fun game and rather go on eating the poop, in anticipation of more of those gestures. Your dog will then think it is a good behaviour you support.
9. They Like the Taste
While we find this behaviour disgusting, beagles beg to differ. They actually find poop tasty. I mean, if they did not, they would not go back for it time and over, right? Dog diets are designed to fuel their bodies, so if they find poop tasty, they think it’ll do the same for them.
10. Your Beagle Wants to Keep Its Crate Neat
Like humans, dogs do not like to sleep in dirty environments. Thus, if you are the type that crates your dog, know that it is likely to be eating its poop when you do not collect it for a long time.
Your beagle will not like to sleep by its poop in the crate. He would also not have any problem eating it to keep the crate tidy.
Ways To Stop Your Beagle From Eating Poop
Here are some ways you can help your beagle friend stop eating poop:
1. Dietary Supplements Are Highly Recommended
You might want to switch to a high-fibre formula if you’ve recently reduced the number of calories your dog consumes. They may not enjoy the flavour of their own faeces after using enzyme supplements.
The addition of papaya, cottage cheese, or crushed pineapple to the dog’s diet has been effective for some owners in helping them stop the habit.
2. Clean Up Your Beagle’s Poop Immediately
This is the one effective way to avoid the nasty situation of your dog eating poop in the first place. If you consistently clean up right after it poops, there would not be any opportunity for your dog to eat any poop. Leaving the poop uncollected for a long period of time is what will afford your dog the chance to experiment with it and end up eating it.
3. Train Your Dog
One way you can also stop the poop-eating habit is to train your dog to immediately leave the poop area once it’s done pooping. You can start by enticing it with treats each time it is done pooping.
Stand at the door and call to it with the treats in hand. Once it comes to you, leave the treats with it, close the door, and go collect the poop. Be consistent with this until your dog intuitively runs back inside after poop, even when you are not standing there.
4. Familiarize Your Dog with a Command Phrase
You can also establish a command word between you and your beagle friend; one that when you issue, it will know to stop whatever it is doing and come to you.
Thus, once your dog is done pooping, or you spot it trying to eat another animal’s poop, you quickly issue the command to get it to come to you. It could be “No” or “Drop it”.
5. Supervise Your Beagle on Walks
When walking with your dog without the leash, you ought to keep a strict eye on it, as beagles can easily stray away when they catch the scent of poop.
Once you notice your dog moving away or towards a poop, you can quickly issue your command word. Alternatively, you can choose to walk your beagle on a leash if you do not think you can give it proper supervision off-leash.
6. Avoid Crate Accidents
One of the reasons your beagle is likely to poop in its crate is if you have not let it out for a long time. It will then tend to eat it. It is thus important to have a properly scheduled routine for crating your dog.
It all starts with good crate and potty training. Also, make sure your dog has had a good amount of physical exercise before you crate it for an extended period of time to prevent it from pooping inside the crate.
7. Feed Your Dog Nutritional Diets
As we stated, one of the reasons beagles eat poop is because they find it tasty and nutritious. When you feed your dog filler, they tend to get hungry quicker than usual. They’d then find poop tasty to eat.
You should feed your dog high-quality beagle food (wholesome food as well as fruits and vegetables) to prevent it from looking for other things to eat.
Can My Beagle Get Sick From Eating Poop?
Beagles normally have no negative effects when they eat their own fresh poop. Additionally, they can already have parasite infestations in their bodies. If it isn’t entirely dry, it could irritate their stomach.
Dogs who consume the poop of other animals may become infected with germs and experience digestive problems. If you notice any signs of a disease or illness, consult a veterinarian right away for guidance on the state of your pet.
Cleaning Poop From Your Beagle’s Mouth
You will understandably not want your beagle licking children, drooling on the floor, or polluting delicate furnishings once they have eaten poop. Keeping a beagle grooming kit close by is the best method to handle cleaning.
Remove any residue by wiping their mouth and jowls with a moist cloth. Brush their teeth and gums gently with a finger brush and toothpaste designed for dogs. (Avoid using toothpaste produced for humans because it can hurt dogs.)
Give them a dental hygiene chew only after some time has gone and they are no longer associated with eating excrement.
When they consume, this will cause salivation, which will naturally clean their teeth and mouths. Always keep a clean bowl of water on hand. After they’ve had a drink, wash the bowl and replace it with water.
What to put in dog food to stop eating poop
If your dog is a poop eater, make sure you go outside with them so you can quickly distract them if they start eating poop and pick it up right away. Add meat tenderizer, canned pumpkin, or another deterrent to his food. These items taste fine going down, but they make poop taste terrible to dogs.
FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers;
How do I stop my beagle from eating his poop?
If your beagle is a poop eater, make sure you go outside with them so you can quickly distract them if they start eating poop and pick it up right away. Add meat tenderizer, canned pumpkin, or another deterrent to his food. These items taste fine going down, but they make poop taste terrible to dogs.
Why does my beagle eat my other dogs poop?
This is an instinct to hide the poo from predators. Getting rid of it keeps her puppies safe and keeps the den clean. Young dogs and puppies will often eat poo as a novelty, they’ve seen mum doing it, so they give it a go. Most will grow out of it.
Why do dogs eat their poop?
Dogs, especially puppies, commonly eat poop — this habit often simply reflects natural dog instincts. Dogs may be more likely to eat poop when they’re stressed or not getting enough nutrients. Training, using a leash, and providing enough exercise and playtime can help prevent poop-eating.
How many times a day should a beagle poop?
Every dog is different. But most of the internet agrees that between 1 to 5 poops per day are normal and healthy. Whether your dog is a pooping machine or a delicate once-a-day pooper, as long as they stick to a consistent regular schedule, they should be okay.
How can I clean my dog’s mouth after eating poop?
You can first clean your dog’s mouth and help eliminate bad breath by brushing his teeth with dog toothpaste or coconut oil. Never use human toothpaste on your pup, because it may be toxic to him. You can use a regular, curved dog toothbrush or a finger brush on your dog’s teeth.
Does broccoli stop dogs from eating poop?
Adding green veggies to your dog’s diet is a great way to stop them from eating their own poop. Veggies such as broccoli, spinach, and kale are all great choices. These greens are high in fiber, which can help to make the faeces less appealing.
Conclusion
There is no one explanation for why a beagle would consume its own waste. It could be due to a variety of factors, such as boredom, taste, attention-seeking, hunger, or a medical condition. For suggestions, if your dog often consumes faeces, please contact your veterinarian.
Finding the source of the issue can help you assist your beagle in stopping this undesired habit because prevention is always preferable to treatment.
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