Coprophagia

[Rachel]

Coprophagia is where a dog will eat its own poop. I have always considered this something when a dog is bored that it will eat it. We took in a puppy a few months ago and she had this habit. Her owners changed work circumstances and the dog just did not fit, so we had her back. The one thing that annoyed me more than anything was Peppers ability to eat not only her poop, but all the other dogs. Never leaving a poop in the run, or drive, she never got the chance but out on walks as quick as lightening she would turn around and eat what she had done. Or stand behind the others and catch it mid air. YUK!

I tried pineapple chunks in her diet as advised. Did not work. I tried Courgette's and it did not work. I changed diet and it did not work.

So two weeks ago I tried adding into her diet two teaspoons of cidar vinegar, not pasteurized, it must be with the "mother" in it. More organic with properties. I had heard of this being very good for dogs which have mange, or mites in the skin, and giving this to the dog helps the digestive system become acidic. So I wondered if it would help with Pepper. It has done. Its either pure luck or this has worked. But Pepper has stopped eating her poop.

But I do have a question for some of you who use homeopathic remedies. Is it practical to keep using Cidar vinegar for long periods, or should it be used on a short term basis only ??

Rachel

[weima]

I'm afraid all of mine have eaten faeces as youngsters They have all grown out of it by the time they were about 12 months old but it just meant I had to be clearing up quick in the garden. I had one bitch who would wait whilst the other was having a poo & catch it on the way out Sorry for those of you are eating

BTW I have tried all the remedies & none of them worked.

[greyghost]

Found this here: www.earthclinic.com/Pets/acvfordogs.html

Every home with dogs should have apple cider vinegar. It's a remedy with multiple uses for dogs: alleviating allergies, arthritis, establishing correct pH balance. You can also give apple cider vinegar to cats and horses.

As written in an excellent, 1997 article by Wendy Volhard:

"...If your dog has itchy skin, the beginnings of a hot spot, incessantly washes its feet, has smelly ears, or is picky about his food, the application of ACV may change things around. For poor appetite, use it in the food - 1 tablespoon, two times a day for a 50 lb. dog. For itchy skin or beginning hot spots, put ACV into a spray bottle, part the hair and spray on. Any skin eruption will dry up in 24 hours and will save you having to shave the dog. If the skin is already broken, dilute ACV with an equal amount of water and spray on.

Taken internally, ACV is credited with maintaining the acid/alkaline balance of the digestive tract. To check your dog's pH balance, pick up some pH strips at the drug store, and first thing in the morning test the dog's urine. If it reads anywhere from 6.2 - 6.5, your dog's system is exactly where it should be. If it is 7.5 or higher, the diet you are feeding is too alkaline, and ACV will re-establish the correct balance.

If you have a dog that has clear, watery discharge from the eyes, a runny nose, or coughs with a liquid sound, use ACV in his or her food. One teaspoon twice a day for a 50 lb. dog will do the job.

After your weekly grooming sessions, use a few drops in his or her ears after cleaning them to avoid ear infections. Other uses for ACV are the prevention of muscle weakness, cramps, feeling the cold, calluses on elbows and hock joints, constipation, bruising too easily, pimples on skin surfaces, twitching of facial muscles, sore joints, arthritis and pus in the urine. There are also reports that it is useful in the prevention of bladder and kidney stones.

Fleas, flies, ticks and bacteria, external parasites, ring worm, fungus, staphylococcus, streptococcus, pneumococcus, mange, etc., are unlikely to inhabit a dog whose system is acidic inside and out. Should you ever experience any of these with your dog, bathe with a nice gentle herbal shampoo -- one that you would use on your own hair -- rinse thoroughly, and then sponge on ACV diluted with equal amounts of warm water. Allow your dog to drip dry. It is not necessary to use harsh chemicals for minor flea infestations. All fleas drown in soapy water and the ACV rinse makes the skin too acidic for a re-infestation. If you are worried about picking up fleas when you take your dog away from home, keep some ACV in a spray bottle, and spray your dog before you leave home, and when you get back. Take some with you and keep it in the car, just in case you need it any time. Obviously for major infestations, more drastic measures are necessary. ACV normalizes the pH levels of the skin, makes your dog unpalatable to even the nastiest of bacteria and you have a dog that smells like a salad, a small price to pay! "

[greyghost]

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR FOR YOUR DOG

The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care (Revised Edition), CJ Puotinen

Many herbalists recommend vinegar for pets, especially because it can be poured over garlic and others herbs to make medicinal tinctures. Even without those herb, cider vinegar is an important ingredient in your pet’s diet. Use any raw, unpasteurized, unheated, organic vinegar …. Do not use a vinegar that is uniformly clear and clean looking, such as vinegar sold in the supermarkets. These are dead vinegars with none of the enzymes and other live factors that make raw, unpasteurized vinegar so valuable.

Long a folk remedy, cider vinegar has been shown to improve health of dairy cows, horses, dogs, and other animals. It reduces common infections, aids whelping, improves stamina, prevents muscle fatigue after exercise, increases resistance to disease, and protects against food poisoning. Cider vinegar is rich in the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements found in apples, especially potassium; it normalizes acid levels in the stomach, improves digestion and the assimilation of nutrients, reduces intestinal gas and fecal odors, helps cure constipation, alleviates some of the symptoms of arthritis and helps prevent bladder stones and urinary tract infections.

Add apple cider vinegar directly to food or drinking water, starting with small amounts and building up to 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 15 pounds of body weight for dogs and cats (1 teaspoon per day for the average cat, 1 tablespoon for a 50-pound dog or 2 tablespoons for a 90-pound dog). By gradually adding small doses to your pet’s food over time, you can help even the most finicky eater to accept this valuable food.

SOURCE: The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care (Revised Edition), CJ Puotinen, Keats Publishing, ISBN 0-658-00996-6

[greyghost]

It's not going to hurt if you use it long term but I think I would check the PH levels as described above from time to time.


Where did you buy your unpasturised bottle?

[Rachel]

Sorry I have not answered sooner I had not seen the posts since I wrote on here. I honestly dont know the shops name, it was a farm shop some where on our travels over Christmas. I used it all up and threw the bottle away so I dont even have the name to give you. Durr.... If I ever go that way again I will call in and get some.

It seemed to work, but we used it up fairly quick as we have several dogs and we put some into all the food so that the pup would not want to try and eat anyone elses poop.

I will say that I was amazed just reading through all what you wrote, I will have to get some more.
Rachel

[tasha]

what an interesting idea. Not had a poop eater yet thankfully I'm afraid its one of those things I could not face watching...

[Speeds]

I have never had a dog poop eater - human poop - yes I used to have ot race Belle to the potty to stop her eating Thomas' poop