Coprophagia

Coprophagia is the eating of faeces, whether one's own stools, those of another animal or of another species. It is relatively common in dogs, especially the young, and rarer in adult cats, and in the bitch, licking the puppies' anal area is part of normal maternal behaviour (behavioural veterinary literature). Coprophagia can have behavioural causes, such as exploration, boredom or learning, and more rarely medical ones; among the medical hypotheses are digestive disorders, malabsorption or increased hunger, but many cases occur in otherwise healthy animals. The behaviour is often considered unpleasant by owners and can expose the animal to parasites. Management involves prompt stool removal, environmental enrichment, sometimes a reassessment of the diet, and veterinary advice to rule out an underlying cause. A realistic expectation helps here: no single solution works for all, and so-called deterrent products give inconsistent results depending on the individual and the situation. The marker: coprophagia is usually a behavioural habit rather than a disease, common in young dogs, and best approached with prompt clean-up, enrichment and patience rather than a guaranteed quick fix. It is one of several intake and digestive behaviours, alongside [polyphagia](/glossary/polyphagia) and [pica-like](/glossary/anorexia) appetite changes, discussed in the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary).

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