Even though owning a dog can be a lot of fun, it can also be pretty frustrating. Training can take a while, and breaking bad habits can take even longer.
Unfortunately for some dog owners, their dog has a thing for cat poop. Yes, some dogs actually like to eat cat poop. It’s gross, smells bad, and can make your dog’s breath smell even worse.
If you are someone who owns a dog with this nasty habit, you probably have a few different questions. How do you clean your dog’s mouth after he eats cat poop? Why does your dog eat cat poop? Is it bad for your dog to eat cat poop? And finally, how do you keep your dog from eating cat poop?
A dog eating cat poop is straight out of an owner’s nightmare. Ugh! Now your dog’s breath is smelly, and now you obviously don’t want their tongue to be anywhere near your face. The first thing that enters your mind when you notice that your dog has eaten cat poop is probably how you are going to clean your dog’s mouth.
How to clean your dog’s mouth after it eats cat poop?
The best way to clean your dog’s mouth after it eats cat poop is to brush their mouth with a dog toothbrush or washcloth.
For starters, you never want to use any products on your dog that are meant for people. There are ingredients that are sometimes included in food or health care supplies meant for people that can be toxic to dogs.
If you don’t already own a toothbrush and some toothpaste meant for your dog, it’s okay. To immediately clean your dog’s mouth out after he eats cat poop you can take a washcloth damp with nothing but water and wipe your dog’s mouth out. This may be uncomfortable for your dog at first, but it will keep him clean.
Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands before and after you do this.
Next, you will want to head to the closest pet store. There you should be able to find some toothbrushes and toothpaste meant for dogs. When you get home, follow the instructions on the package to make sure your dog’s teeth and tongue are squeaky clean!
Be sure to remember when you are cleaning your dog’s mouth that you aren’t pushing too far back. Just like people, dogs have a gag reflex. The last thing you want to happen when you are cleaning your dog’s mouth is for your dog to throw up on you!
If you want to learn more about a dog’s mouth and teeth, you should check out my article on canine dental charts.
Why do dogs eat cat poop?
Now that your dog’s mouth is clean from all the stinky cat poop, you might be wondering why dogs like to eat cat poop. There are actually a few different reasons to explain this behavior.
The first reason a dog might want to eat cat poop is instinctual. You see, dogs are scavengers when left to fend for themselves. This means that they will eat anything and everything they can get too whether it is scraps of food, trash, or poop.
Another reason that a dog might eat cat poop is to investigate. Dogs use their mouths and their noses to investigate the world around them, so sometimes eating strange things is how they learn about their surroundings. They especially like weird textures, such as extension cords.
The final reason that a dog might eat cat poop of the way it smells. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Poop from any animal is stinky! Why would a dog want to eat something stinky? Well, dogs have a much wider range when it comes to sense of smell, meaning they can smell things that humans can’t.
Dogs are also naturally drawn to the way cat food smells, which is why they frequently try to eat cat food. Once a cat eats its food and poops it out, a dog may still be drawn to the slight smell of the cat’s food in its poop.
This is also a reason why dogs eat cat litter. If this occurs, you should read my article on how to help a dog pass cat litter.
Is it bad for a dog to eat cat poop?
Knowing why a dog might want to chow down on some cat poop doesn’t really ease any concerns a worried dog owner might have. It can’t be healthy for a dog to eat cat poop, can it? Simply put, no, it’s not healthy for a dog to eat cat poop and you as an owner should try to keep your dog from doing so.
You see, there are a bunch of different parasites and bacteria that can be found in a cat’s poop that are hard to see with the human eye. If and when a dog ingests cat poop, it would also be ingesting all that bacteria and parasites, all of which can negatively affect your dog’s health.
Another reason that it can be bad for a dog to eat cat poop is that cat litter can cause intestinal backups and blockages. These can lead to abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, and even weight loss.
It is very important to keep your dog from eating cat poop, however, this is a task that is easier said than done. Dogs have a mind of their own, and will typically do anything they can to get to what they want. So what do you do if your dog is constantly trying to eat cat poop?
How can you keep your dog from eating cat poop?
- Don’t scold your dog. Scolding your pet can, over time, damage your relationship as animals don’t understand human behavior. When you punish your dog, they won’t understand what is going on and will just wonder why their favorite person is being mean.
- Keep the litter boxes in an area that your dog can’t get to.
- Redirect your dog. Whenever you see your dog going for cat poop, whether it is in the home, at the park, or on a walk, encourage your dog to walk away or take a different route. When your dog listens, reward him with a high-quality treat that he loves. This will not only teach him to avoid cat poop, but it will also teach him that listening to you will get him treats.
