MidnightBlue Chihuahua's of Walkerton,Indiana

Chihuahuas eating poop is common in dogs but they mostly only eat other dog's poop and not their own.  It's a difficult habit to stop because a dog considers poop a snack. (YUK)  The first step in ending this gross habit, is removing the poop!  This could also be a cry for help from your Chihuahua who is wanting more nutrition in their diet.

Wherever your Chihuahua goes potty, don't allow the poop to pile up because this can make your dog want to clean up their area by eating the poop!  So be sure to clean up the dog's poop right away but preferably right after they elimate from their body.

You can purchase the product "Forbid" but it doesn't help in all poop eating cases.  It comes in powder for, that is tateless.  However, after digestion, it has a "forbidding" taste to the stool.  It contains purified vegetable protein fraction and sodium glutamate.  Don't feed Forbid to dogs that are on steroids.  Mix 1 packet with your dog's food.  It can be purchased at

http://www.revivalanimal.com/store/Search.aspx?SearchTerms=forbid%20for%20dog

Reasons Your Chihuahua May Be Eating Poop

1.  Your Chihuahua may be hungry and they may have no access to their food.

2.  You could be feeding your Chihuahua, food that is lacking in sufficient nutrients or that isn't  appropriate for your breed of dog.

When a dog is fed low-quality or the wrong kind of  dog food, they are compelled to eat more of it in an attempt to satisfy his body's craving for nutrients. In doing so, your dog is ingesting more food, and that makes large amounts of food going through their digestive system undigested. This makes their stools smell and look like the food they have been eating earlier.  

3.  When dogs eat poop from other dogs or animals, they may be looking for minerals lacking in their regular dog food.

4.  Your Chihuahua could be eating poop because they are bored, lonely, have anxiety or your dog is stressed about something. Dogs that are confined to a kennel, chained, or restricted to a small yard, eat their poop to occupy themselves or they are cleaning their personal space. Your dog will need  to be played with and excercised several times a day.

5.  There are some breeds that instinctively like to carry things in their mouths. When the dog picks up poop and carrys it around, may mean that this dog needs more exercise, mental stimulation and need to have interaction with their human family! 

6.  Your Chihuahua could have internal parasites which can lead your dog to eat their poop, because the parasites can separate the nutrients from your dog's system, which will make your dog feel unusually hungry.

7.  If you punish your Chihuahua for doing their business in your house, your Chihuahua may start eating their poop so they won't be punished! Usually a dog will go potty inside the house because they can't hold it.  There is a myth that dogs poop indoors for spite.  Spite is a human emotion and not a canine one.  Instead of punishing your Chihuahua for having an accident in the house, you should train them more.  Punishment is never the answer!  It is cruel for one and unnecessary!  You should also realize that when your dog starts having accidents in your house, it could be a sign of a health or medical problem!  So be alert and take action when your Chihuahua is trying to show you that they are having problems!

Solutions:

1.   You can change your Chihuahua's food but remember to do it slow and always ask your vet's advice when you do change your Chihuahua's diet because they may have a better suggestion of food or even suggest seeing your Chihuahua to make sure they don't have parasites or another underlying medical problem.

2.  Always leave out your Chihuahua's dry food 24/7.  However, whatever you are feeding your Chihuahua, make sure that the food is of good quality, nutritious, and appropriate for the age and for the Chihuahua breed.  

3.  Always try to clean up after your Chihuahua poops and do so before they have the chance to eat the poop.  Not letting them have access to the poop is the key to stopping them from eating poop

4.  When your Chihuahua is outside, make sure that you are watching them, so they won't eat some poop that you missed.  Always praise your Chihuahua for listening to you when you tell them to drop the poop!  You can give your Chihuahua a treat after you praise them for dropping the poop or play with them.  Taking their attention from the poop. All this good stuff for not eating the poop will convey to your Chihuahua that they will get a reward if they leave the poop alone. When your Chihuahua is interacting with you they won't have the chance to sniff out some poop!

5.  If your Chihuahua is pooping in your house, you need to get them on a schedule of going outside to elimate before they can do so in your house. Examples:

A.  After they eat, they need to go outside.

B.  After they get up from a nap, they need to go outside.

C.  After they have played for a while, they need to go outside.

6.  If your Chihuahua is pooping in their crate, make sure that they are getting out of the crate to exercise and get the chance to go outside to go potty before you place them in their crate. Dogs don't like to poop or urinate in their living area, so if your Chihuahua is going potty in their crate, needs you to help them crate train properly.  You may also want to take your Chihuahua to your vet to find out why they are having a problem holding it for a few hours without going potty in their crate.  There could be a medical problem that is giving them inability to hold it!  

Some Things You Can Try To Prevent Poop Eating

1.  In your Chihuahua's food bowl each day, add 2 to 4 tablespoons of canned pumpkin.  Pumpkin may taste good in food, but it tastes awful in poop.

2.  In your Chihuahua's dog food, add a teaspoon of canned pineapple, pineapple juice, or spinach.

3.  In your Chihuahua's food, add some meat tenderizer or MSG to prevent them from eating the poop.

4.  You can coat your Chihuahua's poop with hot sauce or lemon juice to prevent them from eating the poop.

5.  If you have a cat, block your Chihuahua's access to the kitty litter box, put the kitty litter box in a room where your Chihuahua can't get to but your cat can, or can place a baby gate across the door where the kitty litter is.

Steps To Stop Poop Eating

1.  Feed your Chihuahua a complete, nutrient-packed, balanced diet.

2.  Give your Chihuahua plenty of excercise, playtime and interaction with their human family.

3.  Wherever your Chihuahua is kept, make sure that the space is kept clean and free from poop.

4.  Try to avoid keeping your Chihuahua confined for long periods of time.

5.  Make sure you take your Chihuahua for a health checkup, to make sure that there are no reasons for your dog to be eating their poop or poop of other dogs.