Chihuahuas are fiends when it comes to eating poop. They love it. But, if you’ve had enough of the stomach-churning sight and smell on their chops, it’s time to find out what’s going on and how to stop it happening.
Why is my Chihuahua eating poop? Chihuahuas eat poop because they’re:
So, what can you do about it? Read on to find out.
Chihuahuas aren’t unique in their appetite for poo. It’s a universal doggy delicacy. Believe it or not, they think it tastes nice. It’s called Coprophagia. They’ll eat everything from dog poo to cow, horse, fox, bird and cat poo. Of course, it’s a disgusting habit that can be bad for their health. Not to mention gross for us too! So, why is it happening?
Is your Chihuahua getting enough exercise? If he’s bored or has too much pent up energy, he might eat poop just for something to sniff out and do.
Chihuahuas are smart. He may totally get that poop eating isn’t OK and is just doing it to get you running around after him. Basically, turning it into a fun game where he gets your undivided attention. The best thing you can do is ignore him or he’ll just keep doing it. You should also add more playtime into his day. If he needs more attention, make sure he gets it in more positive ways.
Your Chihuahua pup may still be getting used to potty training. If he doesn’t get that he’s not allowed to poo indoors, he probably doesn’t get that he shouldn’t eat his poo either.
Your Chihuahua might be scared of getting told off for pooing indoors. Instead of learning to go outside, he might eat his poo to try and hide the evidence. He’s much more likely to do this if he’s been shouted at for pooing indoors in the past (which you should never do!).
Dogs deal with separation anxiety in all sorts of ways. Some chew your shoes; others poop and eat it. This is his way of coping with the stress of being alone.
If your Chihuahua is just a pup, he might be eating his poo because he’s curious about his new surroundings. He’ll nibble all sorts of things and explore them with his mouth (just like babies do) while he works out what’s what.
When your Chihuahua was still in the litter, his mum would have eaten his poop to keep the space clean. Some puppies copy their mums and eat their own poo to clean up!
Is your Chihuahua getting all the nutrition he needs from his diet? Could he be hungry because he isn’t fed enough food? Poop is actually very nutrient-rich and Chihuahuas have been known to eat it when they’re hungry or deficient in certain vitamins or minerals.
If your Chihuahua has suddenly started eating poo, there might be an underlying medical cause. Eating poo has been linked with everything from worms and parasites (which need to be treated regularly) and enzyme deficiency to diabetes and malabsorption. Have you noticed any vomiting, diarrhea or weight loss? Or is he more lethargic or thirsty than normal? If you notice anything unusual or are at all concerned, take him to the vet just to be sure.
As gross as it sounds, some Chihuahuas just enjoy munching on poop. They simply LOVE the taste! They do it because it’s fun and they want to. They’re happy to hoover up any poop on the ground and carry on like nothing ever happened!
This is how you stop your Chihuahua eating poop:
This is what you need to do:
To stop your Chihuahua getting bored, why not try out a new game? You could set up little hunting games for him to play, like hiding his favourite treats around the house or garden so he has to sniff them out. Another idea would be to mix up his walking route, or visit a new place with new smells. If you’re struggling to give him the right amount of exercise a day, you could ask friends or family to help you out or get a dog walker or sitter to keep him entertained.
The worst thing you can do is shout at your Chihuahua for pooing indoors. This can seriously mess up his toilet training (plus it can lead to aggression issues). And he’ll feel like he has to eat his poo to hide it from you. Be calm and stick to a routine – say ‘No’, pick him up, pop him outdoors and reward him if he poos.
You’ll probably notice your Chihuahua stops eating poo as he gets better at pooing outdoors. Potty training is a good starting point to combat his poo-eating habit. Basically, you need to watch him closely and, when he looks like he needs to go, take him outside. When he poos, give him a reward. Get him into a routine and take him out regularly so he knows what time he goes out. You can use a crate to help with potty training too. Read our toilet training boot camp article for tips!
Your Chihuahua may still try to eat poo when he’s outside. The best thing you can do is stay with him. He’s less likely to eat poo if you’re around.
While you’re potty training your Chihuahua, just pop him in his crate if you need to leave the room. Chihuahuas love a snuggle den and generally don’t poo where they eat and sleep. As long as the crate is the right size and you don’t leave him alone too long, it should stay a poo free zone.
Some people say, if you add a small amount of fresh pineapple juice to your Chihuahua’s food or feed him pineapple chunks as a treat, it makes his poo unappetising and stops him eating it. Obviously, this only works if he’s eating his own poop! If he’s eating another animal’s poop then you need to use some of the other suggestions listed here. We haven’t seen any medical support for this, but lots of people have said it’s worked for their dogs. Even if this hack doesn’t work for you, Chihuahuas love pineapple, so at least he’ll get a tasty treat!
To stop your Chihuahua pup copying its mum’s ‘clean den’ habits, you should scrub the floors with special pet cleaner after any accidents.
Pick up any poop from the garden. Don’t leave it out there festering on the lawn. It’ll attract other animals and flies, and will smell gross when the weather warms up.
One of the best commands you can teach your poo-munching Chihuahua is ‘leave it’! Conquer this and you’ll have much more control over what he snaffles when you’re out on your walk.
Your Chihuahua needs to know what his name is and to run back to you if you call it – even if there’s a pile of poo nearby that needs investigating!
Sometimes it’s hard to get your Chihuahua’s attention, especially when he’s outdoors, but you can distract him with toys and food. Get a ball, kick it around the garden and watch him come running.
It’s a good idea to keep your Chihuahua on a lead while he’s on his walk, even if it’s just while he’s learning to leave poo alone. If he needs a run around, let him off in the garden (if you have one) or get an extendable lead.
Some Chihuahuas get separation anxiety and don’t like being left alone. To make things easier for him, you should do some training to show him it’s ok when you leave the house. It does take time and he may still eat his poo to begin with, but you’ll really notice the difference when he calms down and understands you’ll always come back home.
If your Chihuahua is a pup or an older dog that wasn’t properly trained, it’ll take him a while to learn he shouldn’t eat poop. Be patient with him, get into a routine and keep things positive. Over time, he’ll probably just grow out of the habit.
If you’ve noticed your Chihuahua has lost weight or you think he’s underweight, you may need to re-evaluate his diet. He might be eating poo because he’s hungry or not getting the right food and nutrition. Speak to your vet to see what food is best for your dog and how much he should eat each day.
If your Chihuahua is unwell or seems out of sorts, you should take him to the vet – even if it’s just to put your mind at ease. If your Chihuahua is obsessively or compulsively eating poop, you must visit a vet to check for any psychological, medical or nutritional health issues.
Now you understand the reasons behind his undesirable poo habit, you can work out what to do to help him. It may take him a while to learn the ropes, so give him loads of fuss when he gets it right. Chihuahuas love to please and love to kiss, so it’s in both your interests to get this stinky habit under control!