Dogs eat their own poop (a behavior called coprophagy) for several reasons, which can be broadly categorized into nutritional, behavioral, and instinctual causes. Nutritionally, dogs might eat feces if they face deficiencies in minerals, vitamins, digestive enzymes, or have medical issues like parasites, diabetes, or thyroid problems. Behaviorally, dogs might eat their poop out of curiosity, boredom, isolation, stress, anxiety, or to avoid punishment. Instinctively, this habit can stem from ancestral survival behaviors related to scavenging and protecting the pack by removing fecal matter from their living area. Puppies often mimic their mother's behavior of cleaning up by eating feces. Additionally, attention-seeking behavior might also drive some dogs to do this since it elicits a reaction from humans. Most dogs tend to outgrow this habit, but if it appears suddenly or frequently, a veterinary check-up is recommended to rule out underlying health problems.
