Important to know
WHY DO SOME DOGS EAT THEIR FAECES?
Some dogs are completely unable to resist a pile of excrement. There are dogs that do not only eat the business of their own sort, but also appear to enjoy their own pooh. And what should we make of a delicious pile of horse dung or a fresh pile of cat business? For many dogs, frozen turds are an irresistible delicacy
Why do some dogs eat their feces? In the past, it was often thought that the consumption of excrement, also referred to as coprophagy, was caused by poor and/or insufficient nutrition or poor health. However, this idea has never been substantiated by research. According to behavioral specialists, it is more of a behavioral issue. To put it simply, dogs are dirty creatures by nature and for them, almost anything is edible. For dogs with pups, the consumption of their excrement and urine is very natural. Licking her pups’ backsides and outer genitals is the bitch’s way of teaching her pups to pooh and pee. By cleaning up their excrement, she prevents the nest from starting to smell and potential enemies from finding her nest of pups. Some pups copy this behavior from their mothers and as soon as they can pooh on their own, eat their own excrement and also that or their brothers and sisters. As soon as they are a little older, this behavior generally stops of its own accord.
So why do older pups and mature dogs start eating excrement? In some cases, the behavior is clearly caused by a lack of attention. Others are bored or feel frustrated. Large numbers of dogs kept together in a small space and deprived of excitement will be particularly inclined to consume their own excrement, virtually eating out of each other’s anuses, a race often ensuing to see who can get to the pooh first.
Keeping an excessively large pack of dogs in a small space produces a great deal of tension within the pack, easily leading to frustration. The excessive consumption of excrement consequently leads to a higher degree of infection, particularly with regard to round-worms. Especially young, new-born pups are susceptible, as with them, round-worms do not only exit their bodies from the backside, but also at the front...!!!!!
These situations are self-evidently very unhealthy and animal unfriendly. However, if frustration, boredom or overpopulation is not the case, it can be very difficult to find out why a dog eats pooh. He or she probably simply enjoys the taste.
For owners, having their dog(s) eat its/their own business is an exceptionally unpleasant experience, particularly if the "meal" is vomited out again over the sofa or the dog tries to give them an affectionate kiss after eating! Besides being dirty, the habit is very unhealthy. Eating pooh exposes dogs to all sorts of bacteria and germs. Above all, eating horse dung can even be dangerous! If the horse has just been wormed, a dog eating its excrement will also be consuming an overdose of a deworming agent, some preparations of which are lethal for dogs! In the event that a dog suddenly becomes very ill after eating fresh horse dung, it is advisable to consult a vet for treatment as quickly as possible.
The best thing you can do as an owner is prevent your dog from eating pooh.
A number of tips:
- take care that your dog does not come into contact with the excrement of other dogs, cats or other animals. Avoid walking areas for dogs where there is a lot of dog pooh around and keep your dog on the lead.
- if your dog does his business in your own garden, keep the garden clean and free of excrement in order to prevent him eating it up himself. If you have a pack of dogs, make sure that all stools are cleaned up immediately after the dogs have finished doing their business.
- there is not usually very much point in punishing your dog(s), except when it/they start at an early age, as pups. It is very difficult to teach adult dogs that are accustomed to eating their won excrement to stop. Prevention is easier than cure.
- if your dog does eat his own pooh, you could try mixing his food with a little garlic or pumpkin. Some owners are successful in giving their dogs butter milk. These additives generally make dogs’ excrement less attractive for (re)consumption. Be aware that dogs are very clever, and can tell which pile of pooh is tasty and which is not!
The very best method is simply to try to prevent your dog from picking up the habit in the first place. Keep an eye in your dog from when he is very young onward and if he seems inclined to eat excrement, correct him straight away and divert his attention with a game or something else tasty and less unpleasant for his owner.
KIDNEY FUNCTIONING
The kidneys have a number of important functions. One of these is filtering and flushing out waste products that result from the body’s metabolism. The kidneys also play a role in the body’s water balance. They maintain the blood volume and blood pressure at the correct level and regulate how much fluid is excreted each day in the form of urine and how much water is reabsorbed by the body. They additionally produce a number of hormones and together with the minerals calcium and phosphorous and vitamin D, regulate bone composition and decomposition.
The normal functioning of the kidneys
Via the renal artery, blood, that in addition to water and minerals primarily contains waste products produced of the food and body metabolism, are transported to the kidneys. The renal artery branches out into a maze of blood vessels. At the end of each blood vessel is a filter (nephron) and a collecting duct. The kidneys contain a large number of these filter systems, that are found in the most outer part of the kidney, the so-called renal cortex. Only the smallest particles are pressed through the filters into the collecting ducts by means of the blood pressure. These tiny particles are both important nutrients and waste products. Small tubes, so-called renal tubules, run from the filter and collecting duct part to the centre of the kidneys, the renal pelvis. These tubules that are found in the middle part of the kidneys, the renal medulla, are responsible for the reabsorption of water and useful nutrients by the blood and for the transport of waste products to the renal pelvis. The reabsorption of water also results in a concentration of the dissolved waste products in the renal medulla. The waste products are transported to the bladder from the renal pelvis via the ureters in concentrated fluid form. The fluid containing the concentrated waste products, the urine, is stored in the bladder. When the animal feels the urge to urinate, the urine is expelled via the urethra.
Proteins and phosphorous
In the intestines, the proteins contained in the food are split into small particles referred to as amino acids. From the intestines, these amino acids are absorbed by the body to be used in various processes. Among other things, they are needed for growth, the forming of muscular tissue, hormone production, the replacement of old cells and the maintenance of many bodily functions. The amino acids that are not used are converted into uranium and subsequently eliminated by the kidneys in the form of urine. An important task of the kidneys is also the maintenance of the phosphorous level of the blood. Together with calcium, phosphorous is the mineral that is the most important constituent of bones and teeth. Phosphorous plays a role in the body’s energy supply and is needed in connection with the working of a number of enzymes. If the phosphorous level is too high, the excess phosphorous will be excreted via the urine. If the phosphorous level is too low, the kidneys will only excrete a small amount of phosphorous.
CYCTITIS
Cystitis is generally caused by bacteria. Cystitis can occur in both male and female pets, but is generally seen in females. The germs generally come from the outside, via the genitals and urinary tract to the bladder. The urine is generally sterile, meaning that no bacteria are present. If germs find their way into the bladder, they are generally flushed out the next time the dog urinates. For cystitis to occur, a special situation must occur.
- resturine remains in the bladder after urination. This is ideal for bacteria to maintain themselves and even to multiply. The result is cystitis, that can be caused to bladder stones/gravel.
- an abnormally formed bladder wall or an improperly functioning sacral nerve can have the same effect.
- the presence of gravel in the bladder or bladder stones. Bacteria can easily multiply in bladder gravel and/or stones. The gravel and stones generally damage the bladder wall, allowing bacteria to multiply even more easily. The damage to the bladder wall will generally cause blood to be in the urine.
Indicates: Pets with cystitis will exhibit aberrant urination behaviour. They will urinate frequently or push to urinate without excreting much urine (sometimes painfully). The urine may have a normal appearance, but may also be turbid or bloody. Female pets will often lick their vulvas and there may be some discharge. The pet will not generally be ill, will not have a fever and will continue to eat and drink normally.