Important Disclaimer
The information provided here is for general pet health education only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional veterinary advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately.
- Species & breed
- Dog · Cane Corso
- Age
- 10 months old
- Sex
- Male
- Color
- Brindle
Oh, this is such a common — and understandably frustrating — thing to deal with in puppies! You're definitely not alone. The behavior even has a name: coprophagia (koh-prof-AY-jee-uh), which just means eating feces. It sounds alarming, but it's actually pretty frequently seen in young dogs.
Here's what's generally known about why puppies do this:
- It's often just a puppy thing. Many young dogs explore the world with their mouths, and some go through a phase of eating stool. A lot of them grow out of it.
- Nutritional factors can sometimes play a role — if a dog isn't absorbing nutrients well, they may be drawn back to stool because it still contains some undigested material.
- Boredom or attention-seeking can also be a driver, especially in a high-energy, intelligent breed like a Cane Corso. At 7 months, Hemi is in full puppy mode and needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation.
- Learned behavior is another possibility — some puppies simply discover it and keep doing it because nothing stops them.
Some things you can try at home:
- Clean up immediately. The simplest intervention — if the stool isn't there, he can't eat it. Pick up after him right away during walks and in the yard.
- Redirect and reward. When he finishes going, call him away and reward him with a treat or toy before he has a chance to turn around.
- Keep him engaged. Make sure Hemi is getting enough exercise and enrichment for his age and breed. A bored Cane Corso is a creative one.
- Review his diet. Make sure he's on a high-quality, age-appropriate food for large-breed puppies and that he's eating the right amount for his size.
There are also some food additives marketed to discourage this behavior by making stool taste unappealing — but whether to try those is worth discussing with your vet, who can point you toward something appropriate for a puppy Hemi's age.
When to see your vet:
Schedule a visit soon — ideally within the next week or two — if:
- The behavior is frequent or you haven't been able to reduce it with management
- Hemi is losing weight, seems low-energy, has soft stools, or a dull coat (these can hint at a digestion or absorption issue worth checking out)
- He's vomiting or seems unwell after eating stool
- You're just not sure what's driving it
Your vet can rule out any underlying nutritional or digestive reasons and give you a plan tailored specifically to Hemi. It's a very worthwhile conversation!
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