What to Put in Dog Food to Stop Eating Poop

Knowing what to put in dog food to stop eating poop is one of the most searched questions among dog owners, and for good reason. The behavior, known clinically as coprophagia, is not just unpleasant to witness — it is a signal worth taking seriously. Research published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that approximately 16% of dogs engage in coprophagia, making it far more widespread than most owners realize. Understanding what to put in dog food to stop eating poop means looking at nutritional gaps, digestive health, behavioral triggers, and environmental management as one connected picture — not as isolated problems with isolated fixes.

🛑 STOP: Call Your Vet First If You See:

• Sudden onset of poop-eating in a dog with no prior history, which can signal malabsorption syndrome, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), or intestinal parasites
• Weight loss, diarrhea, or persistent lethargy alongside feces consumption, as chronic illness or nutritional disease may be involved
• A puppy or senior dog eating poop daily and losing body condition, since these life stages carry higher vulnerability to deficiency-related complications
• Any symptom that is severe, sudden, or rapidly worsening

This article is educational, not a replacement for veterinary care.
When unsure, call your vet. They would rather hear from you early than see your pet in crisis.

Why Dogs Eat Poop and What to Put in Dog Food to Stop It

What to put in dog food to stop eating poop depends entirely on why your dog is doing it in the first place. Veterinarians divide the causes into two broad categories: medical and behavioral. Treating the wrong category wastes time and money, and in some cases allows an underlying illness to progress without attention.

On the medical side

On the medical side, the most commonly identified causes are nutritional deficiencies, enzyme insufficiencies, and parasites. A dog eating poop vitamin deficiency is one of the most studied contributors, particularly involving thiamine (Vitamin B1), other B-complex vitamins, and zinc. According to PetMD’s veterinarian-reviewed guide on coprophagia, when a dog’s gastrointestinal tract cannot fully absorb nutrients from food, the undigested matter remaining in feces still carries a nutritional scent that the dog’s instincts register as a food source. The body, in a sense, is directing the dog back to what it could not absorb.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) sits at the top of the medical list. This condition occurs when the pancreas fails to produce adequate digestive enzymes, leaving proteins and fats partially undigested throughout the GI tract. VCA Animal Hospitals notes that EPI is one of the most frequently missed diagnoses in dogs presenting with coprophagia, because owners assume the behavior is behavioral rather than physical. A simple fecal test and bloodwork are all it takes to identify it.

On the behavioral side

On the behavioral side, puppies are the most common offenders. Exploratory oral behavior in the first year of life is developmentally normal, and most puppies who eat feces outgrow it by 9 to 12 months with consistent cleanup management. Adult dogs may develop the habit through boredom, anxiety, attention-seeking, or by copying other dogs. Some adult dogs find feces palatable purely because their current diet is leaving too much undigested protein in the stool, creating an irresistible scent without any deficiency being present.

What to Put in Dog Food to Stop Eating Poop: The Nutritional Fixes

This is the core question, and the answer is layered. The dietary additions that work best are those matched to the actual cause. The following options cover the most evidence-supported approaches, from enzyme support to food quality upgrades.

What to Put in Dog Food to Stop Eating Poop: Digestive Enzyme Supplements

Digestive enzyme supplementation is one of the first interventions veterinarians recommend when a dog eating poop vitamin deficiency or poor nutrient absorption is suspected. Enzyme powders containing proteases (for protein), lipases (for fat), and amylases (for starch) are mixed directly into food at mealtime. They support the gut’s breakdown process and help ensure that fewer undigested nutrients reach the stool.

Products commonly recommended include NaturVet Digestive Enzymes, which are vet-formulated and available in powder or chew form. Results require consistency: most owners report needing 3 to 4 weeks of daily use before observing a meaningful change in the behavior. According to the American Kennel Club’s nutrition guidance, food digestibility is one of the most overlooked factors in canine nutrition, and a diet scoring above 80% digestibility significantly reduces the amount of residual matter available in feces.

Does Pineapple Stop Dogs From Eating Poop?

Does pineapple stop dogs from eating poop? This is one of the most widely circulated home remedies in the pet community, and the mechanism behind it is legitimate even if the clinical evidence is limited. Fresh pineapple contains bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme complex that assists in protein digestion. The theory is that bromelain alters how proteins are processed during digestion, changing the resulting stool’s smell and taste in a way that dogs find less appealing.

As Taste of the Wild Pet Food explains, pineapple is safe for dogs in small quantities and provides bromelain alongside Vitamin C, B6, and manganese. The practical recommendation is 2 to 3 teaspoons of fresh, raw pineapple mixed into food per meal for a medium-sized dog. Adjust proportionally for smaller or larger breeds. Canned pineapple packed in syrup must be avoided entirely because the concentrated sugar causes loose stools and adds no enzyme benefit.

Does pineapple stop dogs from eating poop in every case? No. There are no peer-reviewed controlled trials confirming consistent effectiveness across dog populations. It works for a portion of dogs, likely those where protein digestibility is the primary driver. Trial it for 2 full weeks before drawing conclusions, and combine it with cleanup management rather than relying on it alone.

What to Put in Dog Food to Stop Eating Poop: B Vitamins and Zinc

Addressing a dog eating poop vitamin deficiency through targeted supplementation can produce strong results when a deficiency is the confirmed or suspected driver. Thiamine (Vitamin B1) is the most frequently implicated B vitamin in coprophagia cases. Research has shown that fecal bacteria synthesize thiamine, which may explain why some dogs are drawn to feces as an instinctive attempt to reclaim nutrients their intestines failed to absorb.

A B-vitamin complex supplement, given daily at mealtime, covers thiamine alongside B6, B12, riboflavin, and folate. These are water-soluble vitamins, meaning the body flushes excess amounts rather than storing them, which makes toxicity from oversupplementation unlikely. Zinc is a different matter. Inadequate zinc is associated with pica behaviors (consuming non-food items including feces), but zinc supplementation carries real toxicity risk in dogs if given in excess. Always get serum zinc levels checked by your vet before adding zinc to your dog’s regimen. Supplementing blindly is not the approach.

What to Put in Dog Food to Stop Eating Poop: Probiotics

Probiotic supplementation supports the gut microbiome and improves overall nutrient absorption across all nutrient classes. A disrupted gut microbiome, whether from antibiotic use, dietary changes, or chronic stress, reduces the efficiency of digestion and can contribute to the same nutrient-seeking behavior seen in dogs with confirmed deficiencies.

Probiotic blends containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Enterococcus faecium are the most commonly studied strains for canine GI health. These can be given as a standalone supplement or alongside digestive enzymes. Merck Veterinary Manual’s guidance on canine gastrointestinal health identifies microbiome disruption as a contributing factor in malabsorption patterns, which directly connects to the behavior in question.

What to Put in Dog Food to Stop Eating Poop: Protein Quality Upgrade

One of the most underestimated dietary changes is upgrading the quality and digestibility of the base diet. Low-quality kibble formulas with corn, wheat, or soy listed as the first two or three ingredients leave significantly more undigested protein in the stool. That residual protein produces an odor profile that dogs find appealing, regardless of whether a deficiency is present.

Switching to a food with a named animal protein (chicken, beef, salmon, lamb) listed as the first ingredient and a guaranteed digestibility above 80% directly reduces stool palatability. This does not automatically mean the most expensive food on the shelf. It means reading the ingredient panel carefully before purchasing. The AKC’s complete guide to evaluating dog food walks through exactly how to interpret ingredient lists and guaranteed analysis sections in a way that is practical for everyday pet parents.

Best Stool Deterrent for Dogs 2026: Commercial Additive Options

For owners who need a faster solution while dietary changes take hold, the best stool deterrent for dogs 2026 comes in the form of food-additive products designed to make the dog’s stool taste aversive after digestion. These are mixed into food daily and require consistent use for 4 to 6 weeks before effectiveness can be fairly evaluated.

Best Stool Deterrent for Dogs 2026: Top Picks

The following products have the strongest track record among veterinarians and pet owners heading into 2026:

• For-Bid (Prohibit) is one of the oldest and most vet-recommended stool deterrent products available. It uses a sodium glutamate formula that alters the taste of feces after digestion. It is available in powder form and dissolves easily into food. Many veterinary clinics carry it directly.
• NaturVet Coprophagia Stool Eating Deterrent Plus Breath Aid combines yucca schidigera extract, parsley leaf, chamomile, and a proprietary enzyme blend in a soft chew format. It is veterinarian-formulated, carries the NASC (National Animal Supplement Council) quality seal, and is one of the most widely stocked options at major pet retailers.
• Four Paws Healthy Promise Potty Mouth uses a 7-ingredient blend including yucca schidigera, cayenne pepper, parsley leaf, and glutamic acid. It also carries the NASC seal and is a reliable option for dogs with sensitivities to simpler formulations.
• Solid Gold Stop Eating Poop is a grain-free formulation combining peppermint, yucca schidigera, and a proprietary enzyme blend. It is a strong choice for dogs already on grain-free diets who need a deterrent that does not introduce grain ingredients.

No food-additive deterrent works for every dog. Reported effectiveness across these products ranges from 33% to 50% of users. Consistency is the single biggest factor separating owners who see results from those who do not. Stopping after 10 days and starting again two weeks later prevents any aversion pattern from forming.

Dog Eating Cat Poop Out of Litter Box: How to Stop It

Dog eating cat poop out of litter box situations are among the most reported forms of coprophagia in multi-pet households, and they require a different strategy than addressing a nutritional deficiency. Cat food is significantly higher in protein and fat than most dog foods, which means cat feces carry a much stronger and more nutritionally complex scent that dogs find compelling. Adding deterrents to the dog’s food does not reliably change this attraction.

The most effective approach to dog eating cat poop out of litter box problems is physical prevention. Environmental management works faster and more reliably than any training or dietary intervention for this specific scenario.

Practical solutions that work:

• Top-entry litter boxes require the cat to jump in from the top rather than walking through a side opening. Dogs, particularly medium and large breeds, cannot navigate vertical entry. Cats adapt to these within a few days in most cases.
• Baby gates with a cat-sized cutout allow the cat to pass freely while blocking the dog entirely. This is the cleanest long-term solution for multi-pet homes because it requires no ongoing management once installed.
• Covered litter boxes with small entry flaps work effectively for large-breed dogs who physically cannot fit through the entry hole. For smaller dogs, this option is less reliable.
• Relocating the litter box to a room the dog cannot access at all, such as a laundry room with a cat door installed, removes the temptation entirely without requiring behavioral change from either animal.
• Increased scooping frequency addresses the problem directly. A dog cannot eat cat poop out of a litter box that is scooped twice daily. Same-day removal is the simplest intervention available and costs nothing beyond time.

The key principle for dog eating cat poop out of litter box management is this: remove the opportunity before attempting to modify the behavior. Training a reliable aversion response to cat feces is slow and requires sustained effort. Physical prevention produces immediate results.

How to Teach the Leave It Command for Poop

Training alone rarely resolves coprophagia, but the leave it command is a critical tool that works alongside dietary changes and environmental management. It gives you a reliable, immediate interrupt when your dog moves toward feces on a walk or in the yard. Built consistently and rewarded generously, it becomes the behavioral safety net that catches the moments your other interventions cannot.

How to teach the leave it command for poop follows a progressive sequence that moves from simple indoor exercises to real-world outdoor application. Do not skip steps or rush the progression. Reliability at each stage is what makes the command work under the distraction of actual feces.

How to Teach the Leave It Command for Poop: Step-by-Step

Work in 5-minute sessions, once or twice daily. Short, focused sessions beat long and unfocused ones every time.

Step 1: Closed-fist exercise.

Place a low-value treat in your closed fist. Hold it at your dog’s nose level and let them sniff, lick, and paw at it. Do nothing. The moment they pull back even slightly, mark with “Yes!” immediately and reward with a high-value treat from your other hand. The fist treat is never the reward. Repeat until the dog backs off within 3 seconds consistently.

Step 2: Add the verbal cue.

Once backing off is reliable, say “leave it” calmly the moment your dog approaches the fist. Mark with “Yes!” and reward from the other hand. The cue comes before the behavior, not after. This timing is what creates the association.

Step 3: Floor placement.

Place a low-value treat on the floor and cover it with your foot. When your dog sniffs and paws at your foot and then diverts their attention elsewhere, mark and reward from your hand. Remove your foot and cover again for the next repetition. Never allow the dog to get the treat from the floor.

Step 4: Neutral objects.

Generalize the behavior with socks, paper scraps, and other household items before introducing real-world outdoor triggers. Success on boring objects is what builds the habit structure before the difficulty increases.

Step 5: Outdoors on leash.

Walk toward a piece of feces on leash. Say “leave it” before your dog reaches it, not after they are already nose-down. The moment they divert their gaze away from the target, reward heavily with a high-value treat. Start 3 to 4 feet away and only reduce the approach distance once success at the current distance is consistent.

Step 6: Never punish.

Scolding or physically correcting a dog after the fact does not connect to the behavior in their mind. It creates anxiety without reducing the drive toward feces. According to AVSAB (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior) position statements on reward-based training, positive reinforcement-based methods are the only evidence-supported approach for behavior modification in dogs. Punishment-based methods delay progress and damage the trust that makes training work.

What to Put in Dog Food to Stop Eating Poop When Progress Stalls

If you have addressed what to put in dog food to stop eating poop consistently for 4 to 6 weeks and the behavior has not improved, the intervention is likely incomplete rather than ineffective. This is one of the most important distinctions to make, because the correct response is to add a second layer of management, not abandon what is already in place.

The most common reason progress stalls is that only one category of cause has been addressed. Owners add a deterrent supplement but do not improve food quality. Or they upgrade the diet but do not implement cleanup management. Or they train leave it indoors but never practice it outdoors where the behavior actually occurs. Coprophagia responds to combined approaches far better than to any single intervention.

If your dog is eating their own stool, rule out medical causes first: a fecal exam costs very little and identifies parasites immediately, while a basic bloodwork panel can flag EPI, B-vitamin deficiency, or zinc insufficiency. If your dog is eating other animals’ feces, environmental prevention should be the first and fastest step. If the behavior is purely behavioral in an otherwise healthy dog, consistent leave it training combined with immediate cleanup after every elimination is the most reliable path.

Progress is not always linear. A dog may go two to three weeks without the behavior and then relapse during a period of stress, a household change, or an illness. That is a normal disruption, not a return to square one. Maintain the interventions through the relapse rather than restarting from scratch.

When to Call Your Vet About What to Put in Dog Food to Stop Eating Poop

What to put in dog food to stop eating poop addresses a real nutritional dimension of this behavior, but there are clinical situations where dietary changes and training are not enough. Veterinary evaluation is essential in these circumstances.

Emergency Vet NOW (Do Not Wait)

• Your dog consumed feces from an unknown outdoor source and is showing vomiting, tremors, extreme lethargy, or loss of coordination. Contaminated stool can carry toxins, Giardia, parvovirus, or heavy parasite loads that require immediate treatment.
• Signs of intestinal obstruction following the consumption of foreign material alongside feces: abdominal bloating, dry retching, complete absence of bowel movement, or acute abdominal pain.

Call Within 24 Hours

• Coprophagia began suddenly in an adult dog with no prior history. Sudden behavioral change in a mature dog is a red flag for EPI, malabsorption syndrome, or a new parasite infection.
• Concurrent weight loss, persistently soft stool, or a dull coat alongside poop-eating, as these signs together suggest chronic malnutrition or active GI disease rather than a simple habit.
• A suspected dog eating poop vitamin deficiency has not responded to dietary changes and enzyme supplementation after 6 consistent weeks of use.

Monitor at Home

• A puppy under 12 months old eating their own stool occasionally. This is developmentally common and typically resolves with age, consistent cleanup management, and redirection.
• An adult dog eating stool only when bored, anxious, or without supervision. Behavioral management, environmental enrichment, and leave it training are the priority in this scenario.

The AVMA’s animal welfare and preventive care resources consistently emphasize early veterinary consultation for nutritional and behavioral concerns before patterns become entrenched. When in doubt, call. Better to ask than to wait.

Next Steps to Stop Your Dog From Eating Poop

1. Today: If coprophagia started suddenly or accompanies any physical symptoms, call your vet before starting any supplement. If the behavior is chronic and behavioral, begin the leave it command training sequence today using food rewards indoors.
2. This week: Review your dog’s current food label and verify that a named animal protein is the first ingredient. Start a digestive enzyme supplement with your vet’s approval. If cats share the household, implement a physical litter box barrier this week.
3. This month: Evaluate whether what to put in dog food to stop eating poop is producing measurable results. Most supplements and food additives need 30 days minimum before effectiveness can be fairly judged. If no meaningful change is visible at 6 weeks, schedule a vet appointment to rule out EPI, parasites, or a confirmed nutritional deficiency.

For more on managing your dog’s digestive health alongside behavioral challenges, explore our guide on [signs of nutrient deficiency in dogs] and our breakdown of [top-rated digestive enzyme supplements for dogs].

Frequently Asked Questions About What to Put in Dog Food to Stop Eating Poop