Dog Lovers Manual

Know as coprophagy (and sometimes, incorrectly, pica), this is quite common in dogs, although it seems disgusting to us. Other animals utilize food differently from dogs, so their faeces contain nutrients that the dog finds palatable or that his body craves. Dogs usually come to no harm from eating faeces, but the habit can lead to illness should they ingest dropping that contains viruses, parasites or anthelmintics (de-worming products).