copraphagia

Epi4Dogs Foundation Inc.’s mission is the advancement of science and education relating to EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency), yielding useful insights and positive outcomes in better managing EPI in dogs and cats. Our goals are to support and/or collaborate with veterinary EPI research and researchers, and to promote EPI awareness by educating the general public, pet owners, pet organizations, rescue and shelter organizations, veterinary schools and veterinarians.
morgansh
Member
Posts: 16
Country: United States
State: Michigan
Pet name: Eleanor

copraphagia

Post by morgansh » 30 Nov 2020, 18:05

my eleanor has been on enzymes for about 3 months now. she has regained all her lost weight and is doing great. unfortunately the copraphagia she developed during the onset of her EPI has not gone away. I know it really isnt bad for her but she is a licker and i do not want her licking me after she has....well you know. I tried adding some pumpkin to her food but no luck. anybody have any ideas? all the chemical choices seem pretty ineffective based on reviews.

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jilbert57
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Posts: 2092
Country: United States
State: Washington

Re: copraphagia

Post by jilbert57 » 01 Dec 2020, 09:07

I am sorry to hear this. Some fur kids never do stop this behavior. I had a dog who cleaned the litter box if I didn't get there soon enough. About the only thing I have to offer is following with a shovel and immediately picking it up. This is easy for me as we live where a lot of predators are so they go out attended each time.

Jill
My name is Jill and we live on the Hood Canal in Washington State. We currently have 2 Jack russells, TJ is 8 and Sadie is 2.

Mickey and his pancreatitis brought me to Epi4dogs.com site in 2012 to help manage it.
He lived from 6/99 - 8/2014

Mickey, Jack Russell. Chronic Pancreatitis. Dianes enzymes, 1/8t 3x/day with meals.

Tuckaboo Pam
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Posts: 1346
Country: United States
State: Florida
Pet name: Tucker
My name: Pam H.

Re: copraphagia

Post by Tuckaboo Pam » 01 Dec 2020, 14:25

Tucker was a poo eater. Anybody's poo, in any condition. It may have taken longer than three months for his bad habit to begin to wane, but at some point it must have. I can come home to a perfect little pile from my maltese, who is an awful little cutie and likes pooping in my house, and Tuck will have left it alone. Even as a puppy, he would follow her around & wait for her to go so he could gobble it up. You are giving B12, right? When I first mentioned the poo eating to my vet, before all the other symptoms got bad, she had me put him on B12 first, in case he was eating it due to a deficiency. If Eleanor is not taking B12, order a bottle of Wonderlabs with intrinsic factor, and maybe it will help. Otherwise, hang in there, because there is light at the end of the tunnel. ---Pam & Tucker
Tucker was a shepherd/lab mix--- TLI 1.3, Folate 9.7, Cobalamin 666, Lipase 38. Took Diane's Enzymes 4 teaspoons/day, Wonderlabs B12 one capsule per day, and Tylan 1/16 teaspoon/ morning (to hold SID at bay). Taste of the Wild High Prairie, 1 1/2 cups/day, with a total of 4 cups of Fresh Pet. Stopped eating everything in sight, and went from 60 to 85 pounds! Tucker was my boyfriend, and my husband was OK with that. Tucker succumbed to hemangiosarcoma, but we cherished every day we had with that wonderful, beautiful boy. I will always, always miss my sweet big boy.

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Madelon
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Posts: 1317
Location: Nashville, TN
Country: United States
State: Tennessee
Pet name: Doc

Re: copraphagia

Post by Madelon » 01 Dec 2020, 21:18

Hi there. You said she's gained all the weight back, but what to do the poops look like? If they are a 2 or 3 on the poop scale then this could be behavioral, however, I wonder if you could answer a few questions to help us get some better insight: what food are you feeding? what enzymes are you using and how do you prepare/dose? are you supplementing B12 and what was the B12 level at diagnosis? does your dog seem ravenous still?

Typically the coprophagia will go away once they are actually digesting and getting the nutrients they need from food. It can be a behavioral issue for some and hard to break. If you could answer some of the questions it will help us be able to give better suggestions to help you and your pup.
Madelon, owned by DOC. DOC dx EPI 5/2015 = TLI < .4, B12 406; Folate >24. DOC taught me so much and together we battled and overcame EPI, food sensitivies, environmental allergies but we lost the cancer battle. DOC was dx with hemangiosarcoma 5/2022 and crossed the rainbow bridge July 24, 2022. He is and always will be the love of my life, my soulmate, my heart dog.

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Olesia711
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Posts: 3858
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: copraphagia

Post by Olesia711 » 02 Dec 2020, 11:34

Gee..... so you don't want to be given doggie kisses that reek of poo??????????? hahaha... been there done that! YUCK!

As others have said..... it usually goes away once everything is under good control.... BUT.... not always.... sometimes, it has become habit.

I too tried commercial products to no avail... but what worked for me what to put a tsp of crushed pineapple in each meal. supposedly it tastes good going in but taste lousy when it comes out the other end. I have no idea if this is really why my dog stopped eating her own poo, or if it was just time and things became balanced in her gut with all the EPI treatment...... but it won't hurt anything to try:)

good luck!
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

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Jean
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Posts: 1707
Location: South Liverpool
Country: United Kingdom - England
Pet name: Kara, lost 10th May 2019
My name: Jean

Re: copraphagia

Post by Jean » 03 Dec 2020, 05:29

We used pineapple too and it worked, except for horse poo !

Maybe a soft muzzle , but it might be that the enzymes arent doing the job properly, and the poo is smelling like food undigested, maybe add another meal and one later I the evening, we gave s rambled egg and mashed potato, trouble was she love it , so it was for life , all enzymed if course, reconsider the ENZYME ratio to food, just remind us what you are giving now
My name is Jean we live in Liverpool in Uk

I am the Forum Director which I am very proud of

My Kara born 21 July 2009 diagnosed with EPI by cTLI test August 2010 TLI = <1...folate 14 Cobalamin 408, shot down to 94, b12 injections every other day

Lowest weight 39 pounds

We used Panzym enzymes, Tylan and Chemeyes b12 capsules

Sadly, on 10th May 2019, we lost her to DM


Jeanx

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Olesia711
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Posts: 3858
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: copraphagia

Post by Olesia711 » 03 Dec 2020, 08:15

great suggestion Jean.... if all else fails.... try putting a muzzle on when letting the dog outside...
This is what we used temporarily on my non-EPI dog to stop her from chewing her paws (allergies)... A muzzle sounds scary, but she didn't really mind it. This is what we used:
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Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

Barb
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Posts: 918
Country: United States
State: New Jersey

Re: copraphagia

Post by Barb » 03 Dec 2020, 20:37

Our Bridge GSD, Kip, was non-EPI, but tried to eat poop his whole life. Sorry to tell you this. We tried everything..... Finally, we did what Jill did.....accompanied him out every time and scooped right away. It did the trick.

Barb

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Olesia711
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Posts: 3858
Location: North Carolina
Country: United States
State: North Carolina
Pet name: Izzy
My name: olesia

Re: copraphagia

Post by Olesia711 » 03 Dec 2020, 23:32

sometimes it just becomes a very bad habit :roll: :( *sigh*.....
Olesia, was owned by Izzy, a 35lb Spanish Water Dog (SWD), Diagnosed at 1.5 years old - TLI results 1.. Izzy passed away on February 13, 2020 at 15 years old. She lived with EPI for 13+1/2 years. It was because of Izzy that Epi4Dogs was started... she was the inspiration. May her legacy of helping others with EPI continue for as long as needed.........

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Madelon
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Posts: 1317
Location: Nashville, TN
Country: United States
State: Tennessee
Pet name: Doc

Re: copraphagia

Post by Madelon » 05 Dec 2020, 13:04

Hi Eleanor. Just wanted to pop in and see how things are going. Hoping things are better :)
Madelon, owned by DOC. DOC dx EPI 5/2015 = TLI < .4, B12 406; Folate >24. DOC taught me so much and together we battled and overcame EPI, food sensitivies, environmental allergies but we lost the cancer battle. DOC was dx with hemangiosarcoma 5/2022 and crossed the rainbow bridge July 24, 2022. He is and always will be the love of my life, my soulmate, my heart dog.

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