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Coprophagy in Dogs

There's speculation as to why dogs indulge in this behavior(source Wikipedia):

  • To obtain attention from their caretakers.
  • From anxiety, stress, or upon being punished for bad behaviors.
  • They had been punished for having defecated in the past, and attempt to clean up out of fear of being punished again.
  • Because dogs are, by nature, scavengers, and this is within the range of scavenger behavior.
  • To prevent the scent from attracting predators.
  • Because the texture and temperature of fresh feces approximates that of regurgitated food, which is how mothers in the wild provide solid food to their pups.
  • Because of the protein content of the feces (particularly cat feces), or over-feeding, leading to large concentrations of undigested matter in the feces.
  • Due to assorted health problems, including:
  • Pancreatitis
  • Intestinal infections
  • Food allergies, leading to mal-absorption
  • Because they are hungry, such as when eating routines are changed, food is withheld, or nutrients are not properly absorbed.
  • Carnivores may sometimes eat or roll in the feces of their prey to ingest and exude scents which mask their own.
  • Another hypothesis is that dogs want to investigate the diet of their opponents and get more acquainted with their smell.
  • Some veterinarians recommend adding meat tenderizer to dog food, as this makes the feces taste excessively bad to dogs. Several companies produce food additives that can also be added to the animal's food to make feces taste bad. Often, these food additives will contain Capsicum Oleoresin which gives off a repugnant odor making the fecal matter undesirable to the dog.
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Bloat in Dogs

Knowing the symptoms could save your dog's life.  If your dog has loose stools that just won't get better, it could be EPI.

Bloat is a very serious health risk for many dogs, yet many dog owners know very little about it.  According to the links below, it is the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer.  It is frequently reported that deep-chested dogs, such as German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Dobermans are particularly at risk.  This page provides links to information on bloat and summarizes some of the key points we found in the sites we researched.  Although we have summarized information we found about possible symptoms, causes, methods of prevention, and breeds at risk, we cannot attest to the accuracy.  Please consult with your veterinarian for medical information.

If you believe your dog is experiencing bloat, please get your dog to a veterinarian immediately!  Bloat can kill in less than an hour, so time is of the essence.   Notify your vet to alert them you're on your way with a suspected bloat case.  Better to be safe than sorry!

The technical name for bloat is "Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus" ("GDV").  Bloating of the stomach is often related to swallowed air (although food and fluid can also be present).  It usually happens when there's an abnormal accumulation of air, fluid, and/or foam in the stomach ("gastric dilatation").    Stress can be a significant contributing factor also.  Bloat can occur with or without "volvulus" (twisting).  As the stomach swells, it may rotate 90° to 360°, twisting between its fixed attachments at the esophagus (food tube) and at the duodenum (the upper intestine).  The twisting stomach traps air, food, and water in the stomach.  The bloated stomach obstructs veins in the abdomen,leading to low blood pressure, shock, and damage to internal organs.  The combined effect can quickly kill a dog.

Be prepared!  Know in advance what you would do if your dog bloated.

  • If your regular vet doesn't have 24-hour emergency service, know which nearby vet you would use.  Keep the phone number handy.
  • Always keep a product with simethicone on hand (e.g., Mylanta Gas (not regular Mylanta), Gas-X, etc.) in case your dog has gas.  If you can reduce or slow the gas, you've probably bought yourself a little more time to get to a vet if your dog is bloating.

This information is not intended to replace advice, or guidance from veterinarians, or other pet care professionals.  It is simply being shared as an aid to assist you with your own research on this very serious problem.

Typical symptoms often include some (but not necessarily all) of the following, according to the links below.  Unfortunately, from the onset of the first symptoms you have very little time (sometimes minutes, sometimes hours) to get immediate medical attention for your dog.   Know your dog and know when it's not acting right.

  • Attempts to vomit (usually unsuccessful); may occur every 5-30 minutes. This seems to be one of the most common symptoms & has been referred to as the "hallmark symptom" "Unsuccessful vomiting" means either nothing comes up or possibly just foam and/or mucous comes up 
  • Doesn't act like usual self. Perhaps the earliest warning sign and may be the only sign that almost always occurs.
  • Dogs who bloated asked to go outside in the middle of the night.  If this is combined with frequent attempts to vomit, and if your dog doesn't typically ask to go outside in the middle of the night, bloat is a very real possibility.
  • Significant anxiety and restlessness. One of the earliest warning signs and seems fairly typical.
  • "Hunched up" or "roached up" appearance.This seems to occur fairly frequently.
  • Lack of normal gurgling and digestive sounds in the tummy. Many dog owners report this after putting their ear to their dog's tummy.If your dog shows any bloat symptoms, you may want to try this immediately.
  • Bloated abdomen that may feel tight (like a drum).Despite the term "bloat," many times this symptom never occurs or is not apparent.
  • Pale or off-color gums. Dark red in early stages, white or blue in later stages.
  • Coughing
  • Unproductive gagging
  • Heavy salivating or drooling
  • Foamy mucous around the lips, or vomiting foamy mucous
  • Unproductive attempts to defecate
  • Whining
  • Licking the air
  • Seeking a hiding place
  • Looking at their side or other evidence of abdominal pain or discomfort
  • May refuse to lie down or even sit down
  • May stand spread-legged
  • May curl up in a ball or go into a praying or crouched position
  • May attempt to eat small stones and twigs
  • Drinking excessively
  • Heavy or rapid panting
  • Shallow breathing
  • Cold mouth membranes
  • Apparent weakness; unable to stand or has a spread-legged stance.Especially in advanced stage
  • Accelerated heartbeat.Heart rate increases as bloating progresses
  • Weak pulse

Causes

According to the links below, it is thought that the following may be the primary contributors to bloat.  To calculate a dog's lifetime risk of bloat according to Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine, click here.

Stress.Dog shows, mating, whelping, boarding, change in routine, new dog in household, etc. Although purely anecdotal, we've heard of too many cases where a dog bloated after another dog (particularly a 3rd dog) was brought into the household; perhaps due to stress regarding pack order.

  • Activities that result in gulping air
  • Eating habits, especially:
  • Elevated food bowls
  • Rapid eating
  • Eating dry foods that contain citric acid as a preservative (the risk is even worse if the owner moistens the food)
  • Eating dry foods that contain fat among the first four ingredients
  • Insufficient pancreatic enzymes, such as Trypsin (a pancreatic enzyme present in meat)
  • Dogs with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) and/or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) tend to produce more gas and thus are at greater risk
  • Dilution of gastric juices necessary for complete digestion by drinking too much water before or after eating
  • Eating gas-producing foods (especially soybean products, brewer's yeast, and alfalfa)
  • Drinking too much water too quickly (can cause gulping of air)
  • Exercise before and especially after eating
  • Heredity. Especially having a first-degree relative who has bloated
  • Dogs who have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) are considered more prone to bloat (gas is associated with incomplete digestion)

Build & Physical Characteristics
Having a deep and narrow chest compared to other dogs of the same breed Older dogs Big dogs< Being underweight Disposition:
Fearful or anxious temperament Prone to stress History of aggression toward other dogs or people

Prevention

Some of the advice in the links below for reducing the chances of bloat are:
 Avoid highly stressful situations.  If you can't avoid them, try to minimize the stress as much as possible.  Be extra watchful.
 Can be brought on by dog shows, mating, whelping, boarding, new dog in household, change in routine, etc.
 Do not use an elevated food bowl
 Do not exercise for at least an hour (longer if possible) before and especially after eating
 Particularly avoid vigorous exercise and don't permit your dog to roll over, which could cause the stomach to twist
 Do not permit rapid eating
 Feed 2 or 3 meals daily, instead of just one
 Do not give water one hour before or after a meal. It dilutes the gastric juices necessary for proper digestion, which leads to gas production.
 Always keep a product with simethicone (e.g., Mylanta Gas (not regular Mylanta), Phazyme, Gas-X, etc.) on hand to treat gas symptoms.
 Some recommend giving your dog simethicone immediately if your dog burps more than once or shows other signs of gas.  Some report relief of gas symptoms with 1/2 tsp of nutmeg or the homeopathic remedy Nux moschata 30
 Allow access to fresh water at all times, except before and after meals
 Make meals a peaceful, stress-free time
 When switching dog food, do so gradually (allow several weeks)
 Do not feed dry food exclusively
 Feed a high-protein (>30%) diet, particularly of raw meat
 If feeding dry food, avoid foods that contain fat as one of the first four ingredients
 If feeding dry foods, avoid foods that contain citric acid. If you must use a dry food containing citric acid, do not pre-moisten the food
 If feeding dry food, select one that includes rendered meat meal with bone product among the first four ingredients
 Reduce carbohydrates as much as possible (e.g., typical in many commercial dog biscuits)
 Feed a high-quality diet
Whole, unprocessed foods are especially beneficial
 Feed adequate amount of fiber (for commercial dog food, at least 3.00% crude fiber)
Add an enzyme product to food (e.g., Prozyme)
 Include herbs specially mixed for pets that reduce gas (e.g., N.R. Special Blend
 Avoid brewer's yeast, alfalfa, and soybean products
 Promote an acidic environment in the intestine. Some recommend 1-2 Tbs of Aloe Vera Gel or 1 Tbs of apple cider vinegar given right after each meal
 Promote "friendly" bacteria in the intestine, e.g. from yogurt or supplemental acidophilus. Avoids fermentation of carbohydrates, which can cause gas quickly.  This is especially a concern when antibiotics are given since they tend to reduce levels of "friendly" bacteria.
 Don't permit excessive, rapid drinking. Especially a consideration on hot days
 And perhaps most importantly, know your dog well so you'll know when your dog just isn't acting normally.





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