15 Reasons Schnauzers Eat Poop (And 15 Ways to Stop It)

Schnauzers, like all dogs, can surprise us with what they are willing to eat. Our Livi had a taste for garbage for awhile, and to be honest, since it sometimes consisted of a few savory leftovers, I could understand. However, some Schnauzers develop a taste for unbelievably disgusting things like…well…poop. While Livi has never ventured into that territory, plenty of dogs do find feces tasty and I wanted to understand why. In the spirit of being prepared, here’s what we all need to know.

Why do Schnauzers eat poop? Some Schnauzers may have Coprophagia, which is the tendency to eat feces. While it is relatively normal for a Schnauzer to eat feces at least once, other reasons that may develop into a chronic feces-eating problem include disease, nutritional deficiencies, stress, boredom, and even a genetic predisposition.

If your Schnauzer has eaten her own feces (or that of another dog’s) just once or twice, there is probably no cause for concern.

Many dogs will eat their poop because it happens to smell good to them, or they may experiment with eating it out of sheer boredom or curiosity. While it seems unimaginable to you and me, many dogs will eat feces at least once.

However, if your Schnauzer seems to have an ongoing and persistent interest in eating poop, you will need to take notice and look for an underlying medical or psychological reason. You may also be interested in my article Why Schnauzers Eat Dirt, Grass, and Weeds: A Complete Guide for comprehensive information on disorders related to coprophagia.

For now, let’s cover what coprophagia is, how common it is, and how it might be related to your Schnauzer’s behavior.

What is Coprophagia?

A study conducted by Dr. Benjamin Hart found that one in six dogs are serious poop eaters. The research further found that out of the 3000 dogs involved in the survey, one in four dogs are likely to engage in poop eating at least once. Hart concluded that this behavior is relatively normal and that dogs have borrowed it from their ancestors, who ate whatever they found.

The scientific name for this behavior is coprophagia. The researcher explains that dogs relied on this behavior to survive during periods of starvation.

Many theories have since been developed to explain this unusual behavior.

For example, there is the belief that dogs eat poop when they are young. During this period, puppies (usually 1-3 weeks old) eat poop after observing their mothers.

Nursing dogs eat their pups’ stool to keep the den clean and to protect the puppies from predators who may be attracted by the scent. The mother eats the feces until the animal is weaned. As a result, pups learn the behavior and engage in it until they are of age. They may eat their own fecal droppings (a condition called autocoprophagia) or eat those of other dogs (allocoprophagia).

However, if your young Schnauzer continues eating poop even after he is mature, you need to discourage him. You also need to take him to your veterinarian as it may be a symptom of a particular disease or a deficiency in certain nutrients.

15 Reasons Your Schnauzer Might Eat Poop

Now that we have a basic understanding of coprophagia, let’s cover a total of 15 reasons your Schnauzer might be eating feces; everything from genetic possibilities to medical reasons to simple boredom. Then we’ll cover 15 ways to stop it, along with whether feces can make your Schnauzer sick, and why dogs tend to eat more poop in the winter.

Let’s dive into this unusual topic!

Genetic Reasons Schnauzers Eat Poop

The detailed study on why canines engage in coprophagia found that dogs inherited the trait from wolves. According to the report, wolves eat poop in the den area as a way of eliminating fecal-borne parasites before they mature and infect the pack.

Dr. Hart explains that:

[Our…] hypothesis was that coprophagic dogs may be exhibiting a variant of an innate behavioural predisposition, possibly stemming from wolf ancestors, that we hypothesize would have a tendency to keep the den resting area free of accumulating feces left in the rest area by an injured or sick wolf. 

DR. BENJAMIN HART

If the fecal matter is left alone, the ova hatches into infective larvae that can get stuck on the hair of a wolf and transmitted. However, if the wolves eat the feces while still fresh, the larvae have not yet developed.

According to Benjamin Hart’s study, the researchers noted that the dogs could not eat poop older than two days. It is this unusual trait that causes researchers to associate coprophagia in dogs with wolves.

Medical Reasons Schnauzers Eat Feces

Malabsorption

Any disease that leads to poor absorption of nutrients can lead to poop eating. The dog will eat feces in a bid to compensate for undigested nutrients. Be sure to determine if he is actually eating his stool as it is a symptom of an illness or deficiency in his body.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

EPI is a hereditary condition that develops in both adult and young dogs. It affects the gastrointestinal system causing problems like chronic diarrhea, poor nutrient absorption, weight loss, and coprophagia. The disease causes the pancreas to reduce the production of digestive enzymes.

Enzyme Deficiency

Most processed pet foods have ingredients that are difficult to digest. While a dog’s body can produce its digestive enzymes, they are not enough to complete the digestive process. As such, the ingredients are excreted undigested, causing poop to smell and taste like food.

Schnauzers will find the poop appealing and eat it. If this is the case, it is essential to feed your Schnauzer with high-quality food that contains more nutrients and more comfortable to digest. Administering a digestive enzyme also helps.

Diseases that Increase Appetite

Health problems like diabetes and thyroid issues can cause your Schnauzer to feel hungry even when he is not. Also, if your Schnauzer is on steroids that cause him to feel hungry, he is likely to eat poop.

Other Reasons Schnauzers Eat Poop

Boredom

Dogs eat poop when they are bored. If you leave a pup alone for a long time, he is likely to eat his poop to keep himself entertained.

Curiosity

Along with boredom, curiosity can urge a Schnauzer to do things we can’t comprehend…like eating poop. As Schnauzers age, this should be less common, but a puppy will be curious about everything.

Poor Digestion

Your Schnauzer may experience poor digestion when the food has few digestible nutrients, or if he has a problem with his digestive system. As such, he is likely to eat poop as it tastes like the food he is eating. Switching to high-quality food should solve the problem; if not, visit your veterinarian.

Seeking Attention

If you react to this behavior harshly, your Schnauzer is likely to continue doing it to provoke your reaction. While the response is negative, he will still do it as long as he is getting extra attention.

Underfeeding

Ensure your Schnauzer is well-fed to prevent him from looking for other sources of food. A hungry dog will eat anything, including poop. This is because intestinal parasites and worms leach nutrients from his system, causing him to feel extremely hungry. If looking after a pup, ensure he is well fed 4 times per day as his body needs food to grow.

Stress

It causes pups and adult Schnauzers to eat stool. For example, if you just brought a pup from a shelter, he may develop anxiety before adapting to the new environment. Avoid punishing him as you will only increase stress. Also, animals brought up in puppy mills become accustomed to this habit as they grow up in stressful environments. Read my article Is My Schnauzer Stressed? How to Tell and What to Do for details on how to help you pup.

Punishment

If you’ve adopted an abused Schnauzer, he might eat feces as a disruptive reaction to fear, trauma, and stress. Punishment will only make things worse.

Restrictive Confinement

Dogs that spend lots of time in small, restrictive spaces are likely to develop the problem. Although crates and kennels can are great for training and can help your Schnauzer to feel safe, they should never be used for punishment. In fact, dogs who are harshly confined in basements or kennels for long periods of time are more likely to eat poop compared to those living around people.

Unusual Association with Real Food

If you serve dog food close to his fecal matter, he is likely to associate food odor with that of feces. It can be difficult for him to differentiate the two causing him to eat poop.

Living with an Elderly Dog

Healthy Schnauzers are likely to eat the feces from a sick or elderly canine. Scientists explain this phenomenon to be a result of a dog’s instinct to protect the pack from predators.

15 Ways to Stop a Schnauzer from Eating Poop

The first challenge is to uncover the reason your Schnauzer is eating feces in the first place. Unfortunately, it could be a complex mix of nutritional reasons that have now become a psychological and training problem. Stopping the behavior might take several tries and approaches, but here are some places to start.

Medicinal Ways to Stop a Schnauzer from Eating Poop

Schedule a Visit with Your Veterinarian

Your Schnauzer would benefit from a complete physical. Your veterinarian will need to be aware of the situation and can be your partner in treating the issue. In fact, in addition to consistent annual checkups, you will want to ensure that the coprophagia is documented in his records. It will be a point of reference for each annual visit.

Add Supplements to His Food

You could consider adding enzymes and vitamin supplements to his food to compensate for any deficiency he may have. Before making any drastic changes to his diet or adding supplements, it’s wise you have your veterinarian on board with a treatment plan.

Add Phytoplankton to His Diet

You could address a mineral deficiency with phytoplankton. Considered to be a giant among the available antioxidants, phytoplankton are actually microscopic plants. Ironically, given their powerhouse health benefits, they sit humbly at the very bottom of the ocean food chain. Despite their humble position and miniscule size, literally all ocean life depends on them and for both humans and canines, they are one of earth’s most valuable nutrition sources.

Screen for Parasites

If your Schnauzer is struggling to absorb nutrients visit your veterinarian to check him for parasites.

Add a Tenderizer to His Meal

Adolph’s tenderizer does a good job as it contains bromelain, which makes dog poop taste bad. You can substitute the tenderizer with a few pieces of fresh pineapple to achieve the same effect.

Natural and Food-Based Ways to Stop a Schnauzer from Eating Poop

Schedule a Feeding Routine

A fixed eating routine helps predict when your Schnauzer is likely to poop. It makes it easy to monitor and prevent him from eating his poop. For many health reasons, Schnauzers should not be allowed to eat as much as they want throughout the day. Generally speaking, puppies should eat four times per day, adults should eat twice per day, and Giant Schnauzers (because they are prone to bloat) should eat 3-4 very small meals throughout the day.

Serve a Well-balanced Diet

The dry kibble provides a balanced diet and results in less teeth tartar. Be sure to purchase high-quality kibble with the right protein sources and without unhealthy additives

I am also supportive of raw feeding and homemade meals. Just be sure to have them assessed for critical trace minerals and vitamins. While both diets are popular and have many merits, they can also be deficient in some of the essential nutrients your Schnauzer needs.

In fact, Schnauzer’s nutritional needs are different enough from human’s needs that you will absolutely want to offer an AAFCO balanced diet. These requirements ensure that all canine nutritional needs are met. In addition to cooking for your Schnauzer, there are many nutritional prepared meal options available.

Eliminate Any Causes of Stress

If your Schnauzer is eating poop as a result of stress, identify their causes, and reduce them. Also, practice managed desensitization exercises to help minimize stress. The activities expose him to low levels of stress or stimulus. Once he is accustomed to the stimulus, you can increase its intensity.

You can combine desensitization exercises with counter-conditioning techniques to achieve the desired results. Counter conditioning exercises involve engaging your Schnauzer by giving obedience commands during the desensitization process.

Keep His Environment Clean

Scoop the stool immediately when he is done to reduce the chance of him eating poop. You may need to retrain him on how to use the potty to discourage him from eating poop.

Keep Him Busy

Bored dogs are likely to engage in destructive behavior. Schnauzers are extremely playful and intelligent. Consider treat puzzles, toys, and games both inside and outside, including extra training.

Get Out and Exercise

Take him for a walk regularly and participate in structured and exciting activities. Take up a new sport such as agility training or barn hunting. Schnauzers benefit from vigorous exercise. Read my article What are the Best Sports for Schnauzers for some great options.

Why Do Dogs Eat Poop More Often in the Winter?

Here’s another “you won’t believe this” fact: frozen poop is more appealing than regular stool.

As a result, you may find your Schnauzer eating poop more often during the colder seasons. While there is no documented reason for this phenomenon, experts explain that it’s because the feces contracts during freezing weather, making it easier for dogs to see and gobble.

Additionally, snow tends to keep the droppings moist, which makes the poop even more appealing.

However, even cold and frozen feces can cause problems. The behavior may cause your Schnauzer to vomit and may also expose him to parasites.

Some ways to prevent your Schnauzer from eating frozen poop include:

• Scooping and disposing of the stool every time he relieves himself. Also, pick up poop excreted by other dogs.
• Increasing the amount or type of food served, so he feels satiated for a long time. For example, you can add a cup of cooked beans instead of small amounts of dry food.
• Giving your Schnauzer a treat every time he relieves himself. It directs him from the stool, and he gets a reward for not eating stool.
• Introducing additives that will cause the stool to taste bad. The additives taste good to your Schnauzer and you simply add a chew to his regular meal.

Can Poop Make a Schnauzer Sick?

Yes, especially if he is eating another animal’s feces. Your Schnauzer’s body may be exposed to parasites, infectious diseases, and harmful ingredients that have been ingested by the other animal. A case example is a dog that became ill after eating the feces of a sheep.

Upon examination, it was discovered that ivermectin, a de-worming drug, had been administered to the sheep, and the dog was sensitive to the drug.

If you Schnauzer has recently eaten feces, especially the feces of another dog or animal, keep an eye on his behavior and any new symptoms.

Some symptoms your Schnauzer may develop after eating poop include:          

• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Nausea and vomiting
• Slackness when eating

Steps to Take if you Think Your Schnauzer Has Been Poisoned

If you Schnauzer has eaten feces and being showing any of the signs or symptoms above, be sure you are prepared to treat him for possible poisoning.

Keep your Schnauzer near you and follow steps below, even if you aren’t sure he has been poisoned.

Here are the simple, but critical steps you should follow:

1. Forget everything you know	If your Schnauzer has ingested a toxic substance, you should forget everything you know about what you should do in such a scenario. Avoid any DIY dog first aid, unless you have talked your veterinarian and have been asked to take action. What works for one type of poison can cause severe damage to your Schnauzer if he has been exposed to another type of poison.
2. Take your Schnauzer away from the toxic substance	If you see your Schnauzer ingesting something potentially poisonous, you should immediately either get the toxic substance away from your Schnauzer or move him away from the poison.
3. Call your veterinarian	Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your Schnauzer has taken something poisonous. Again, if you know what he ingested, the vet should be able to tell you whether it’s toxic or not, and the next step you should take.
4. Take a sample to your veterinarian	It’s most likely that your veterinarian will ask you to bring your Schnauzer to their emergency room. You should carry the packaging or a sample of the substance that your Schnauzer has ingested. If you are not sure what your pet has eaten, but they’ve vomited, you can carry a sample of their vomit because it might be beneficial in diagnosing the pet and help in the treatment plan as well.

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While it’s normal for your Schnauzer to show some interest in poop, and even go so far as taking a bite or two, it obviously shouldn’t become a habit.

The chance that your Schnauzer will actually suffer from coprophagia is low. However, it’s always better to be prepared than to feel helpless if you suddenly find yourself dealing with this odd behavior.

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