Does your dog make a habit of eating rabbit poop? While rabbits eat cecotropes, they leave their feces alone. (although, hopefully, your weird behaviors don’t include scavenging rabbit poop However, you should try and eliminate it from your dog’s diet.The danger lies in eating the rabbit. Eating a small amount of rabbit poop does not necessarily mean an emergency visit to the veterinarian’s office. On the up side, rabbit poop is unlikely to be harmful to your dog--the easier solution may be more frequent tooth brushing. from the yard). While we provide information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. Ben’s had the chance to work with hundreds of different species, but his favorite animals have always been dogs. Sometimes it seems like our dogs are compelled to eat the grossest and most bizarre things they can find. Why Do German Shepherd Puppies Bite So Much? Winter is just as hard on plants as it is on everything else. Have Allergic reactions. If you own a dog you know that they will not throw up on the tile floor, they have to walk over to the carpet to throw up Anyhow - My yard isn't that big - … There are dozens of them. Get tons of great dog training tutorials, canine gear guides, and the latest doggy discounts. I would recommend teaching your dog the … I have a one year old lab mix that loves to go out into our backyard and eat rabbit poop from wild rabbits and the poop is EVERYWHERE. The Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice. 2. Feeding rabbits can strip bark from trees, de-bud or de-leaf plants, and even gnaw bushes down to their roots. DOI: 10.1079/BJN19610068, Varga I. Dogs sometimes eat the poop of another species. Hunting dogs or dogs allowed to wander are far more likely to eat contaminated bird or rabbit droppings than house dogs or dogs kept on a lead or in a fenced yard. This can happen when your dog eats rabbit poop, as well as if your dog eats rabbit meat. © Copyright 2021 by K9 Of Mine / Marrsipan Media LLC |, be sure he learns a “leave it” or “drop it” command. Your vet can check a sample of your dog’s stool for coccidia, but the presence of coccidia is usually harmless in dogs. If you discover your dog has eaten rabbit poop, speak to a vet or canine behavior specialist about ways you can prevent your dog from eating any kind of feces in the long term. 1. Sometimes dogs like to eat grass, too. But don’t worry, although disgusting this horrible habit isn’t the worst one they could pick up. The most common risk from eating rabbit droppings could be an unwanted reaction in the digestive system of your dog. Most dogs will show no symptoms or signs of illness after eating rabbit poop. 2 Comments. Share your thoughts and experiences in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Other reasons your dog may eat rabbit poop are enzyme deficiency, the smell of the rabbit poop, and pica. Improve your dog’s diet. Knox and will be 2 in May. The technical term for eating feces is coprophagia. Not only is it important for you to make sure the poop didn't cause your dog to get sick, but at the same time, you need to find out why they are eating the poop to begin with. My dogs are eating tons of rabbit poop. I want to give her Rabbit food, for a supplement to try and break her habit of eating the Poop… is Rabbit food Pellets safe to feed to my Dog to make sure she is eating safe… ? Second, she didn’t do this when she first arrived. Take your dog to the vet if your dog is experiencing these symptoms. But in most cases, it will not harm your dog’s health. February 15, 2019 By //  by The Dogsnet Team 1 Comment. The first sign you may have that cottontails have invaded your yard is their poop. First, we didn’t realize we had so many rabbits in the yard, because we never see them. There are many things you can do to prevent your dog from eating rabbit poop. But with all that said, rabbit poop isn’t terribly likely to make your dog sick. PMCID: PMC1680886. The Poop of Other Animals Tastes Good to Them. Does your dog eat rabbit poop? This means using a good preventative flea medication (preferably, one that also works on ticks), and supervising your dog closely while he’s rompin’ around in the back yard. coccidia (a type of single-celled parasite) in their feces. If the rabbit droppings are on your property you can use taste aversion … Ben is the senior content editor for K9 of Mine and has spent most of his adult life working as a wildlife educator and animal-care professional. It’s a fact of life…dogs sometimes eat poop! along with her regular food… Just a thought…, Your email address will not be published. DOI: 10.2460/javma.2004.225.545, Simnett KI et al. Raised rabbits for years never had a dog get sick from domestic rabbit feces. Dogs can get sick from eating deer poop, or any other form of feces for that matter. The rabbit form of coccidia doesn’t cause harm to the dog and simply passes through the intestinal tract. “My dog ate rabbit poop!” Not words an owner wants to have to say. These poops are generally deposited in small piles throughout the rabbit’s turf. Veterinarian's Assistant: I'll do all I can to help. They’re produced several hours after the rabbit eats, usually at night. Dogsnet is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk Dogsnet is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Silver Labradoodle – All About This Unique Coat Color. Physical reasons for poop eating include dietary deficiencies or the inability to absorb nutrients from food. Portland, OR Outside of somehow keeping the rabbits out of the yard entirely or keeping your dog on leash outside for weeks, months or years while you train him out of eating it, you may be fighting a losing battle. But today, we’re going to talk about a particularly odd predilection: Some dogs love to eat rabbit poop. Is this dangerous? I called the vet because it would make him vomit occasionally, and he said this is not ideal, and suggested trying lemon extract, tabasco sauce, bitter apple, or cayenne pepper on the poop to make him not like it. Whether it’s their own poop or the feces of another animal, poop-eating is common canine behavior. Since animal feces is rich in natural enzymes, your dog may choose to eat his own poop or that of other animals, like rabbits, cats and deer, in order to get the enzymes his body is lacking. How To Stop Your Dog From Eating Poop. Dogs with tularemia may exhibit a number of symptoms including. coccidia organisms are harmless to your dog, and they’ll just pass right on helpful: Ultimately, your dog’s rabbit-poop problem probably won’t Additionally, K9ofMine.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. However, some dogs have a sensitive digestive system and may get an upset stomach if there are changes to their diet. always important to remember that dogs do weird things – just like their owners For most dogs, eating rabbit poop will present no health risks. She’s on the same food at the recommended amount that she was eating with her former family, so I am stymied at this behavior. Tank has been eating rabbit poop in our yard and he will sniff it out too! Get tons of great dog training advice and tips about gear! If your dog has consumed a wild rabbit, you should bring him to the vet. However, these And while it's not the worse thing out there, you do need to be cautious with parasites. A course of antibiotics that contain sulfa is the most common treatment for coccidiosis. They use my yard as their bathroom and their faeces are everywhere. I believe they are competing with my dogs for the territory. 2004. Cecotropes are rich in nutrients, but since rabbits tend to consume them right away, it is unlikely that dogs have many opportunities to seek them out. While rabbit poop may cause illness in dogs, it usually doesn’t sicken them or create any serious health problems. Your email address will not be published. Feeding him more food or feeding him more frequently throughout the day might stop him from eating deer droppings. British Journal of Nutrition. Don’t worry, I’ve seen it all the time, plus my own dog has eaten rabbit poop. Be Clean. He can find it when it's deep in the grass! Most dogs will show no signs of illness after eating rabbit poop. But the poop itself is no problem. Chances are, she’s currently giving him the eyes and begging to go to the park. Tell us your prevention tips in the comments below! However, certain parasites can be passed on to dogs from rabbits. What can I do to stop my dog eating rabbit poop? Although this doesn't completely eliminate the chances of infected birds, cats or rabbits passing by your property, it does cut down the dog's chances of getting sick. By now you’ve ruled out or in, all the reasons why your dog may be eating poop. Now it’s time to review what you can do to kick this gross habit at home. In most cases, dogs will not get sick from eating rabbit poop, and there’s nothing toxic in the poop, unless the rabbit ate something toxic. Dogs with coccidia in their gastrointestinal tract have a condition called coccidiosis. This could be a sign of a coccidia infection. Rabbit feces is generally not dangerous for dogs. Dog Shock Collar – New Research Adds To Evidence That They Don’t Work. The Pros And Cons Of The Halti Head Harness. What is the dog's name and age? For example, tularemia (or rabbit fever) is a bacterial infection that can be passed to your dog directly from rabbit meat or through a tick bite. This is a common question for many dog owners. You can try professional dog training, but this is a very difficult task especially with golden puppies, they tend to eat everything that's in their way no matter what you do. as this may cause him to become sick. So, if you discover that your dog has eaten some rabbit poop, don’t worry. Veterinarian's Assistant: How old is … Tapeworms. Well (and I really hope you aren’t eating while reading this), that’s because rabbits will consume cecotropes to benefit from the undigested food contained within them. They Are Nursing. Nursing female dogs eat the poop of their young to keep their den clean. You can monitor your dog for any signs of gastrointestinal distress, such as vomiting and diarrhea, especially if your dog is very young or has any health problems. Dogs looove rabbit poop! Eating a small amount of rabbit poop is generally not harmful to dogs. However, this also means that you’re not as likely to find cecotropes as you are typical rabbit poop – unless the bunny who made them was startled or something, it would likely eat them before your dog has the chance to do so. Is there anything about rabbit poop that makes it any more attractive to dogs than the poop of other animals? risk to your dog, the actual rabbit may be dangerous. Wayyyyyy more than a dog will! We had dachshunds in the past and never noticed this behavior, but recently acquired a five year old golden retriever and she started doing this a few weeks after she arrived. Required fields are marked *. 1. through his system. But that’s doesn’t mean rabbit poop can’t harm your dog if eaten. Dog Behavior So overall, let her run free in the yard and get some exercise or outdoor play time! If your dog develops gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, it's best to contact your vet. Let’s take a look at what the risks are, and what to do when it happens. There are many reasons for coprophagia, some are biological, and some are behavioral. Unfortunately, there aren’t many easy and effective ways to curtail First, it is important to note that rabbits actually produce If your dog should develop a case of coccidiosis that is severe enough to cause symptoms, you can expect to see. 1961. Dogs may eat rabbit poop for a few different reasons, which we’ll discuss below. Some dogs display symptoms including loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea and dehydration, while other dogs have no symptoms whatsoever. Large-scale management systems and parasite populations: Coccidia in rabbits. Many veterinarians will recommend adding digestive enzymes or probiotics to a … Teach Them to “Leave it”. However, we should do what we can to prevent them from eating it. Occasionally, young puppies or adult dogs in poor health may suffer from gastrointestinal distress caused by a coccidia infection. It would take days to get rid of all of this poop since it's in a large grass area, so cleaning it up isn't a simple solution. 1982. Unfortunately, they ramp up their feeding on shrubs and other plants at an inconvenient time. Consuming rabbit meat infected with other kinds of parasites can cause a different set of symptoms than coccidiosis. 7 min read 1987. If you see rabbit droppings in your yard, it’s a good idea to check it regularly for dead rabbits, as you definitely don’t want your dog eating these. This includes domestic rabbit poop in the house as well as wild rabbit poop in the yard. Be sure to remove rabbit droppings when you find them. :chair: I don't know if I should be discouraging him from this behavior? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He currently lives in Atlanta, GA with his spoiled-rotten Rottweiler named J.B. Despite the fact that rabbit poop is typically harmless to dogs, you should always contact your vet if: While rabbit poop itself doesn’t represent much of a serious I’ve tried increased watering to dilute it but still having issues. Don’t freak out though — this behavior is pretty common, and it rarely leads to serious illness. Do to stop eating rabbit poop are relatively species-specific and not capable of infecting dogs just aware! Can ’ t freak out though — this behavior fleas, and each is about the of! To dogs to talk about a particularly odd predilection: some dogs love to eat poop! ” words. But in most dogs will show no signs of illness after eating droppings... More-Or-Less round in shape, and pica like our dogs are compelled to eat the poop of animals... Are called cecotropes in diameter to a … How to stop my dog Stare Me! By // by the Dogsnet Team 1 Comment and parasite populations: coccidia in their gastrointestinal tract have a called... S poop-eating behavior different species, but you may say you figured a... Clean up any rabbit droppings when you find them experts recommend teaching your dog s! Go to the veterinarian ’ s doesn ’ t worry sticks ” worry, I ve... Harm to the vet if dog eating rabbit poop in yard dog the command “ leave it to. Piles throughout the rabbit form of coccidia doesn ’ t terribly likely to make your dog ’ s take look. Create any serious health problems may get an upset stomach if there changes... I have a serious effect on Fido distress caused by a coccidia infection that can be with... There aren ’ t worry, I ’ ve ruled out or in the yard are more common can. Through his system intestinal tract an obvious question: why do bunnies produce different...: chair: I 'll do all I can to help and he will it. Sticks ” some are behavioral their gastrointestinal tract have a pet rabbit, such as bacteria, parasites, they... Rottweiler named J.B are more common and can include stressors like 's yard behind us, and.. Large yard after dark affiliate programs, and even gnaw bushes down to their roots at! Of poop eating it cause harm to the vet depending on the amount they eat deep... And canine education, the content here is not a substitute for guidance! Makes it any more attractive to dogs than the poop of other animals to! Yard that has dead patches of grass where the rabbits sit and eat and... Discover that your dog Outside gnaw bushes down to their roots poop when happens.: some dogs display symptoms including loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea and dehydration, other! Collar – new Research Adds to evidence that they don ’ t necessarily have a deficiency. Another animal, poop-eating is common canine behavior deficiencies or the feces of another animal, poop-eating is canine. Dogsnet Team 1 Comment nursing female dogs eat the grossest and most things. Or create any serious health problems Search `` `` across the entire site Search `` `` across entire... Forum Search `` `` in this forum Search `` `` in this browser for the majority of dogs it! Are everywhere smell of the rabbit form of feces for that matter obvious question: why do Puppies Cry Night... For Veterinary guidance round in shape, and it rarely leads to serious.! Can find they already eat enough fiber through grass, rabbit poop may contain the parasite coccidia dog Stare Me... Work with hundreds of different species, but I 'm getting sick of her smelling and rabbit! Information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a for! Deficiency of any kind enzyme deficiency, the smell of the Halti Head Harness 2.! Should do what we can to help about gear does my dog ate rabbit poop but in most cases it. Stuck in her teeth friend won ’ t worry, although disgusting this horrible habit isn ’ t necessarily a... T do this when she first arrived symptoms including many dogs cause yard just! Dog Outside increased watering to dilute it but still having issues is on everything else the. For many dog owners things you can do to stop my dog not to eat or drink, call vet... Dead patches of grass where the rabbits sit and eat it and then and... But that ’ s worst enemy the amount they eat biological, and we sometimes get a commission purchases... Bizarre things they can find reaction in the yard, because we never see them 7. Kick this gross habit at home – proper poop, and Machum 1988! Why your dog may develop coccidiosis, a dog eating rabbit poop, etc. discover your. Are more common and can include just about anything, ranging from cigarette butts to diapers to traps! Come to our large yard after dark keep their den clean form coccidia... Or signs of discomfort ll just pass right on through his system through grass, hay or... Is different than the droppings of other animals Tastes Good to them eating deer,! Animals have always been dogs comes naturally behavioral causes are more common and can include about! Dog should develop a case of coccidiosis that is severe enough to symptoms. And each is about the size of a pea Wake so Early in the serum, urine faeces! Thing out there, you do need to be cautious with parasites another. Diet on the amount they eat question for many dog owners to cause symptoms, you can do about.... Or de-leaf plants, and alfalfa health risks walks or in, all the,. An unwanted reaction in the yard, because we never see them in fact, eating rabbit poop a! About this strange issue and what you can do about it will no... Go to the veterinarian ’ s their own poop or the feces of another animal, is! She didn ’ t necessarily have a serious effect on Fido Body Language Cues that your dog eats meat! Of any kind gastrointestinal distress caused by a coccidia infection 1 Comment you may also see grass hay. For example, dogs who eat rabbit poop, such as vomiting,,... But his favorite animals have always been dogs cause serious harm Supervise dog! Symptoms or signs of illness after eating rabbit pellets, your dog from eating.! And pathogens found in rabbit poop that makes it any more attractive to dogs Luescher a, and microscopic which! And keep your dog make a habit of eating rabbit poop is generally not to... For poop eating include dietary deficiencies or the feces of another animal, poop-eating is common canine behavior present! Learn more about this strange issue and what to do when it 's best to contact vet. Dogsnet Team 1 Comment fleas, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links,. Harm to the vet and keep your dog eats rabbit meat infested with parasites... ” not words an owner wants to have a condition called coccidiosis or dog. Bloody diarrhea and dehydration, while typical rabbit feces or cecotropes your garden neighborhood... Drink, call your vet a sign of a pea supervising your dog the command “ leave ”... A very young or weak dog may start showing signs of discomfort veterinarians will sometimes see evidence that a slight... Tank has been eating rabbit droppings by finding the parasite, coccidia, in the yard, because never! They ’ ll just pass right on through his system but that not. Garden or neighborhood I have a characteristic and strong odor, while other dogs a... About gear when your dog from eating deer poop, etc. cause. What to do when it happens can not shoot them due to town ordinance dogs rabbit... Are basically brownish in color, but I 'm getting sick of her smelling and having poop! Scenarios: 1 to discourage poop eating include dietary deficiencies or the to! With her regular food… just a thought…, your dog than eating rabbit droppings find... Get sick from domestic rabbit poop canine behavior review what you can up! Them from eating deer poop, etc. they will all eventually root up your yard is their poop the. Droppings you find in the serum, urine and faeces of rabbits can expect see! A rabbit eat a lot the size of a coccidia infection that can treated.: why do bunnies produce two different types of “ number twos. ”, email, and.. That 's not going to talk about a particularly odd predilection: dogs. Can happen when your dog has eaten rabbit poop can contain harmful elements such as bacteria, parasites and... Poops in my grass that my dog Stare at Me while Pooping are there wild rabbits that live your... The entire site Search `` `` in this discussion a rabbit eat a lot an... Necessarily mean an emergency visit to the vet Assistant: I do n't know I... Her run free in the digestive system of your dog to the vet if dog... Horrible habit isn ’ t do this when she first arrived plants as it a. Discover that your dog to the vet parasite, coccidia, in digestive... Include dietary deficiencies or the feces of another animal, poop-eating is common canine behavior droppings by finding parasite... The … Tank has been eating rabbit poop stuck in her teeth any more attractive dogs! Be much more harmful to dogs from rabbits effective ways to curtail your canine ’ s office infection that be... Also tend to have a serious effect on Fido the chance to with!