From a Veterinarian Who’s Dealt With This More Times Than I Can Count

I’m a licensed veterinarian practicing in Texas, and if I had a dollar for every time a client leaned in and whispered, slightly embarrassed, “My dog eats poop,” I could probably pay off a good chunk of my student loans. Coprophagia is far more common than people think. I see it in puppies, adult dogs, purebreds, rescues, farm dogs, and pampered couch potatoes alike.

Over the years, I’ve learned that owners usually jump straight to scolding or panic-buying supplements without understanding what actually helps. Food additions can make a difference—but only if you use the right ones, for the right reason, and with realistic expectations.

My First Real Lesson With Coprophagia

Early in my career, a middle-aged Lab came into my clinic for recurring stomach upset. During the exam, the owner casually mentioned the dog had a habit of raiding the yard right after bowel movements. She’d already tried a popular commercial powder meant to make stool “taste bad,” with no success.

What stood out to me was the dog’s diet. It was technically “complete,” but heavy on fillers and low in digestible protein. Once we adjusted the food and added a couple of simple ingredients directly into meals, the poop-eating slowed within weeks—and stopped entirely not long after. That case taught me something I still rely on: the bowl matters more than most people realize.

Why Dogs Eat Poop in the First Place

Before discussing what to add to food, it helps to understand why the behavior occurs. In my experience, it usually comes down to one or more of these factors: poor nutrient absorption, boredom, anxiety, learned puppy behavior, or an unsatisfied gut.

Dogs don’t think like humans. If their body believes something helpful is still in the stool—undigested protein, fats, or certain smells—they may go back for it. That’s why food-based solutions often work better than punishment or gimmicks.

Pineapple: Not a Miracle, But Often Helpful

Pineapple is one of the most common suggestions, and yes, I do recommend it in some instances. I’ve seen it help most often with dogs that eat their own stool rather than another dog’s.

Fresh pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that can alter stool odor and taste after digestion. I suggest mixing a small amount of finely chopped fresh pineapple into meals for a couple of weeks. Not canned in syrup, not dried treats—fresh, plain fruit.

One client last summer had a young shepherd mix who treated the backyard like a buffet. Adding pineapple didn’t stop the habit overnight, but within about ten days, the dog lost interest. The owner later admitted she’d stopped adding it, and the behavior crept back, which told me the pineapple was doing something, even if it wasn’t the whole solution.

Pumpkin: Supporting Digestion From the Inside

Plain canned pumpkin—just pumpkin, nothing else—is something I keep recommending year after year. I’ve found it especially useful for dogs with loose stools, inconsistent bowel movements, or sensitive stomachs.

Pumpkin adds fiber, which helps food digest more completely. Better digestion often means less “appeal” left in the stool. In practice, I’ve seen pumpkin reduce poop-eating even when owners weren’t targeting that behavior at all—they just wanted firmer stools.

I once worked with an older terrier who had started eating poop late in life, which always raises red flags. Bloodwork was normal, but his digestion clearly wasn’t what it used to be. Pumpkin didn’t fix everything, but it reduced the behavior enough that the owner could manage it with training and supervision instead of constant yard patrol.

Digestive Enzymes: When Food Isn’t Being Used Properly

That is where my professional opinion gets firmer. If a dog is eating poop consistently and aggressively, I often suspect incomplete digestion. In those cases, digestive enzyme supplements mixed into food can be genuinely helpful.

I don’t recommend random products from unknown brands. I’ve seen dogs do well on veterinary-grade enzyme powders that contain protease, lipase, and amylase. These help break down protein, fat, and carbohydrates more fully, which means fewer nutrients are lost.

Several years ago, a working dog owner brought in two dogs from the same household—same food, same yard—but only one was obsessively eating stool. The difference turned out to be absorption. Enzymes made a visible difference within a month, and the behavior tapered off without the need for any taste deterrents.

Probiotics: Not Flashy, But Often Underrated

Probiotics don’t get as much attention for coprophagia, but in my experience, they deserve more credit. A healthier gut microbiome improves digestion, stool quality, and even appetite regulation.

I’ve noticed probiotics help most with dogs that developed poop-eating after antibiotics, illness, or a diet change. One client’s dog started the habit after a rough bout of diarrhea treated elsewhere. Adding a quality canine probiotic to meals didn’t just help the gut—it reduced the scavenging behavior that came with it.

That isn’t instant gratification. Probiotics take time. Owners who expect results in three days usually give up too early.

Meat Tenderizer and MSG: Where I Draw the Line

You’ll see meat tenderizer recommended online a lot. I understand why—it changes the stool’s taste—but I don’t routinely recommend it. Some contain onion powder or are high in sodium, which can cause other problems.

I’m even firmer about MSG-based products or heavily flavored additives. I’ve treated dogs with GI upset caused by well-meaning owners overdoing these. Making stool unappealing shouldn’t come at the cost of stomach pain or electrolyte issues.

If a solution relies on masking problems rather than fixing digestion, I’m cautious.

Common Mistakes I See Over and Over

One mistake I encounter frequently is owners adding too many things at once. Pineapple, pumpkin, supplements, deterrent powders—everything goes into the bowl, and when the dog gets diarrhea, no one knows why.

Another issue is ignoring the dog’s environment. Food additions help, but they don’t replace supervision, yard cleanup, and mental stimulation. I’ve seen brilliant dogs eat poop simply because it was something to do between long stretches alone.

Finally, some owners assume poop-eating is purely behavioral and refuse to adjust the diet at all. In my practice, that mindset delays progress more than almost anything else.

My Bottom-Line Approach

If a client asked me, face-to-face, what to put in their dog’s food to stop them from eating poop, I wouldn’t give them a shopping list. I’d start with improving digestion—better-quality food if needed, then simple additions like pumpkin or enzymes, based on the dog’s history. Pineapple can help some dogs, but it’s rarely the whole answer.

Most importantly, I remind owners that this behavior is usually a symptom, not a flaw. When you address what’s happening in the gut and the dog’s daily routine, the poop-eating often fades without drama.