3 Things You Never Knew About Doggy Doo Doo

Updated July 2026

Of all the joyful things that come to mind about your pup’s life, we’re willing to bet that their stool isn’t one of them! But as we’re sure you know, some dogs may beg to differ.

At some point or another, we’ve all seen our dogs give a pile of waste a few “up close and personal” sniffs, but it’s nothing that a quick “hey, get away from that!” command can’t fix. But in other cases, they might go as far as to eat their stool, or even eat stool left behind from other dogs.

If you made an “eww” face after reading that, we don’t blame you! But sadly, many dog parents see this stool-eating problem on a routine basis with their fur-besties. It’s called coprophagia, and as you can imagine, it’s every bit as unhealthy as it is unsightly for our canine companions.

To better understand coprophagia, and how stool-eating deterrents can help, here are three surprising facts about dog stool that you might not know.

1. Poor Digestion Affects Stool Contents

Sometimes, poor digestive function causes more than just gas, bloating, or an upset stomach for dogs. If Fido’s tummy has a hard time digesting food and absorbing nutrients, poor digestion may affect what remains in your dog’s stool.

In some cases, undigested food in stool may make it more appealing to a dog. Your veterinarian can help determine whether diet, digestion, or another medical concern may be contributing to the behavior.

Since their waste contains more than just waste, depending on the cause, a veterinarian may recommend dietary changes, digestive support, training, closer supervision, or prompt stool cleanup.

2. Stool Color Says a Lot

Picking up and bagging your dog’s waste won’t exactly go down as anyone’s favorite pastime as a pet parent. That’s why we all prefer holding our breath and looking away while doing the deed. But, it might be wise to take a closer look when you consider how much stool color says about your dog’s health.

Depending on your dog’s health status and eating habits, Fido’s stool might come out black, green, yellow, or even grey. Changes in stool color can have many explanations, ranging from diet to a possible health concern. Black, red, pale, or persistent, unusual stool should be discussed with a veterinarian.

Dog waste can contain bacteria, parasites, and other organisms that may affect animals, people, and the environment.

3. It Carries More Bacteria Than You Think

You might have known that dog stool contains bacteria, but did you know that it has so much that it’s actually considered an environmental pollutant?

Canine stool often contains pathogenic bacteria, coliform bacteria, and even worms. Together, that makes for quite a hazard to our land and water in the environment, not to mention a major health risk for animals and humans.

With this in mind, the last thing you want your dog doing is consuming their waste, or waste from other dogs in your neighborhood. So, be sure that you and your community continue picking up their waste since it’s more than just a common courtesy. It’s a must!

It might not be a fun subject, but these are just a few of the potential factors that can cause coprophagia in dogs. So, whether you have a dog who regularly eats stool or you are looking for ways to discourage the behavior, talk with your veterinarian about possible causes and whether training, environmental management, dietary changes, or a stool-eating deterrent may be appropriate.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, or you can reach out to us with more coprophagia questions by phone at 1+(800) 738-0661 or bark@zestypaws.com.