I am having SEVERE problems with my three dogs; Nova, Bailey and Keira (shih tzu, GSD and Labradinger)
They are ALL under 1 and 2 months old with 4 months being the youngest.
When we got Bailey and Keira (as puppies) they were put on Science Diet and did great! Now I've discovered I'm not to keen on it as the prices has jacked and I would like something with less grains and better nutrition so we were recommended this new brand called "Blue". All three dogs are now on this food and they ALL eat there feces. I've tried two different kinds of pills and about ready to try the powder from our vet! I ask EVERYONE why they are doing this and I get back many different responses...everything from ; Heartburn, a faze to Missing something in their food that they are getting from their feces. I've starting to believe that last one, so I'm looking to switch to a new food sold at Little Stinkers and they recommended CaniSource , Taste of the Wild, and this Holistic brand. Both CaniSource and Holistic Brand are made in Canada where as ToTW is made in Mississouri!
Can anyone first of all give me suggestions about the feces eating and how to stop it...it's so bad now that they puke it up in the car and it's RANK!!!

and second, can anyone tell me their thoughts of those three foods! I'm considereing ToTW because of all their reviews and Dogfoodanalysis rates it a 6 however I can't find Canisource or Holistic Brand on there!

Thanks a Million!!!!

Well, I can't speak knowledgably about the brands of dog food that you are thinking of switching to...though I agree that Science Diet is an overpriced poor dog food and you were wise to switch from it.

There are a number of reasons why dogs eat feces and you've probably heard most of them:

1. just something dogs do
2. nutritional deficiency (most likely: B12 and/or K because gut bacteria make B12 and K as a by-product of fiber digestion)
3. hungry...not getting enough to eat or not able to digest and extract nutrients from the food they are eating
4. parasites
5. boredom
etc.

First step would be to rule out a medical condition. Have the vet run blood work testing for nutritional deficiencies and also have them tested for parasites. When you collect the fecal sample for the parasite test: observe the specimen. Can you tell what meal the dog is passing (meaning the food is not fulling digested)? Is it hard, soft, large, small?

Second step is to prevent their access to poop--sanitation.

If steps one and two don't eliminate the eating of eliminations then work on the boredom factor....

Thanks for the information. They have just had their vet check not too long ago, so I'm thinking I would take out the possibility of parasites, however we never took in a fecal sample!

2ndly, We do get out every day to clean up and poo, but it's difficult when they out number us 3 - 2 and they create more poo than we can attend at (haha!) We'll have to start doing it 2 times a day to ensure they don't have a chance to get to it.

We have started the change from our old food, Blue ..to Taste of the Wild! I will keep you all updated on the progress of the food change and if any changes are made in their coats, skin, eating habits etc..