Elderly dog eating poo

xavier8228

Our family dog is aged 16. Recently he's started eating the cat poo out of the litter tray. It had a lid and flap but he climbs right in! I also caught him eating old cow poo on farm yesterday. Any ideas how to stop him? I can't move the litter as the one cat that uses it is nearly 20 and very particular about his litter trays.

Ms Doubtfire1

you're lucky he's only starting now. It's one of those things (almost) all dogs do. It's gross. but there's something in catpoo they really like. Deworm regularly and you should be ok. Make sure he doesn't kiss you straight after....

lawred2

grim

janmaree

It's not a nice thought but a lot of dogs do this, I've heard it said that they instinctively know what they're doing and that there's something in it that they need, it's unpleasant but not uncommon. At 16, I'd wonder if there's a little "doggy dementia" going on there but in any case, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Is there any possibility of elevating the cat's box so the cat can reach but the dog can't?

xavier8228

janmaree wrote: »

It's not a nice thought but a lot of dogs do this, I've heard it said that they instinctively know what they're doing and that there's something in it that they need, it's unpleasant but not uncommon. At 16, I'd wonder if there's a little "doggy dementia" going on there but in any case, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Is there any possibility of elevating the cat's box so the cat can reach but the dog can't?

The cat is very particular about his litter tray so we can't move it. We put the lid on with the flap to try and stop the dog going in as he is very blind and deaf (old age) but it hasn't stopped him.

Bunnyslippers

And people wonder where I get inspiration for my greetings cards from!!!:P :eek:



Dogs are just gross - mine eat AND roll in it!!:D

Ms Doubtfire1

Bunnyslippers wrote: »

And people wonder where I get inspiration for my greetings cards from!!!:P :eek:



Dogs are just gross - mine eat AND roll in it!!:D

That would go for foxpoo where mine are concerned..and horsepoo..not so much catpoo. :rolleyes:

Ms Doubtfire1

xavier8228 wrote: »

The cat is very particular about his litter tray so we can't move it. We put the lid on with the flap to try and stop the dog going in as he is very blind and deaf (old age) but it hasn't stopped him.

His nose is still good so. Can you maybe put the littertray in a larger box or such?

xavier8228

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

His nose is still good so. Can you maybe put the littertray in a larger box or such?

I might try and do that. I assume it's not hunger or anything like that?

DBB

Cat poo smells divine to dogs op... Lots of protein in it, makes it smell nice and meaty... Nyom!
That said, if this is a very sudden new departure for your dog (assuming he's always had access to the litter box but has ignored it til now), I'd be inclined to have the old fella checked out by your vet, including a geriatric blood test, just to make sure this new behaviour isn't a symptom of something sinister coming down the tracks. Sudden changes in the behaviour of elderly dogs is a bit of a red flag, health wise.
Another suggestion to keep him away from the litter box depends on where the litter box is... If it's in a side room that the dog doesn't need constant access to, you could put up a baby gate in the doorway that's high enough to let the cat under, but not the dog. A cat creep gate!
But if not possible, Ms Doubtfire's suggestion is one I'll add to my own toolbox!

xavier8228

Thanks guys. I brought him in December to the vet for his arthritis but I'll bring him again just to see if there is something amiss. He sleeps in my sisters room with the cat. He hates the cat and the cat loves him! Typical family relationships! 😂

aonb

xavier8228 wrote: »

Thanks guys. I brought him in December to the vet for his arthritis but I'll bring him again just to see if there is something amiss. He sleeps in my sisters room with the cat. He hates the cat and the cat loves him! Typical family relationships! 😂

+1 for having him checked by the vet. Any changes going on with his food/appetite?

our cat ADORES the dog, he acts pained when shes loving him - she'll walk along beside him glued to him, with lots of face rubbing - you can nearly hear the dog sigh! She jumps up on his armchair when hes sleeping - he gets this "get off me" look on his face. He does LOVE licking her food bowls though. Ive caught him wagging his tail at her a few times though, and yesterday he was digging in the garden - a frog or something?? - while she sat beside him, waiting patiently for him to do the hard work

xavier8228

He eats everything he can get! He gets his food twice a day but he will sit and watch the cats eat and then woof down everything left. He also learned a while ago that if he goes outside my dad will give him a treat when comes in ( until my mother and sisters put a stop to it!) so he's goes out 5 or 6 times in the evening, comes back in and looks at you to see if you go to the treat back 😊 He is one spoilt old man!

Ms Doubtfire1

ONLY WAY TO BE..:-):P