Why Are Yorkies Eating Poop? Reasons and Solutions

Last Updated on December 26, 2021 by Griselda M.

One of the frequently asked questions is “Why are Yorkies eating poop?”, there are many reasons for this issue. If your Yorkie eats its poop, this is called coprophagia. Sometimes some puppies do this behavior by nature, however, If they repeat it often, you must seek a solution. The reasons for Yorkies eating poop may be behavioral or health issues that make them do it frequently. Read till the end to figure out detailed information on the causes of Yorkies eating poop and how to correct the problem.

Why Are Yorkies Eating Poop?

There are many reasons for Yorkies eating poop including poor nutrition, health issues, and behavioral issues. Let’s discuss them one by one.

Poor Nutrition

If you do not serve your puppy a well-nourished diet, it might suffer some nutritional deficiencies. This will make your dog search for the deficient nutrient in its poop. Additionally, nutritional deficiency can occur not only because of poor diet but also because of indigestion.

To avoid this issue, make sure to feed your Yorkie a high-quality diet with a reputable product. It is preferable to be organic and free from preservatives, colorings, and GMOs. Furthermore, the well-nourished diet has to contain mainly high-quality protein in addition to some carbohydrates and healthy fats.

However, some pet owners go for feeding their pups homemade food that most of the time does not contain all the essential nutrients needed for the puppy’s health. Moreover, some parents opt for feeding a low-quality diet that contains lots of fillers which is not good for the dog’s well-being.

Behavioral Issues

Your Yorkie may suffer from some behavioral changes that make it eat its poop or maybe others’ poop.

Stress

Your puppy may feel stressed due to many situations, for instance, separation anxiety, change in routine, presence of a new member in the family, or punishment. If your Yorkie is stressed, you will notice it eating its poop though do not punish it because this may exacerbate the problem. Instead, try one of the solutions that we will mention later.

Read more about Taking Care Of A Yorkie Puppy

Boredom

The Yorkie may feel bored due to leaving alone for long periods and not getting enough exercising or stimulation. It may bark or destroy anything around or eat its poop. So, make sure to keep exercising your Yorkie regularly and stimulating it mentally by teaching it some tricks.

Confinement

Yorkies that live in small areas usually tend to eat their poop.

Getting Attention

Some Yorkies try to get your attention by eating their poop. They see that you respond to this behavior even if it’s an angry response. However, they do it intentionally to get extra care or response from you.

Learn more about The Best Chew Toys For Yorkie Puppies.

Fear Of Punishment

If the puppy does not respond to potty training and pooped in a place where it is not supposed to be, it may eat the poop to hide it to avoid punishment.

Health Issues

The following health conditions may cause Yorkies to eat poop:

Indigestion

Indigestion refers to a kind of gastric distress due to the inability of the puppy’s stomach to digest the food properly. Signs of indigestion include bloat, diarrhea, vomiting, bad breath. Indigestion will cause the stomach not to absorb the nutrients well that will pass eventually in the poop.

Parasites

The presence of parasites inside your Yorkie’s body will make it less nourished because the worms will benefit from the food inside the stomach.

Anemia

Anemia is a condition of reduced red blood cells below the normal range. Signs of anemia include low blood pressure, increased heart rate, loss of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy.

Why Do Puppies Eat Their Poop?

Puppies usually eat poop because they mimic their mothers. After delivery, the mother always eats the poop of her babies to clean the den and to protect her puppies from predators which is a natural instinctive behavior. Moreover, the mother stops performing this behavior after weaning her babies as they start eating solid food.

What Are Dog-eating Poop Side Effects?

Generally, Yorkies that eat their poop are safe, no worries regarding this issue. They mimic their mothers and most of them stop doing it by growing. Although, if they eat other animals’ poop, this results in some health conditions especially if the poop contains parasites, viruses, or toxins according to the American Kennel Club. Moreover, gastroenteritis including vomiting and diarrhea may occur.

What Are Dogs Eating Poop Solutions?

This is a step by step guide to help you reverse this behavior:

Eliminate Underlying Health Conditions

Go to the vet to check your Yorkie’s health and to detect any underlying disease that may be the reason for your puppy eating poop.

Improve Your Yorkie’s Diet

If you are feeding your puppy cheap food that contains lots of fillers or homemade food that does not contain enough protein and nutrients, search for another high-quality food. I recommend using Hill’s Science Diet or ACANA dry food. Additionally, add some fruits to your puppy’s diet to improve digestion, for instance, pineapple and papaya.

Furthermore, ask your vet to prescribe some multivitamins or probiotics to make up for the nutritional deficiency, strengthen the immune system, and improve digestion.

Use Some Poop Eating Deters

There are some tablets or powders to add to your Yorkie’s diet to prevent it from eating the poop. These additives will change the taste of the stool making it less palatable to the puppy. Try the brand Coproban or Natur Vet coprophagia stool eating deterrent.

Use Laxatives

You can use some laxatives to make the stool softener as Yorkies like to eat well-formed poop. However, I do not recommend applying this step frequently as it is not healthy for your puppy.

Wrap Up

Occasionally, Yorkies eat their poop as an instinct because they saw their mothers doing this behavior. However, repeating the behavior often and eating other animals’ poop will need you to take action and stop it from doing it. Yorkie eats poop due to health or behavioral issues or poor nutrition. Go to the vet for a quick check-up and try using any of the previous solutions. For further inquiries, please keep me posted in the comments below.