How to Stop a Dog from Eating Poop with Pineapple

Co-authored by Lauren Novack and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: April 11, 2022 References

It’s a dog owner’s nightmare: you lean in to give your furry friend a kiss, only to realize that they’ve just eaten a hot, steaming turd from outside. Eating poop is not only gross, but it can actually make your dog sick or give them parasites, so it’s good to nip it in the bud right away. If your canine best friend has a feces-eating habit they just can’t kick, read on to learn why they might be eating poop and how you can use pineapple to stop it.

Section 1 of 5:

Reasons Why Dogs Eat Poop

1
Dogs might eat poop because of an underlying health problem. If eating poop is a new behavior for your dog, take them to the vet to get checked out. Sometimes (but not always), a dog starts eating poop because they are having a medical issue. Common medical problems related to feces-eating include:^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
- Parasites
- Malabsorption syndromes
- Diabetes
- Drug side effects
- Malnutrition
2
Eating poop can also be a behavioral issue. Often, dogs who engage in eating poop do so out of boredom, anxiety, or isolation. Studies show that dogs who are kept alone rather than with humans are more likely to engage in poop-eating. If you’ve been keeping your dog out of the way somewhere, like in a kennel or a basement, they might be showing that they’re upset by eating their own poop.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
- Try fixing the issue by spending more time with your dog and allowing them to be more social, if you can.
- Take a note of your dog’s overall disposition: have they been more lethargic, anxious, or destructive lately? If so, this could explain their sudden urge to eat feces.^{[3]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Kennel Club
  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
  Go to source}
- If your dog is bored, they may need more mental stimulation. Try playing fun games or hiding treats for them to find to exercise their mind as well as their body.
- A lot of times, young dogs will experience anxiety during house training. If they have an accident inside, they will eat the poop to “get rid of evidence,” but that only gets them punished more.
- Eating poop can also be a habit dogs learn from their mother. Fortunately, your dog can be trained out of this habit or discouraged from doing it, especially if they’re still young.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}

Section 2 of 5:

Can dogs eat pineapple as a poop-eating deterrent?

Yes, dogs can safely eat a small amount of pineapple. Pineapple even works as a poop-eating deterrent because it makes poop smell bad.^{[5]
X
Research source} The enzymes in pineapple are thought to change the way a dog's poop smells and tastes, making it unappetizing.^{[6]
X
Research source} Although there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, most vets recommend it, since it doesn’t hurt to try it out.

Section 3 of 5:

How to Stop a Dog from Eating Poop with Pineapple

1
Cut up raw pineapple into chunks. Canned pineapple contains a lot of added sugar, which can be hard on your dog’s digestive system. Stick to raw, fresh pineapple from the grocery store, and cut it up into small, bite-sized chunks that your dog can eat.^{[7]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
- The solid core and the spiny skin of the pineapple are both dangerous for your dog to eat. Stick to feeding them the pineapple flesh to avoid obstructions in their intestines.
2
Add 2 to 3 chunks of pineapple to your dog’s meal once a day. Any more than that, and it could upset your dog’s stomach. When you feed them their food, add in a few chunks of pineapple that they can eat. If your dog likes it, they will hopefully just eat it right out of the bowl.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
- If you have multiple dogs in the house, feed all of them pineapple. That way, everyone’s poop will smell and taste unappetizing.
3
Stop feeding your dog pineapple if it upsets their stomach. Since pineapple has a lot of sugar in it, it could make your dog nauseous or give them diarrhea. If that’s the case, stop feeding them pineapple right away, and look for other methods that may help curb your dog’s poop-eating habit.^{[9]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
- You can keep feeding your dog pineapple as long as they don’t have any major side effects from it. Unfortunately, if you stop feeding them pineapple, their poop may smell appetizing to them again, and they could try to eat it.

Section 4 of 5:

Other Ways to Stop a Dog from Eating Poop

1
Limit their access to poop as much as possible. When they poop outside, try to scoop it up and throw it away as soon as possible. If they’re out on a walk, keep them on a leash, and bag their feces as soon as they go. The less access they have to poop throughout the day, the better!^{[10]
X
Research source}^{[11]
X
Expert Source

Lauren Novack
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
Expert Interview. 23 February 2021.}
- If your dog tends to rifle through your cat’s litter box, make sure that’s clean, and try to scoop it once a day to remove any temptation.
- It's best not to give your dog an indoor potty area if they like to eat their poop.^{[12]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Lauren Novack
  Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
  Expert Interview. 23 February 2021.}
2
Monitor what they’re sniffing on walks. Keep an eye on your dog whenever they start snarfing something on the sidewalk. If you notice that it’s poop, pull them away gently, and get them to continue on with their walk.^{[13]
X
Research source}^{[14]
X
Expert Source

Lauren Novack
Certified Dog Behavior Consultant
Expert Interview. 23 February 2021.}
- If walks are where your dog tends to eat the most poop, consider getting them a basket-style muzzle to hinder their abilities to eat while out and about.
3
Distract your dog with something fun if they start going for poop. Have a toy or a treat on-hand when you’re outside. If you notice your dog is starting to sniff around for a snack, offer them something better. Then, while they’re distracted, you can swoop in and scoop up the poop while they’re none the wiser.^{[15]
X
Research source}
4
Train your dog with the commands “leave it” and “come.” You can command your dog to leave the poop alone if you see them going for it. Work with your dog on the command “leave it” by using a toy and having them drop it. Teach them the command “come” by having them come when called and giving them a treat.^{[16]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
- Old dogs can learn new tricks, but it’s best to start training your dog when they’re young. That way, they don’t develop any bad habits.
5
Give your dog lots of attention throughout the day. When dogs are bored, they’re more likely to go out and eat poop. Make sure you’re walking your dog every day, playing with them, and mentally stimulating them with obedience training or fun games. The more you can tire them out, the less energy they’ll have to indulge in their poop-eating habit.^{[17]
X
Research source}

Section 5 of 5:

Is Eating Poop Bad for My Dog?

Yes, eating poop can expose your dog to toxins and parasites. In general, if your dog eats their own poop, they’re probably not going to get sick. But, if your dog seeks out poop from another animal, they could interact with viruses, toxins, or parasites, which can cause a lot of health problems.^{[18]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}