Why Your Dog Eats Poop, and Other Odd Pet Behavior Explained
Experts weigh in on some of the stranger habits of cats and dogs.
From dogs that demonstrate decidedly odd tastes in treats to cats that think outside the litter box, pets can exhibit some seriously strange behavior. This week, we asked the pros to field questions from readers wondering about their pets’ peculiar habits.
Many animals consume feces, a most locally sourced meal that may contain intact food particles—and thus nutrition.
To the horror of dog owners, this fondness for feces sometimes applies to their pets. (Why Do Animals—Including Your Dog—Eat Poop?)
It “may be an evolutionary legacy of the dog’s long history of scavenging for a living,” says James Serpell, a professor of animal ethics and welfare at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, via email.
Reader Susan Moynihan just wants to
