Question for Judy.....

[garyj]

This is going to sound funny, but, I've got to ask anyway. Judy, you seem to be very knowledgable about animals. Maybe you can give me some advice (I'm sure I'll get plenty from the rest of these guys ). I have 3 chow-chows......I also have 2 cats. These stupid dogs get into the litterbox and eat the $#!T....I don't really care, but my wife pops a vein everytime it happens. Why do they do that? Can I subsidize their diet (tootsie rolls)??
BTW...The upside is that the litterbox doesn't have to emptied as much

[martin]

that's just gross. Dogs, yikes! my co-worker got campola-bacter (sp) which is a disease that the municipality investigates when you get it (sort of like a gun-shot wound) and asked him where he ate. He said BurgerKing, and they shut down the restaurant for an investigation of their food handling. But it wasn't the restaurant, it turns out that his new puppy was eating its own feces, and had passed on the disease to the guy through saliva.

[Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW)]

Gary, check out the info and links at http://www.dogplay.com/Behavior/poop.html and http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=cat+Coprophagia+

You may also look into http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3547 and/or http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=583

A little Tabasco on the offending poo may also be an easy remedy.

--Eric

[stealth67vw]

My old Black Lab loved the Almond Rocha

[Marty]

My old Black Lab loved the Almond Rocha

Its called Kitty Rocha.

[Dave Kawell]

Hi Gary   

Sorry haven't been on puter lately.  You already got several good answers and reasons.  It is my belief that it generally starts in or with a diet deficiency ? and then becomes a learned behaviour once the animal in question gets a good or bad, from caregiver, acknowledgment.  Then others, for the same reasons, can and will kick in and do the same. 

Is there anyway you could "isolate" the cat litter box so your pups do not have access to it ?  It is my understanding also, for reasons known only to the offender/s, that cat scat is highly desired by dogs ?  (eewww inserted here)

Good luck and let us know what you come up with ?  I have never heard it is harmful, just disgusting to humans.
BUT, in their natural origins or in the wild, other's scat is highly nutritious, again....eewwwww. 

Judy