You might think that dogs who eat cat waste and litter might be missing something from their diet, (a nutritional deficiency), but this is usually not the case.
Dog saliva is full of chemical degraders which break down odors in fecal matter into simpler-to-process substances like ammonia and mercaptans — the very chemicals that make poop smell so bad. Scent scientists estimate that dogs’ noses are 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than our feeble human noses. While it may sound sickening, dogs eat cat litter and poop because they enjoy eating things that have a strong odor.
So, given all this information, why do dogs find cat litter delicious? Why not eat Corgi crap instead (like I presume you do)? The feline faeces in the litter tastes good to most dogs, which is why they eat kitty litter (usually the clumping kind). This may sound repulsive, but it is something that many dogs enjoy. Cats, like dogs, are carnivores and require a higher protein diet. This means that their faeces are richer in material than dog waste, and depending on what the cat has been eating, it can be very appealing as a snack. Dog sense of smell also can pick up on subtle differences in chicken poo versus rabbit poo; something our noses wouldn’t notice. Dog mouths are thought to be similarly supersensitive, especially when it comes to the complex scent of urine.
Hence, Eating cat litter or poop is thus a natural behaviour.
What Happens if a Dog Eats Cat Litter?
Different types of litter contribute to the plethora of scents, as does the presence of cat faeces and urine in the litter box, for better or worse. Newspaper pellets, corn cob granules, wooden pellets or shavings, and clay litter are just a few examples of litter. Clumping litters typically contain a clay additive, such as sodium bentonite, which binds the large volume of cat urine to the surrounding litter particles. Most dogs, however, will eat cat litter and cat faeces with no ill effects or minor gastrointestinal symptoms such as loose stool. However, eating kitty litter can be hazardous to dogs in a variety of ways.
What are the symptoms of Dog eating Cat Litter or Poop?
The symptoms for Dog Eating Cat Litter include, but are not limited to:
– Carbonated or Sulfur Odor from Dog’s Breath
– Dog vomit with smaller pieces as if Dog ate a whole lot of litter and feces at once.
– Dog will be lethargic and has no energy whatsoever.
– Dog’s stool is unusually small, infrequent and stinky.
– Dog will have diarrhea (which may or may not contain blood).
– Dog will be vomiting.
Dog’s experience problems associated with eating cat feces and excrement when they eat the litter directly from the potty pan rather than scooping it up after it’s been deposited.
Large clumps of kitty litter (Looking for best clumping cat litter?)can actually get stuck to your pet’s insides and even cause an intestinal blockage that might require surgery to correct. Larger-breed dogs are particularly susceptible to intestinal blockage from eating too much kitty litter as well as the feces and stool within it. Dog’s also tend to indiscriminately ingest things like pine cones, sticks, rocks and sometimes even other pets (if they’re small enough).
How to Stop Dog from eating Cat Litter?
The easiest way to prevent your dog from eating cat poop, according to veterinarians , is to place the cat litter box in a spot where your dog can’t access it.
Dog owners need to be especially careful about their pets chewing on or eating stuff in the backyard, especially if they’re consuming litter and poop. Dog’s will eat things that we wouldn’t dream of putting into our own bodies because it just tastes good and smells good to them. Dog owners need to be especially careful about their pets chewing on or eating stuff in the backyard, especially if they’re consuming litter and poop. Dog’s will eat things that we wouldn’t dream of putting into our own bodies because it just tastes good and smells good to them.
Conclusion:
Dog’s digestive systems are full of the necessary bacteria to break down animal proteins. Dog’s noses are great, their mouths are better, but their stomachs are probably best suited for consuming meat-based products, To know more about cat litter issues, I have made a proper guide for you which answers 31 questions about cat litter.
