Dogs eating weird (and gross) things happen more than we care to admit. Diapers<\/a>, plastic<\/a>, insects<\/a>… name it!<\/p>\n The scary part is: eating cat poop can expose dogs to dangerous parasites and bacteria.<\/p>\n So if you're wondering can dogs get sick from eating cat poop<\/strong>? The short answer is yes.<\/p>\n In this article, let\u2019s explore the answers behind how, why, and what you can do about it.<\/p>\n There are plenty of reasons why dogs eat what they eat. It could be part of their instinct, curiosity, behavioral problems, or nutritional deficiency.<\/p>\n Dogs are natural scavengers. They get this instinct from their predecessors and relatives (aka wolves<\/a>!).<\/p>\n They will literally eat anything interesting they can find.<\/p>\n Coprophagia<\/a> (poop-eating) is normal animal behavior<\/strong>, especially in puppies.<\/p>\n And, for some reason, cat poop looks and smells good to them (Ugh, I know!)<\/p>\n They may also be attracted to the high protein content<\/a> in cat feces, which is due to cats\u2019 usually meat-rich diets.<\/p>\n It's also possible that your dog is bored or stressed<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dogs do unusual things for humans when they have difficulty dealing with certain problems, like being left alone for hours.<\/p>\n Some dogs also eat cat poop to seek attention<\/a>. It can be a learned behavior where they know their owners will pick them up and pay them mind when they do something dirty.<\/p>\n RELATED:\u00a010 Ways to Relieve Boredom in Dogs<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Dogs who lack the nutrients they need will turn to unusual food sources, like cat poop.<\/p>\n One possible cause of coprophagia is the lack of digestive enzymes when they only eat highly processed food or a poor-quality diet.<\/p>\n RELATED:\u00a0Do You Know Your Dog's Nutritional Needs?<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Absolutely, yes, especially if they pick up the poop from the litter box of a cat who often go outdoors!<\/p>\n Poops are our bodies' expelled solid wastes, and they consists of undigested food, bacteria, and other wastes products.<\/p>\n Some of the possible health issues your dog can get are:<\/p>\n This is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>which humans and dogs can get from undercooked meat and cat feces.<\/p>\n Toxoplasmosis mainly affects the nervous and respiratory systems and can be especially dangerous for puppies and dogs with compromised immune systems.<\/p>\n Even if you don't have cats, you should still be aware of this parasitic infection, especially if you feed your dog a raw diet<\/a>.<\/p>\n This can be cured with a combination of medications and supportive care and has a good prognosis.<\/p>\n RELATED:\u00a0Let's Talk: Raw Dog Food Diet: Dietary Concerns, Benefits, and Risks<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n![\"Dog](\"https:\/\/topdogtips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/dog-smelling-poop.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhy Do Dogs Eat Cat Poop?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Natural Instinct<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Behavior Problem<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Nutritional Deficiencies<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Dogs](\"https:\/\/topdogtips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Sick-Dog-with-Vet-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h2>\nCan Dogs Get Sick from Eating Cat Poop?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Health Risks When a Dog Ate Cat Poop<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Toxoplasmosis<\/strong><\/h4>\n