A veterinarian urged owners of dogs that eat their own feces to consult a vet, as the causes of the condition are varied and require professional diagnosis.
Only after a veterinarian has examined a dog that exhibits the condition can they know what to prescribe, Taishan Veterinary Hospital director Chen Tai-huang (陳代煌) said.
Of the three most common causes of the condition, known as coprophagia, one is vitamin and mineral deficiency, which could be addressed with a nutritional supplement, he said.
Psychological issues, such as anxiety or depression, could also bring about the onset of coprophagia, Chen said.
“I have encountered dogs that will eat their feces out of fear that their owner will yell at them for defecating in the wrong place,” he added.
A third cause is diabetes or pancreatitis, which causes the smell of the feces to change, attracting the dog to eat it, he said.
It is also possible that a dog will eat its feces to get attention from its owner, he added.
A dog eating another dog’s feces can be particularly problematic, as it might contain parasites or bacteria, especially if it had been left exposed for a long time, Chen said.
Feces from another animal might lead to viral enteritis, toxoplasmosis or other diseases that can cause digestive diseases, he said.
Pet owners could discourage dogs from eating feces by cleaning it up immediately after they defecate and giving them positive reinforcement when they walk away after defecating, Chen said.
Owners should prevent their dogs from smelling their own feces or attempting to eat it when they notice such behavior, he said.
Another option would be for pet owners to add something to their dog’s feces that has a smell or taste that the dog is averse to, such as very spicy hot sauce or very bitter Chinese goldthread powder, he added.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS