What happens if my dog eats cat poop

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Q: The dog sometimes gets into the cat box and eats some of it. Can he get sick?

Dr. Brittany Cartlidge, AtlasVet DC: Let’s face it: Some dogs will eat anything—including and not limited to cat poop. Which is one of the main reasons I don’t like when dogs lick me on the face. Who knows where their mouth has been?

Cat litter boxes are like boxes of buried treasure to dogs. Cat food is very high in protein and therefore, so is their fecal material. This makes it attractive to dogs. Some dogs also like the taste of the cat litter itself.

Your dog could get intestinal parasites from eating fecal material. Hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and Giardia could be transmitted from coprophagy (the medical term for eating fecal material). These parasites can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, weight loss and anemia. Be sure to keep your dog on monthly heartworm prevention, as that also prevents most intestinal parasites, and if the cat goes outside, be sure to have him on preventatives, as well. Theoretically, a dog could also get sick if they ate a large amount of cat litter, since it absorbs moisture and could cause constipation or an obstruction.

You can try to use a baby gate or cat door to allow the cat access to the litter box while keeping the dog out. Training dogs to obey the command “leave it” is also helpful if you can catch them in the act. Lastly, try to clean the litter box after your cat uses it to remove the source of temptation to your dog. Most dogs don’t get sick after eating litter box treasures, but trying to prevent it is a good idea. Especially if you let your dog lick your face.

Do you have a peaceable kingdom made up of dogs and cats in your household? If so, you may not mind the cats sleeping on the dog beds, and the dogs playing with cat toys. All in all, the joys of having a mixed household of dogs and cats is great. 

Except for when your dog eats cat poop. 

It’s amazing how much dogs like this, and to what lengths they will go to be able to do so. But if you’re tired of the litter on the lips, the potty breath, and the general “eww” factor, stay tuned. Schertz Animal Hospital shares how to solve the problem of dogs in the litter box.

When your Dog Eats Cat Poop

There are any number of contraptions you can try to keep your dog out of the litter box. Some of them involve your home, and some involve the litter box itself. Here are some popular methods.

Take it from the top – You may be able to deter litter box raiding with a top entry cat litter box, like this one.  Make sure your cat can get in!

Go up – You could also put the litter box within reach of the cat, but out of reach of the dog. If your cat is able to jump and climb, try placing the litter box on top of a sturdy piece of furniture. Of course, you have to watch carefully to make sure that the cat is willing to do this to use the litter box so you don’t run into urinary problems with your cat.

Behind closed doors – If you can place the litter box in a separate room, you can potentially use a heavy object behind the door that bars the dog from going in, but that still leaves access for the cat. 

Baby steps – Some people use pressure mounted baby gates positioned about 5 inches off the floor. This allows the cat to go under to get to the litter box while preventing the dog from getting to it.

Door latch du jour – There are no shortage of door latches that work to keep the door to the litter box cracked only so far as the cat can get in. This one seems to be good at keeping the dog out, but allowing easy access for cats (and humans). 

If Your Dog Is Eating Cat Poop, Change the Behavior

When dogs eat cat poop, there is usually a behavioral component to consider. It may take more time and effort to address the issue, but if you’re tired of replacing baby gates every time you go in and out of a room, it may be a worthwhile endeavor. 

Here are some tips for how to stop your dog from eating out of the litter box, for good. 

• Teach your dog the “Leave It” command, to stop him from eating the poop.
• Teach your dog the “Drop It” command in case you’re a moment too late.
• Teach your dog to “Kennel” or “Wait”, so that he doesn’t come into the room when you’re cleaning the box.
• Exercise your dog before you leave the house, so she’ll be more tired and less likely to go looking for trouble.
• Keep your dog busy and active when you are not at home, so she’ll have something else to do besides looking for a “poo poo platter”.
• Make sure litter boxes are kept very clean, especially right before you leave the house. 

Never punish your dog if you find him snacking on poop. Use only positive reinforcement in your training. Experiment with a combination of blockage systems, and use positive training as well. 

If you have questions about how to keep your dog out of the litter box, or you have general pet health questions, please give us a call. 

Overview

Updated: 7/14/2021
As much as you love your dog, you've probably noticed that at times he can be pretty gross. If you share your home with both canines and felines, you may have caught your pooch sneaking nasty snacks out of the kitty litter a time or two. It's fairly obvious that you wouldn't like this behavior because really, who would want a pup with cat poop breath? But as revolting as this habit may be, is it actually dangerous for your dog? Can dogs get sick from eating cat poop?

Can dogs get sick from eating cat poop?

YES!
Dogs can definitely get sick from eating kitty logs. Cats can carry heaps of bacteria and parasites that can make their barking housemates really ill. One of the most common bacterial infections carried by cats is toxoplasmosis, and it is no joke! Even the litter itself, which is often clumped in the turds, can cause some issues for your pup. While most of it is non-toxic, it's not made to be eaten. The little rocks can get caught in your dog's digestive tract and cause some serious damage.

How do I know if my dog is sick from eating cat poop?

If your pooch is known to sample the odd chunk of feline fudge, it may be wise to keep your eye out for common signs of bacterial or parasitic infection.

Bacterial infections like toxoplasmosis will make your dog super sick. They may vomit or have diarrhea to the point of dehydration! These infections often cause weakness and a loss of appetite. Parasites create much of the same symptoms.

Eating scat leftover from a kitty who's carrying micro bugs can lead to these illnesses. The cat in question may sure no signs of sickness.

To confirm the cause of your dog's tummy troubles, your vet will likely take samples of the pooch's blood, poop, and even spinal fluid. Young puppies and pregnant moms-to-be are the most at risk for these infections.

To read a whole lot more about toxoplasmosis in dogs, take a look at our guide on the topic.

How do I treat my dog's sickness from eating cat poop?

So your pupper’s gross pleasures have made him sick. Now what? Once the source of the illness has been identified, a treatment plan can begin!

Parasites can often be removed with a course of antiparasitic medication. The sooner that the meds are given, the better the chance is that your pooch will survive the infection. IV fluids can also help keep the dog stable while fighting the sickness.

If your pup makes it through the initial stages of the illness, it most likely will survive the infection. Some dogs will be contagious to other pups for the rest of their lives, so it may be best not to bring your dog to places that are populated with pooches.

If you'd like to read stories from owners dealing with toxoplasmosis, check out Toxoplasmosis in Dogs.

How is sickness from cat poop similar in dogs and humans?

Cat poop can actually make people pretty sick too. Some of the similarities between the illnesses humans get from feline feces and those that dogs suffer from include:

• Toxoplasmosis, especially for pups and people with weakened immune systems like pregnant moms and youngsters
• Worms like hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms can make their way from a cat's bottom to other mammals in the home

How is sickness from cat poop different in dogs and humans?

There are some key differences in how cat poop makes people and their pooches sick. These differences are:

• Dogs ingest the poop, making it easier for parasites to hop over. People usually contract these parasites from improper handling while changing their cat's litter
• It's thought that toxoplasmosis can cause some pretty serious psychological problems in people, while this has yet to be observed in dogs.

Case Study

Even if you don't have a cat in your home, your pooch may still seek out feline poop. One big bullmastiff girl found herself some kitty snacks on the go while on her daily walks with her owner. Afterwards, she completely lost her appetite and became very lethargic. While the dog had not started vomiting, she was still taken to the vet for a check-up. Because they caught the toxoplasmosis early, the dog was able to recover from the encounter. Let's hope the next time she finds some cat scat, she just keeps strolling.