Canine coprophagic behavior is influenced by coprophagic cohabitant

Coprophagia is a common canine habit, although it is aversive for human beings. Despite absence of clinical risk to animals and their owners, this behavior may lead the owners to get rid of their dogs. The lack of information and effective corrective methods make it difficult for veterinary clinicians to contribute to eradication of this problem. The objective of this study was to evaluate nutritional, behavioral, and hereditary aspects involved in the manifestation of coprophagia in dogs, the effectiveness of the most common corrective methods, and the perception of owners about the subject through a questionnaire designed for coprophagic and non-coprophagic dogs' owners. Owners of 70 adult animals were interviewed, of which 42.8% (n = 30/70) were coprophagic and 57.1% (n = 40/70) were non-coprophagic. There was no difference between sex, habits, lifestyle, habitat, number of meals, nutritional background, commercial diet, and reproductive status. However, development of coprophagia appears to be influenced by the presence of a coprophagic cohabitant.