Is Deer Poop Bad for Dogs? The Scoop on the Poop
It’s a crisp fall morning and you’re out walking your dog in the woods. As you pause to take in the autumn foliage, your pup darts into the bushes. Before you can stop them, they’ve scarfed down something you know can’t be good – a big lump of deer poop.
We’ve all been there. One minute Fido is happily sniffing along, and the next he’s snacking on something gross. As a dog owner, it’s natural to worry if eating deer droppings can harm your four-legged friend. Could it make him sick? What about parasites? Is deer poop toxic?
While certainly unappealing, the good news is deer feces generally aren’t dangerous to dogs. In fact, because deer are herbivores, their poop consists mostly of partially digested grass and other plant matter. This means it has very low toxicity for canines.
However, there are some health risks to be aware of. Deer droppings can contain bacteria, viruses, or parasites like giardia or cryptosporidium that could cause vomiting, diarrhea, or other intestinal issues if large amounts are ingested. Eating poop may also transmit diseases between deer and dogs.
Overall, while a little deer poop likely won’t harm your dog, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Here’s what you need to know about risks of dogs eating deer feces and how to protect your pet.
The Short Answer
The good news is deer feces generally isn’t harmful for dogs to eat in small amounts. Deer are herbivores, so their poop contains mostly grass and other digested plant matter that holds very little toxicity for dogs.
However, there are some potential risks, including:
- Minor stomach upset – Too much deer poop could cause vomiting or diarrhea. But this will usually pass within a day or two.
- Parasites or infections – Deer feces can contain bacteria, viruses, or parasites like Giardia or Cryptosporidium that may cause illness if large amounts are ingested.
- Disease transmission – Eating deer droppings may spread certain diseases between deer and dogs.
So while an occasional nibble likely won’t trouble your pooch, it’s best to discourage repeat snacking. Here’s what you need to know to keep your dog safe and healthy around deer droppings.
Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?
Before diving into the specific risks of deer poop, let’s look at why dogs are drawn to feast on feces in general.
Consuming poop, either their own or from other animals, is a normal canine behavior known as coprophagia. There are a few possible explanations behind this unpleasant habit:
- Natural instinct – In the wild, eating fecal matter may help dogs learn about prey and avoid danger by masking their scent. Some researchers believe this instinct persists in domesticated dogs.
- Nutritional deficiency – Dogs may eat poop to supplement their diet with nutrients they aren’t getting enough of. This is especially common in puppies.
- Attention seeking – Some dogs may start eating poop to get a reaction from their owner. Even punishment can reinforce the behavior.
- Boredom – Dogs confined to a yard with little stimulation may eat poop or other disgusting things just for something to do. More exercise and enrichment can help curb boredom.
- Medical issue – In rare cases, an underlying health problem like diabetes, thyroid disorder, or gastrointestinal disease could cause a dog to eat poop compulsively.
If your dog develops a habit of eating poop, especially deer feces, don’t panic. There are ways to discourage the behavior through training, distraction, and addressing any potential medical issues. Talk to your vet to rule out health problems.
Is Deer Poop Toxic to Dogs?
One common concern about dogs eating deer poop is whether it could be poisonous. After all, deer are wild animals – who knows what might be in their waste?
The good news is deer droppings contain very little toxicity for canines. Deer are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. Their poop is composed of partially digested grass, leaves, twigs, berries, and other vegetation.
While these certainly aren’t nutritious for dogs, they aren’t innately poisonous. In fact, the majority of deer poop is just fiber, which should safely pass through a dog’s digestive system.
Of course, toxic substances or parasites could make their way into deer feces if the deer ingested them. But by itself, deer poop doesn’t contain high levels of anything truly dangerous to dogs.
Will Deer Poop Make Dogs Sick?
Eating deer droppings is pretty gross. But will it actually make your dog sick?
In most cases, a small taste or nibble of deer poop won’t cause any major health issues for an otherwise healthy dog. At worst, it may give them some minor stomach upset.
However, large amounts of deer feces could irritate a dog’s gastrointestinal tract and cause:
- Vomiting – Throwing up is a dog’s way of expelling something that didn’t agree with them. You may see undigested deer poop in the vomit.
- Diarrhea – Loose stools result when something speeds up transit time in the colon. Deer poop may stimulate bowel movements.
- Abdominal pain – Stomach cramps or discomfort may accompany vomiting or diarrhea.
- Loss of appetite – Nausea often causes disinterest in food after eating something unpleasant.
- Dehydration – Fluid losses from vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration if severe.
These symptoms are indicative of gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the GI tract. It’s the doggy equivalent of food poisoning.
Luckily, cases caused by deer poop are usually mild and run their course within a day or two. Make sure your dog has access to fresh water and contact your vet if symptoms don’t improve.
Severe or ongoing illness may require medication to control vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration. But most dogs bounce back quickly with minimal treatment.
Prevention Tips
To avoid gastrointestinal upset, try these tips to keep your dog from ingesting too much deer poop:
- Use a leash in areas with high amounts of deer droppings.
- Train a reliable “leave it” cue.
- Carry treats and redirect their attention if they try eating poop.
- Pick up fresh droppings from your yard daily.
- Fence off areas deer frequent to keep dogs away.
- Provide exercise, play, and enrichment to prevent boredom.
Can Deer Poop Give Dogs Worms or Parasites?
In addition to gastrointestinal illness, another concern is parasites and organisms lurking in deer feces that could infest your dog. This is a more serious risk than simple stomach upset.
Several types of internal parasites and other pathogens can be spread through deer poop, including:
- Giardia lamblia – Single-celled protozoa that infects the small intestine, causing diarrhea.
- Cryptosporidium – Also a protozoan parasite leading to intestinal infection.
- Toxoplasma gondii – Cat-transmitted parasite that causes toxoplasmosis.
- E. coli – Bacteria that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms.
- Salmonella – Bacterial infection often causing diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
- Leptospirosis – Bacterial disease that can damage the liver and kidneys.
- Parvovirus – Highly contagious viral infection, often fatal in dogs.
- Neospora caninum – Parasite that causes neuromuscular disease in dogs.
- Eimeria species – Coccidian parasites that infect the digestive tract.
The prevalence of these organisms in deer depends heavily on location. Your veterinarian can tell you which ones are common in your area and recommend preventative medication if needed.
Dogs that ingest large amounts of deer feces are at highest risk of parasitic infection. Puppies, dogs with compromised immune systems, and those not dewormed regularly are also more susceptible.
Symptoms of Parasites
Watch for these signs of parasitic infection in dogs that eat deer poop:
- Diarrhea, especially with blood or mucus
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Lethargy, tiredness
- Swollen abdomen
- Dehydration
Catching parasites quickly improves the chances of effective treatment. Bring a fresh fecal sample to accurately identify the organism in question. Prompt deworming and antibiotics can rid your dog of dangerous pathogens before they wreak havoc.
Prevention and Treatment
You can protect your dog from the threats lurking in deer feces with smart prevention and swift care:
- Administer regular deworming medication as directed by your vet
- Keep dogs away from areas littered with deer droppings
- Clean up deer poopClean up deer poopptly if it appears in your yard
- Have annual fecal exams to screen for parasites
- Treat any diarrhea or vomiting rapidly to prevent dehydration
- Follow up with additional stool tests to confirm parasite eradication
With prompt treatment guided by your vet, most dogs make a full recovery from organisms picked up from deer poop. But prevention is key to keep it from happening in the first place.
Can Dogs Get Diseases From Deer Poop?
Some people worry whether illnesses could transfer between deer and dogs through ingesting feces. This fear is somewhat valid – certain diseases can indeed spread through deer droppings.
However, the chances of a domestic dog contracting a serious deer-related disease are fairly low in most cases. The biggest risks include:
- Chronic wasting disease (CWD) – Fatal prion infection in deer that could possibly spread to dogs. However, this has never been proven.
- Rabies – Deadly viral disease transmitted through saliva. Deer poop is not a direct source.
- Anthrax – Bacterial disease not common in wild deer. Extremely rare to spread to dogs.
- ** Salmonella** – Bacteria that can infect deer and dogs via feces. But risk is low from small exposures.
- Leptospirosis – Bacterial infection dogs can contract from deer urine or tissue. Unlikely from feces alone.
Unless your dog eats large quantities of deer droppings from an infected source, disease transmission is unlikely. But to be safe:
- Avoid areas with sick looking deer.
- Have dogs fully vaccinated, especially for rabies if hunting deer.
- Take care handling or dressing deer carcasses.
- Cook venison thoroughly.
- Prevent dogs from eating deer poop as much as possible.
Talk to your vet about additional precautions relevant to your geographic area and deer population. Proper prevention minimizes any disease risks.
Tips to Stop Dogs From Eating Deer Poop
Now that you know the potential risks of dogs eating deer droppings, here are some training tips to curb this revolting habit:
Use a Leash
Keep your dog leashed in areas thick with deer poop to prevent free snacking. Take routes avoids piles visible on the ground. Be aware of popular deer hangouts.
“Leave It” Command
Teaching a solid “Leave it!” cue is extremely helpful for deterring poop eating. Just be sure to reward compliance with high-value treats.
Manage the Environment
Pick up deer droppings from your yard daily, fence off deer trails, and avoid areas where it accumulates. Eliminate access and temptation.
More Potty Breaks
Some dogs eat poop to eliminate traces of their own waste. Allowing more frequent potty breaks can help.
Divert Attention
When you spot your dog approaching deer poop, redirect their attention. Call their name, squeak a toy, or use a whistle. Anything to break their focus.
Exercise
Make sure your dog gets adequate exercise every day. Tired dogs are less likely to eat deer droppings out of boredom. Take long walks, play fetch, or try a dog sport.
Add Fiber
Increasing fiber in your dog’s diet makes their own poop less appealing. Talk to your vet about adding pumpkin, bran, or psyllium supplements.
Treat Underlying Issues
If a health problem causes poop eating, treat the underlying cause. Digestive enzymes, probiotics, or changing foods may also help. See your vet.
With consistency and patience, you can use these methods to curb your dog’s desire to snack on deer droppings. But talk to your vet or a trainer if you need help. Breaking this habit improves your dog’s health and your sanity!
The Bottom Line
To recap, here’s what you need to know about dogs eating deer poop:
- In small amounts, deer poop is highly unlikely to seriously harm dogs.
- Watch for minor stomach upset like vomiting or diarrhea if they ingest a large quantity.
- Parasites pose the biggest risk when dogs eat lots of deer feces frequently.
- Diseases like chronic wasting disease are highly unlikely to spread through poop.
- Discourage poop eating through training, supervision, and addressing underlying causes.
While eating deer droppings is pretty nasty, try not to freak out if your dog sneaks a bite. With proper precautions, your four-legged friend should be just fine. Just keep an eye out for symptoms and check with your vet if you have any concerns.
Stay vigilant when exploring the great outdoors together so your pup doesn’t turn an enjoyable walk into a trip to the vet’s office. With mindfulness and monitoring, you and your dog can safely share all the fun of nature without worrying about the yucky deer poop!