Author: Dog Eat Guide Editorial Team

Dogs should not eat chocolate because cocoa contains theobromine and caffeine, substances dogs metabolize more slowly than humans. These can disturb the heart and nervous system and cause serious poisoning.

A dog may eat its own poop because of a learned habit, stress, attention-seeking, or exploration. Occasionally, increased hunger or a digestive or other medical issue contributes.

Dogs may eat poop (coprophagia) because of curiosity, scavenging habits, attention-seeking, stress, or sometimes an underlying medical condition. Puppies may explore feces, and nursing mothers naturally clean up after puppies.

Dogs may eat cat poop because its smell attracts them, and repeated access to a litter box can establish a scavenging habit. Boredom, stress, or sometimes medical conditions may also play a role.

Dogs may eat dirt because of curiosity, boredom, stress, or pica (repeatedly eating nonfood material). In some dogs it can accompany anemia, digestive illness, increased appetite, or an unbalanced diet.