Dog eats feces!

Question
Doctor-
Thank you for your help here. Until recently I had two dogs, Jack Russells, one two, one 15 years old. Both are fine, with no bad habits...beyond what you'd expect from a JRT. In July, a friend moved in with his 4 yr old Yellow Lab.  She's a good dog, apparently healthy but when she showed up she was vey overweight.  I reduced her food intake, and she's down to normal weight now, but has recently (In the last month or so) started eating her own feces. And the JRT's feces as well. Someone suggested that I was underfeeding the dog, so the other day I gave her 1.5 times her regular amount of food. She immediately went outside, defecated, and promptly turned around and ate it. I am puzzled.  All three dogs are eating Purina ONE, all good appetites, good digestion, firm regular stools.

Questions:
1. Is this normal? I know Labs will eat anything but this is a bit much.
2. Will the JRT's see this behavior and think its a good idea, i.e. start eating feces too?
3. Is there anything I can do to stop this behavior?


Answer
I would add FORBID to her food so when she does eat the stool it will leave a nasty taste in her mouth to discourage the behavior.

I would also recommend adding PROZYME or another digestive enzyme product to her food to help digestion.

This can be due to an underlying medical problem such as maldigestion or parasites but most times it is behavioral.  

Best treatment is to deny access to the feces.  Some dogs eat feces to hide the evidence or from the fact that the mom would eat pup's feces to keep the den cleaning.  Most likely the JRT's will not pick up the habit.