yorkie problem

Question
my 12 week old yorkie puppy eats her poop. if i don't immediately clean her mess up shell turn  around and eat it. should i take her to the vet???  i don't know what to do to stop the nasty habit.  

Answer
Kelly,

That is 100% normal. Kind of gross, but normal :). It's not necessarily good for her, though, so definately keep trying to clean it up before she gets to it. There are products made specifically for this, usually in the form of a powder you sprinkle on the food that makes her waste distasteful to her. You can find some from Drs. Foster & Smith (drsfostersmith.com), and probably even at your local Petco or Petsmart. Usually dogs grow out of it, but this is a training process as well. When you catch her doing it, clap or make some sort of startling noise and give her a firm "no", then lead her away from it.

There is one other part to this equation - diet. If she isn't on a high quality diet, it could be contributing some to the problem. What I would consider a poor diet would be Ol' Roy, Purina Puppy Chow, Alpo, etc,... most of your low-end grocery brands. The best foods, in my opinion, are Bil-Jac and Eagle Pack Holistic, which can probably be found at Petco, Petsmart, or a local veterinary clinic. If only grocery store brands are in your price range, Purina One is the best choice.

Good luck!

Ashley