Dr. Paola: Why Dogs Eat Poop & Safe Oxygen Therapy Tips

Welcome to the insightful "Ask Dr. Paola" series, featured every Monday, where we deliver professional veterinary guidance directly from Dr. Paola Cuevas, a highly experienced veterinarian holding the MVZ designation. This platform is crafted to empower dog owners, whether you are just starting your

Welcome to the insightful "Ask Dr. Paola" series, featured every Monday, where we deliver professional veterinary guidance directly from Dr. Paola Cuevas, a highly experienced veterinarian holding the MVZ designation. This platform is crafted to empower dog owners, whether you are just starting your journey as a pet parent or have years of companionship with your canine friends, by addressing crucial aspects of your dog's health, behavior, and overall wellness. Dr. Paola brings her extensive expertise to tackle everything from essential nutrition strategies and proactive preventive measures to resolving everyday behavioral challenges that many pet owners encounter. Her advice is designed to equip you with the knowledge needed to ensure your beloved dog remains vibrant, content, and in optimal health. We encourage you to stay engaged with this series for reliable, expert-backed information on topics that directly impact you and your furry family member, enabling you to make well-informed choices that elevate the quality of care you provide to your loyal companion.

Addressing Coprophagia: Help! My Dog Keeps Eating Her Own Poop!

I have a female dog that I rescued back in October. Her name is Lulu, and unfortunately, she has developed a habit of eating her own feces, a condition known as coprophagia. I make a strong effort to pick up her waste right away most of the time. To discourage this behavior, I've tried using special anti-poop eating chews and I reward her with tasty treats immediately after she finishes her business and heads straight to the door. She's even learned to go directly to her bed inside for those rewards once she's done outdoors. That said, I occasionally catch her attempting to snatch a piece if I happen to miss one during cleanup. I suspect this stems from her past, as she seemed extremely food insecure when I first took her in—she was terribly underweight and emaciated. I'm wondering what additional steps I can take to help her overcome this unwanted habit.

– Carlan

Dear Carlan,

The behavior you're observing in Lulu is far more prevalent than many dog owners realize, particularly among rescue dogs that have endured periods of food deprivation or unreliable caregiving in their early lives. From a veterinary behavior standpoint, coprophagia often emerges as a deeply ingrained survival mechanism, akin to how a human who once faced chronic food shortages might cling to certain eating patterns long after their circumstances have stabilized and improved. The evidence of her being severely underweight upon rescue strongly indicates that this compulsion likely originated as a practical adaptation to scarcity rather than any inherent preference for the taste or texture of feces. Fortunately, you're already implementing several highly effective strategies, such as positively reinforcing her for completing her elimination and promptly returning indoors, which effectively redirects her attention from the stool toward a dependable and appealing reward system.

Moving forward, the cornerstone of resolving this issue lies in diligent management combined with unwavering consistency in your approach. Swift and thorough cleanup after every potty break continues to be one of the single most powerful interventions available, as it eliminates any chance for the dog to repeat the behavior, thereby preventing the habit from gaining further reinforcement through practice. Keep up the positive reinforcement for her coming inside immediately post-elimination, and to enhance its effectiveness, elevate the value of those rewards—perhaps using premium treats like small pieces of cooked chicken, cheese, or her absolute favorite food—so that the anticipation of this prize consistently surpasses any lingering curiosity about the feces. For some dogs in similar situations, employing a leash during outdoor potty time proves invaluable; this allows you to gently but firmly guide her away from the area the moment she finishes, minimizing exposure and temptation altogether.

On the nutritional front, it's imperative to confirm that Lulu is receiving a high-quality, complete, and balanced commercial dog food formula that meets all her caloric and nutritional requirements based on her age, size, activity level, and current body condition. Persistent feelings of hunger, even subtle ones, or any underlying issues with nutrient absorption could potentially perpetuate or exacerbate the coprophagia. If, after several weeks or months of steadfast management, the behavior shows no signs of diminishing, it would be prudent to consult your veterinarian for a comprehensive evaluation. They can rule out medical contributors such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, where the pancreas fails to produce sufficient digestive enzymes, leading to poor nutrient breakdown, or intestinal parasites that might cause malnutrition despite adequate feeding. That said, in the majority of rescue dog cases like Lulu's, behavioral roots—tied to past experiences—remain the predominant factor driving the issue.

Patience is truly your greatest ally here, as habits forged in times of stress and survival don't vanish overnight, even within the security of a loving new home. What you're doing is fundamentally assisting Lulu in reprogramming an outdated survival instinct into a fresh routine built on trust, abundance, and positive outcomes. With time, persistent prevention of access to feces, and ongoing reinforcement of superior alternatives, the vast majority of dogs like her naturally lose their interest in eating poop. They come to fully embrace the reliability of regular, nutritious meals and the joy of more enticing rewards. Your proactive management is already exemplary—continue with it diligently, and trust the process to yield results.

Warmest regards,

– Dr. Paola

Emergency Care Concerns: Can I Safely Create an Oxygen Box at Home for My Dog?

My 9-year-old Shih Tzu named Frederick has recently been diagnosed with fluid accumulation in his lungs, and I've also learned he has significant heart enlargement, with his heart nearly spanning across to both sides of his rib cage. During his emergency vet visit, the veterinarian recommended keeping him overnight in an oxygen therapy enclosure, commonly called an O2 box. I know Frederick wouldn't handle that well since he sleeps right at the foot of my bed every single night and is very attached to our routine. My husband has access to an oxygen tank used for welding purposes. I'm curious if it's feasible for me to construct a homemade oxygen box at home using that welding oxygen bottle to help him breathe more comfortably.

– Rachel

Dear Rachel,

I'm truly appreciative that you reached out with this question before proceeding with any DIY attempts, as Frederick's health condition sounds quite grave, and your desire to alleviate his respiratory distress reflects profound dedication and love as his caregiver. Pulmonary edema, or fluid buildup in the lungs, frequently accompanies advanced heart conditions such as those caused by degenerative mitral valve disease or other cardiomyopathies leading to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart). While supplemental oxygen therapy can indeed be a critical, life-preserving intervention in such scenarios, it demands precise administration under professional veterinary oversight to be both effective and safe.

A clinical oxygen cage or box is far more sophisticated than a basic enclosed space with oxygen simply pumped inside. These medical-grade units meticulously regulate not only the oxygen concentration but also humidity levels to prevent drying out delicate lung tissues, temperature to maintain comfort, and carbon dioxide buildup to avoid toxicity. Moreover, the dog receives round-the-clock monitoring for vital signs, including respiratory rate and effort, oxygen saturation levels, heart rhythm, and any indicators of anxiety or distress that might necessitate immediate adjustments.

Attempting to replicate this with a welding oxygen tank at home poses substantial risks and is strongly discouraged, primarily because it lacks the mechanisms for accurate flow control and monitoring. Unregulated oxygen delivery could result in oxygen toxicity from excessive exposure, which damages lung cells over time, or conversely, insufficient oxygenation paired with poor ventilation, potentially aggravating Frederick's respiratory compromise and heart strain. It's equally vital to understand that oxygen support serves merely as a supportive measure during acute crises; it does not treat the root cause. Comprehensive stabilization typically involves a multifaceted protocol, including diuretic medications to eliminate excess lung fluid, positive inotropes or other cardiac drugs to bolster heart contractility and reduce congestion, alongside anti-arrhythmic agents if needed to support overall heart function.

Should Frederick exhibit telltale signs of respiratory distress—such as labored or rapid breathing, exaggerated abdominal effort when inhaling, restlessness, inability to lie flat comfortably, pale or blue-tinged gums, or coughing—he requires urgent professional intervention in a fully equipped veterinary facility. Although the prospect of overnight hospitalization can be heart-wrenching for devoted owners like yourself, it often represents the most humane and effective path to stabilization during these critical episodes. Reputable clinics frequently accommodate concerned families by permitting brief visits, providing sedatives or calming aids to ease separation anxiety, or updating you frequently on his progress. Once his condition stabilizes under professional care, your veterinarian can then outline tailored at-home management strategies, potentially including oral medications, dietary adjustments for heart health, restricted activity guidelines, and regular follow-up diagnostics like chest X-rays or echocardiograms.

The deep bond you share with Frederick shines through clearly in your query, and prioritizing interventions that genuinely enhance his comfort and longevity is among the most compassionate actions you can take right now. Professional guidance ensures the safest, most optimized outcome for him.

Wishing you both the very best in his recovery,

– Dr. Paola

This piece forms part of our ongoing weekly "Ask Dr. Paola" series, delivering consistent veterinary wisdom to dog owners worldwide. Each installment dives deeply into real reader-submitted concerns, offering practical, evidence-based solutions grounded in Dr. Paola's 19+ years of clinical experience across diverse species, with special emphasis on canine health, nutrition, preventive medicine, and behavior modification. Her background includes advanced training in microscopy, clinical pathology, diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, and positive reinforcement training techniques, complemented by contributions to esteemed platforms like PetMD and others. By expanding on each query with comprehensive explanations, potential underlying causes, step-by-step management plans, and when to escalate to professional care, this series aims to bridge the gap between common pet parenting challenges and expert intervention, fostering healthier, happier dogs and more confident owners.

To fully appreciate the breadth of advice available, exploring previous editions reveals patterns in canine health trends, from dietary dilemmas to emergency scenarios, reinforcing that many issues are solvable with knowledge and consistency. Dr. Paola's holistic approach always underscores the interplay between physical well-being, environmental factors, and learned behaviors, empowering readers to implement lasting changes. Whether addressing quirky habits like coprophagia or life-threatening conditions like congestive heart failure, the guidance provided here is continually updated to reflect the latest veterinary research, ensuring reliability and relevance.