Why Do Dogs Eat Anything, Especially Disgusting Things?

Our dogs possess extraordinary senses and display unique behaviours. It can be baffling to us, though, when they find delight in eating what we find disgusting.

Is canine taste and smell the reason? Why do dogs eat anything?

Taste Buds and Scent: Dogs have more than 300 million scent receptors, compared to our mere 5 million, making them olfactory superstars. However, their sense of taste is not as great, with approximately 1,700 taste buds, while humans have about 9,000. Their taste buds are sensitive to sweet, salty and sour flavours, and can detect the presence of minute amounts of water through taste. These sensory skills have evolved over centuries and differ significantly from human taste perception.

Dogs smell their food on a molecular level to assess nutrient content and determine its safety. Something decaying may still hold nutrients, and due to their limited taste buds, they can eat it, without issue. Dogs will eat anything decaying.

Scavenging: Dogs are omnivores, both hunters and scavengers. This dietary flexibility has been crucial to their evolutionary success. Their excellent sense of smell allows them to detect food, whether living or more likely dead and decaying, from great distances, and the lack of taste buds has enabled them to consume whatever smells nutrient-rich, providing essential protein. This made them valuable as hunting companions as well as our janitors, cleaning up waste around early human settlements. These factors have contributed significantly to their domestication with humans.

Curious Behaviour: Coprophagia, the eating of feces, is a normal dog behaviour with several underlying reasons:

• Maternal Care: A mother dog licks her newborn pups' urogenital area to stimulate bowel movements and then ingests the feces to keep the nest clean.

• Nutrient Acquisition: Free-ranging dogs often consume human or animal feces due to its high protein content.

• Boredom, Stress, or Learned Behavior: In domestic settings, boredom, stress, or learned behaviour can lead to coprophagia.

Coprophagia does pose a risk of parasite ingestion. Regular de-worming and maintaining a clean environment, especially in areas frequented by cats, can help reduce this risk.

Picky Eaters: Many owners believe their dogs are picky eaters, but dogs are skilled observers who quickly learn patterns. A dog may learn that by not eating what is presented immediately a better option may be presented. As guardians waiting at least fifteen minutes before offering an alternative may solve the issue.

While dogs definitely have food preferences, boredom can also lead to decreased appetite. Providing mental and physical stimulation, such as offering a variety of foods, feeding in different locations, or using puzzle feeders, can help provide the stimulation they need to live well.

Stress can also impact a dog's appetite. To reduce stress, consider providing calming activities like a Kong, lick-mat, long-lasting chew, and soothing music while you're away.

If you are concerned about your dog's eating habits or behaviour, consult your vet to rule out any underlying health issues and discuss strategies to address boredom or stress. Check 'Beyond the bowl' blog for ideas.

All things considered, dogs' unique combination of taste and smell have played a significant role in their survival and domestication. They eat all manner of things, mostly decaying for a number of reasons, however the secret stash of nutrients will be the primary driver. With their excellent noses allowing them to easily find nutrient rich food and with their limited number of taste buds they don't need to worry to much about taste, lucky them! And for your picky eater? They may be playing you!

By understanding these sensory abilities and behaviours, we can better appreciate and care for our dogs.

NOTE: A list (not exhaustive) of foods that are dangerous for your dog to eat: onions, cooked bones, garlic, grapes, chocolate, raisins, xylitol (artifical sweetener), alcohol, avocado, caffeine.

If you think your dog has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian for advice.