Dear Cathy, During a recent visit to my son's home, my five-year-old Yorkie mix, Mortie, behaved unusually. My son's large mixed-breed rescue, Shep, seemed to resent Mortie, growling and attacking from the start. Mortie became frightened and submissive.
Mortie left food behind, which Shep would then eat. Was this a peace offering? Additionally, Mortie ate Shep's poop and had a vomiting episode. They seemed to reach a detente by the end of our 10-day visit.
As I'm 86, I worry about Mortie's future. My son and his wife have offered to take him in, but I'm concerned about the dogs' relationship. Can you advise where Mortie should live after I'm gone? Also, have you addressed poop-eating in a previous column? — Mary, Laramie, Wyoming Dear Mary, I have addressed poop-eating, or coprophagia, in the past, but I'm happy to revisit it here.
There are commercial stool deterrent products on the market specifically designed for this purpose that you could give to Mortie during your visits. Probiotics can also help improve his gut health, addressing any digestive issues or nutrient absorption problems that might be causing the behavior. During your visits, your son can help by picking up Shep's feces more frequently to reduce temptation.
He can also add certain human foods to Shep’s dog food, prior to and during your visit, to make his feces less appealing to Mortie. Common options include meat tenderizer, pineapple, and pumpkin, which alters the taste of the feces. However, before yo.
