Meat tenderizer is an in-home spice used primarily to soften the chewy parts of the meat and flavor. While its primary use is as a cook's aid, many owners have found an alternate use for it—deterrent for dogs to eat their feces, a condition known as coprophagia. While it is not a guaranteed remedy, it has been successful with many owners.
Why Utilize Meat Tenderizer in Dog Food?
Application of a meat tenderizer to treat coprophagia can appear unusual initially, but its action is on ingredients. Dogs could be drawn to coprophagia for several varied reasons, one of which is taste. Meat tenderizers contain main ingredients that alter the flavor of stool to make it unpalatable to dogs.
Main Ingredients Found in Meat Tenderizer
Enzymes (Papain & Bromelain): These plant enzymes, found in papayas and pineapples, help digest meat fibers. When included in food, they also alter the taste of feces.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): This food flavor enhancer is often utilized in meat tenderizers. While controversial, the FDA has declared MSG safe in minute amounts. When consumed by canines, MSG makes feces distasteful to prevent coprophagia.
Before applying meat tenderizer, check the ingredients list to ensure it contains MSG since all of them may not have it. If you are concerned about MSG, consult with a veterinarian prior to adding it to your dog's food.
How Much Meat Tenderizer to Use?
When using a meat tenderizer to prevent coprophagia, moderation is key. A light sprinkle over your dog's food at each meal is sufficient. Excessive use may lead to digestive upset, so it's essential to monitor your dog’s reaction. Consistency is crucial—apply the tenderizer regularly until the undesirable behavior stops.
Why Do Dogs Eat Poop?
While adding meat tenderizer can be effective in ending coprophagia, it does nothing to address the underlying reasons for this behavior. Understanding what those reasons are can be helpful in working on solutions on a long-term basis.
Why Coprophagia Exists:
Taste Preference: Certain animals simply enjoy the taste, especially those fed high-protein diets.
Attention Seeking: If the animal receives a good reaction from its owner, then the behavior will continue for attention.
Emotional Stress: Anxiety, boredom, or stress from the environment can trigger abnormal habits, such as coprophagia.
Digestive Disorders: Certain dogs are not able to digest food and will pass undigested material in their stool that they realize is food.
Nutritional Deficiencies: If dogs lack some nutrients, they will attempt to re-digest stool in an effort to recover lost nutrients.
Learned Behavior: Puppies are taught by their mothers, who consume puppies' stool for cleanliness.
Instinctual Protection: Dogs in multi-dog families may eat the feces of older or sick dogs as a protective measure to avoid bringing in predators.
If your dog is exhibiting coprophagia, addressing the underlying cause is essential. A trip to a veterinarian will determine if a medical or behavioral issue is the root of the problem. Meanwhile, use of meat tenderizer as a deterrent is simple, cheap, and generally effective. With persistence and regularity, this will eliminate this disgusting habit and improve your dog's health
