Poor Diet

• A dog that is fed food lacking essential vitamins and nutrients might resort to eating poop. This behavior occurs because the dog is seeking to supplement his diet. An off brand or low-priced dog food made with animal by products might be lighter on your pocketbook, but it may not be the best thing for Fido's stomach. Buy a food rich in nutrients so your dog won't have to resort to eating poop.
  
  

Parasitic Infestations

• A parasitic infestation will strip your dog of nutrients and increase his hunger. If he has eaten all of his food and there is poop around, then he will eat the poop as well. If you notice your dog has an ordinarily large appetite over a period of days, you should take him to your vet.
  
  

Vitamin Deficiency

• If your dog is suffering from a vitamin B12 deficiency, then he might eat his feces. You can solve this problem by adding a B12 supplement to your dog's diet.
  
  

Emotional Problems

• Some dogs might eat feces because they are experiencing stress. One example would be if they spent time being boarded. Another might be if they experience periods of separation anxiety. Some experts even venture that dogs that receive extreme punishments for pooping might eat their own feces.
  
  

Medications

• Medications also can cause dogs to eat poop. If your dog is on a steroid medicine such as prednisone, it can greatly increase his appetite and cause him to turn to poop to fill his hunger.