Dr. Liz,

My dog sometimes sneaks into the room where the litter box is eats the kitty litter. Will it hurt him? we try to watch him and close the door but we forget sometimes.

- M 

Dogs eating cat litter is actually a common problem. Although numerous studies have been conducted, it is still unclear as to what exactly makes them do it. Eating excessively amounts of cat litter can damage your dogs digestive track. Potential blockages in the intestines can cause your dog to be seriously ill. Please take comfort in the fact that you are not the only person struggling with this issue. 

The medical term for this condition is Coprophagia this is basically the technical term for eating feces. The thought of eating feces seems disgusting, yet it is actually very common in many animals. 

Most often your dog is eating cat litter to replace a lack of nutrients in its existing diet. Consult your local vet, they will be able to assess your dogs diet, and inner health. Internal parasites if undetected will drain the nutrients from our dogs internal system. This can also be a contributing factor.

Each dog is different, it is hard to predict if cat litter is going to have a bad or lasting effect. There are many different varieties of cat litter to choose from, some more harmful than others.  I would suggest finding a litter that has does not have to many chemicals added. It is common in cat litter that bleech and other chemicals are added to help mask the smell. 

Prevent

• Litter blocker- This is an insert that you can get to put into your hooded litter tray. It creates a tube like tunnel opening ,too small for a dog to get through. The design may take your cat a bit of getting used too. Once your cat has figured it out, it will have total privacy.
• Installing a cat flap on the door to the litter room, this will prevent your dog from being able to get in. 

 This is a tough habit to break, but if you discover the reason for the behavior you will quickly find a cure. Good luck, M.

 - Dr. Liz