Turtle eats dog poo

[Mindy Robinson]

Hello...
I have a gross question... sorry in advance if it's tmi...
I have a 3 year old sulcata, Sherman Tank. She's currently indoor at night & outside most days.
So. I pick up my dog's poo constantly. Sherman manages to find whatever I miss, and quickly begins devouring it (oh so much yuck). I know about undigested nutrients & all that as to possibly why (she is an animal), but I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this? I'm concerned something is missing from her diet, or possibly something else going on?
And any advice, other than look harder for the dog poo??

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Its VERY common
Tortoises eat dog poop.
Dogs eat tortoise poop.
If your dog is on heart worm meds, it is critical NOT to let your tortoise eat that dogs poop.
Otherwise, just do as much as you can. Maybe dedicate a special no dogs allowed area?

 

[dmmj]

They eat poop, must be something I don't get.

 

[wccmog10]

Its VERY common
Tortoises eat dog poop.
Dogs eat tortoise poop.
If your dog is on heart worm meds, it is critical NOT to let your tortoise eat that dogs poop.
Otherwise, just do as much as you can. Maybe dedicate a special no dogs allowed area?

Shouldn’t all dogs be on heart worm medication?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Shouldn’t all dogs be on heart worm medication?

A lot of dogs are.
And it makes their poop deadly to a tortoise

 

[Tom]

Shouldn’t all dogs be on heart worm medication?

Not necessary in some areas. Mine are on it just in case and because of where they travel to.

 

[Tom]

Hello...
I have a gross question... sorry in advance if it's tmi...
I have a 3 year old sulcata, Sherman Tank. She's currently indoor at night & outside most days.
So. I pick up my dog's poo constantly. Sherman manages to find whatever I miss, and quickly begins devouring it (oh so much yuck). I know about undigested nutrients & all that as to possibly why (she is an animal), but I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this? I'm concerned something is missing from her diet, or possibly something else going on?
And any advice, other than look harder for the dog poo??

Its normal tortoise behavior but also something you should prevent. The tortoise needs its own area where the dog doesn't go. And vice versa.

 

[Michael231]

Just to add in a little food for thought since we’re on the topic, in the wild some species of tortoise and turtle actually practice what’s called coprophagy, where the young turtles/tortoises eat the adults defecation to help establish their gut microbiome...

Sorry if this is too much...but it has proven very useful in rearing healthy Central American River turtle hatchlings in Belize!

 

[wccmog10]

Just to add in a little food for thought since we’re on the topic, in the wild some species of tortoise and turtle actually practice what’s called coprophagy, where the young turtles/tortoises eat the adults defecation to help establish their gut microbiome...

Sorry if this is too much...but it has proven very useful in rearing healthy Central American River turtle hatchlings in Belize!

I’ve heard of this for other species as well. The ones that come to mind right now are beavers and monkey tailed skinks.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Just to add in a little food for thought since we’re on the topic, in the wild some species of tortoise and turtle actually practice what’s called coprophagy, where the young turtles/tortoises eat the adults defecation to help establish their gut microbiome...

Sorry if this is too much...but it has proven very useful in rearing healthy Central American River turtle hatchlings in Belize!

My vet has used this treatment on tortoises.

 

[jsheffield]

My vet has used this treatment on tortoises.

It's used with humans who have lost their gut biota due to antibiotics or chemotherapy; it makes sense so long as you have a healthy donor and the recipient can avoid getting sick(er) from the transfusion.

Jamie

 

[Mindy Robinson]

Thanks everyone. I'm working on a complete outdoor enclosure, I will plan for this to be completely separate from my dog's area. At least I know she's not the only one or that something isn't wrong with her.
I appreciate the info!
(and that was obviously supposed to be "Turtle" not "Title", stupid auto-correct, and now the thread won't let me change it, lol

 

[Boogeyman]

I just caught my sulcuta eating some cat poop today... they can be nasty sometimes...lol