Coprophagia
7720
225876573
2008-07-15T20:36:34Z
Joelmills
794015
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225797927 by [[Special:Contributions/91.110.15.193|91.110.15.193]] ([[User talk:91.110.15.193|talk]])
{{Refimprove|date=May 2008}}
'''Coprophagia''' is the consumption of [[feces]], from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''copros'' (feces) and ''phagein'' (eat). Many [[animal]] [[species]] practice naturally coprophagia; other species do not normally consume feces but may do so under unusual conditions. Only in rare cases is it practiced by [[human]]s, usually as a manifestation of [[psychiatric illness]]<ref>http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/28/2/233.pdf</ref><!---may need more evidence for a broader and fairer perspective---> or being used in some sexual paraphilic practices.<!---Does this even SOUND right?--->
== Coprophagia in animals ==
[[Image:Dscn3200-2-butterflies.jpg|thumb|right|Two [[Common Blue]] [[Butterfly|butterflies]] feed on a small lump of [[feces]] lying on a rock.]]
[[Coprophagous insect]]s consume and [[digestion|redigest]] the [[feces]] of large animals; these feces contain substantial amounts of semi-digested [[food]]. ([[Herbivore]] [[Gastrointestinal tract|digestive systems]] are especially inefficient.) The most famous feces-eating insect is the [[dung-beetle]] and the most [[Omnipresence|ubiquitous]] is the [[fly]].
[[Pigs]] are most commonly associated with eating not only their own [[feces|dung]], but also that of other animals and humans. {{Fact|date=July 2008}}
[[Capybara]], [[rabbit]]s, [[hamsters]] and other related species do not have a complex [[ruminant]] digestive system. Instead they extract more [[nutrition]] from [[grass]] by giving their food a second pass through the [[Gastrointestinal tract|gut]]. Soft [[caecal pellet]]s of partially digested food are [[excretion|excreted]] and generally consumed immediately. They also produce normal [[feces|droppings]], which are not eaten.
Young [[elephant]]s, [[Giant Panda|pandas]], [[koala]]s, and [[Hippopotamus|hippo]]s eat the feces of their [[mother]] to obtain the [[bacteria]] required to properly digest [[vegetation]] found on the [[savanna]] and in the [[jungle]]. When they are born, their [[intestine]]s do not contain these bacteria (they are completely sterile). Without them, they would be unable to get any nutritional value from [[plant]]s.
[[Gorillas]] eat their own feces and the feces of other gorillas.
[[Hamsters]] eat their own droppings, which are thought to be a source of [[vitamin]]s [[B vitamins|B]] and [[Vitamin K|K]], produced by bacteria in the gut. [[Ape]]s have been observed eating [[horse]] feces for the [[salt]] content. [[Monkey]]s have been observed eating elephant feces. Coprophagia also has been observed in the [[naked mole rat]].
=== Coprophagia in dogs ===
{{Original research|date=July 2008}}
Coprophagia is a behavior often observed in [[dogs]]. Hofmeister, Cumming, and Dhein (2001) wrote that this behavior in dogs has not been well-researched, and they are currently preparing a study. In a [http://home.gci.net/~divs/behavior/coprophagia.html preliminary paper], they write that there are various hypotheses for this behavior in [[canine]]s, although none have been proven:
*To obtain attention from their caretakers.
*From [[anxiety]], [[stress]], or upon being [[punishment|punished]] for bad behaviors.
*They had been punished for having [[defecation|defecated]] in the past, and attempt to clean up out of fear of being punished again.
*From [[boredom]]{{dubious}}.
*In an attempt to clean up in crowded conditions{{Fact|date=May 2008}}.
*[[Mimicry]] of behavior observed when their caretakers pick up feces ([[allelomimetic behavior]]). This is highly improbable because the behavior has also been observed in environments where caretakers never picked up the dog's (or other's) feces.
*Because [[puppy|puppies]] taste everything and discover that feces are edible and, perhaps, tasty, especially when fed a high fat content diet.
*Because dogs are, by nature, [[scavenger]]s, and this is within the range of scavenger behavior{{Fact|date=May 2008}}.
*To prevent the [[scent]] from attracting [[predator]]s, especially [[mother]] dogs eating their [[offspring]]'s feces{{Fact|date=May 2008}}.
*Because the texture and [[temperature]] of fresh feces approximates that of [[regurgitation|regurgitated]] food, which is how canine mothers in the wild would provide solid food to their pups
*Because of the [[protein]] content of the feces (particularly [[cat]] feces), or over-feeding, leading to large concentrations of undigested matter in the feces{{Fact|date=May 2008}}.
*Due to assorted health problems, including:
**[[Pancreatitis]]
**[[Intestine|Intestinal]] infections
**[[Food allergy|Food allergies]], leading to mal-absorption
*Because they are [[hunger|hungry]], such as when eating routines are changed, food is withheld, or [[nutrient]]s are not properly absorbed.
*[[Carnivore]]s may sometimes eat or roll in the feces of their [[prey]] to [[ingestion|ingest]] and exude scents which mask their own.
Some [[veterinarian]]s recommend adding [[meat tenderizer]] to dogfood, as this makes the feces taste excessively bad to dogs. Several companies produce [[food additive]]s that can also be added to the animal's food to make feces taste bad.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} Often, these food additives will contain Capsicum Oleoresin which gives off a repugnant odor making the fecal matter undesirable to the dog.
Due to the attraction of dogs to their own feces, a popular [[Chinese]] [[idiom]] states "A dog cannot change its habit of eating feces", which usually refers to a bad [[habit (psychology)|habit]] that is difficult to correct.{{dubious}}{{Fact|date=November 2007}}
== Coprophagia in humans ==
=== Sexual aspects ===
Coprophagia is extremely uncommon in humans. It is generally thought to be the result of the [[paraphilia]] known as [[coprophilia]]. Similar risk of classification can apply to related [[sexual fetish]]es, such as [[analingus]] or inserting an object into the mouth that recently has been in the anus (see [[ass to mouth]]). Coprophagia is also sometimes depicted in [[pornography]], usually under the terms "scat" or "shitplay" or even "kaviar"{{Fact|date=May 2008}}.
=== Medical aspects ===
From the medical literature, coprophagia has been observed in a small number of patients with [[dementia]] and/or [[schizophrenia]]<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16721701&query_hl=17&itool=pubmed_docsum Effective treatment of coprophagia in a patient with schizophrenia with the novel atypical antipsychotic drug perospirone]</ref> and depression.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=8789509&query_hl=17&itool=pubmed_DocSum Escalation of a fetish: coprophagia in a nonpsychotic adult of normal intelligence]</ref>
Consuming other [[human feces|people's feces]] carries the risk of contracting diseases spread through fecal matter, such as [[Hepatitis A]], [[Hepatitis E]], [[pneumonia]], and [[influenza]]. Coprophagia also carries a risk of contracting intestinal parasites. [[Vaccination]]s are generally recommended for those who engage in this practice.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
Lewin (2001) reports that "... consumption of fresh, warm [[camel]] feces has been recommended by [[Bedouin]]s as a remedy for bacterial [[dysentery]]; its efficacy (probably attributable to the [[antibiotic]] [[subtilisin]] from ''[[Bacillus subtilis]]'') was confirmed by [[Germany|German]] [[soldier]]s in [[Africa]] during [[World War II]]."
=== Cultural aspects ===
[[Punk music]]ian and [[performance artist]] [[GG Allin]] often engaged in coprophagia during his performances.
{{Feeding}}
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
* {{cite journal | author = Lewin, Ralph A.
| title = "More on Merde"
| journal = Perspectives in Biology and Medicine
| year = 2001
| volume = 44
| issue = 4
| pages = 594–607
| doi = 10.1353/pbm.2001.0067 }} PMID 11600805
* {{cite paper | author = Hofmeister, Erik, Melinda Cumming, and Cheryl Dhein
| title = Owner Documentation of Coprophagia in the Canine
| date= 2001
| url = http://web.archive.org/web/20070427142031/http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/pets/_archive/study.htm }}. Accessed November 17, 2005.
* {{cite journal | author = Wise, T.N., and R.L. Goldberg
| title = "Escalation of a fetish: coprophagia in a nonpsychotic adult of normal intelligence"
| journal = J. Sex Marital Ther.
| year = 1995
| volume = 21
| issue = 4
| pages = 272–5 }} PMID 8789509
==External links==
* [http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/AnimalServices/pettips/dogtips/Eatingfeces.aspx King County, Washington, Animal Control Section. "Eating His Own or Other Animal Feces."]
* [http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=166 Why Does My Dog Eat Feces?] - Theresa A. Fuess, Ph.D, College of Vet Medicine
* [http://www.askabreeder.com/Puppy+Eating+Feces Coprophagia: Effective Treatment for Dogs Eating Feces]
* [http://home.gci.net/~divs/behavior/coprophagia.html Coprophagia in the Canine] - Erik Hofmeister; Melinda Cumming, DVM PhD; Cheryl Dhein, DVM, MS, DACVIM; Douglas Island Veterinary Service; detailed preliminary results of study of behavior and prevention in dogs
*[http://ratguide.com/care/behavior/coprophagy.php Rat care guide]
*[http://www.break.com/index/gorilla_picks_butt_and_eats_it.html Break.com] - Video of Coprophagia by a Gorilla
*[http://goinside.com/99/4/food.html Yesterday's Food Will Become Tomorrow's Food] Dr David Ryde MB BS FRCP
[[Category:Dog health]]
[[Category:Dog training and behavior]]
[[Category:Eating behaviors]]
[[Category:Feces]]
[[Category:Greek loanwords]]
[[Category:Pica (disorder)]]
[[ca:Coprofàgia]]
[[cs:Koprofágie]]
[[de:Koprophagie]]
[[es:Coprofagia]]
[[eo:Koprofagio]]
[[fr:Coprophagie]]
[[id:Coprophagia]]
[[it:Coprofagia]]
[[lt:Koprofagija]]
[[hu:Koprofágia]]
[[nl:Coprofagie]]
[[no:Coprophagia]]
[[pl:Koprofagia]]
[[pt:Coprofagia]]
[[ru:Копрофагия]]
[[simple:Coprophagia]]
[[fi:Koprofagia]]
[[sv:Koprofag]]