• V H@lemmy.stad.socialOP
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    1 year ago

    Pet dogs also eat poo on occasion, also without any underlying problem, so I really don’t think there’s any reason to think that far less domesticated species where it is well established would just stop. I’m sure you can reduce it, especially if it has a nicer food source, but still, an animal with far less history of domestication seems like a recipe for amplification of all the potential issues you don’t want to deal with.

    • Devi@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      Pica is an issue that you can work on. No animal should have it.

      • V H@lemmy.stad.socialOP
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        1 year ago

        Pica is eating things that are not food, but as pointed out in the article I linked, eating dog poo is providing a significant source of nutrition for foxes. In those circumstances, it by definition is not pica.

        • Devi@beehaw.org
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          1 year ago

          Poo is not food, I’m extremely concerned that you’ve got to adulthood without anyone telling you this. Do not eat poo.

          • kapitol@lemmy.ca
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            1 year ago

            No need to make personal attacks. Cecotrophy is a common phenomenon in certain animals. I don’t know specifically about foxes but it wouldn’t be a stretch if it was common behavior for them. Do you have any sources that suggest otherwise?

            • Devi@beehaw.org
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              1 year ago

              Herbivores taking more time to digest greenery is really not related to eating the poo of another animal due to nutritional deficiency. It’s a silly comparison.