How to Keep Dog Out of Litter Box? Is It Bad for the Dog to Eat Cat Litter?

In families with both dogs and cats, the dogs seem to love the litter box very much, often sniffing around it even if they don't scratch it.
Not because of the cute look, but because... The smell in the litter box is too tempting.
I have also been troubled by the fact that even with the litter box that has an outlet on top, my two dogs can still get in through the entrance and have to consider other options.

Why are dogs so interested in cat litter?

So why are dogs so interested in cat litter?
It is well known that dogs' sense of smell is many times more sensitive than humans. While it takes a few seconds for a human to detect a spoonful of sugar in a cup of coffee, dogs can sniff out a spoonful of sugar in a million gallons of water, the size of two Olympic swimming pools.
It can be seen that the dog's sense of smell is far more than human.

From a dog's point of view, the world exists in smell, and the litter box at home is rich in smell, which is a natural "sniffing" invitation pot. For the same reason that when you're outdoors, your dog will suddenly sniff until it finds a dead animal, while we don't smell it at all.

Is it bad for the dog to eat cat litter?

Nothing serious.
Coagulated litter often contains a clay additive, such as sodium bentonite, that binds large amounts of cat urine to the surrounding litter particles.
But most of the time, many dogs eat cat litter and cat poop with basically no ill effects or only mild gastrointestinal symptoms, such as loose bowel movements.
If you do see your dog getting into the litter box and eating the cat litter, be sure to continue monitoring their bowel movements for the next 24 hours to make sure they are not blocking their intestines.
If you notice your dog vomiting or arching its back (usually due to pain), you should take it to the vet immediately.
If your dog eats a lot of litter, it can lead to a stomach blockage, and in the worst case, surgery may be required to remove the blocked litter.

How to Keep Dog Out of Litter Box

So how do I keep my dog from eating cat litter?

The easiest and safest way to prevent your dog from eating litter is to manage the environment well, so that the dog does not touch the litter box.
As responsible pet parents, it is our job to care about our pets' health at all times, and this approach works very well.

Start by assessing the current position of your cat's litter box.
If it is in a spare bathroom or bedroom, there can be a dog-proof (but the cat-friendly) baby door in the doorway.
Create a clean, quiet place where your cat can have the privacy of the litter box.

Then keep your dog busy. Your dog may be attracted to the behavior of a cat out of pure curiosity, especially the rustling sounds, which are very interesting to both cats and dogs.
If your dog has nothing else to do, they would rather eat cat poo, play with cat poo, really just for sheer boredom, and sometimes play and eat their own poo.
To avoid this, you must bring other healthy options to your dog. You can keep them busy with their toys and games, a good toy is very important to a dog!

Finally, clean the litter box several times a day. You need to keep your pet healthy and your cat will thank you for doing it.
Clean out the litter box before your dog notices, and you'll keep your dog away from it.
If you're having trouble cleaning up your litter, try Lionpapa's litter genie refills for easy litter storage and better lock in litter smells.