Dogs consume a variety of things, but eating dirt is one that you should be concerned about. Dogs, on the other hand, have a habit of devouring dirt.
When dogs consume non-food objects such as dirt, grass, pebbles, twigs, or rubbish, they may be diagnosed with pica, which simply indicates that your dog is consuming non-food stuff.
According to Wag!, if the only non-food thing they consume is dirt, they may be suffering from geophagia. But should you be worried about your dog’s peculiar habit of eating dirt? Here’s why your dog could feel forced to eat dirt, and why you should be concerned about it.
Why Does My Dog Love To Eat Dirt?
Dogs consume dirt for a variety of reasons. Boredom or stress may have prompted their urge to eat dirt, or they may have just detected something delectable in the muck.
However, according to the American Kennel Club, it might also show an underlying health issue or a lack of sufficient nutrition (AKC). Compulsive geophagia might indicate one of the following problems in your dog.
1. Anemia
Low blood cell count or hemoglobin levels are symptoms of anemia in dogs. Anemia may be caused by a dietary imbalance. In an effort to correct any deficits causing this illness, an anemic dog may reflexively resort to eating dirt. Blood tests are the only technique to accurately detect anemia.
2. Mineral Deficiency or Nutritional Imbalance
Even if your dog doesn’t have anemia, a nutritional imbalance might cause him to eat dirt. Dirt eating is a symptom that your dog isn’t receiving enough of the minerals he or she needs to be healthy.
A hormonal problem, on the other hand, might hinder your dog from absorbing the minerals and nutrients in their diet. Nutritional imbalances are quite uncommon in healthy dogs, therefore consult your veterinarian before selecting the finest dog food for your pet.
3. Gastrointestinal Disturbance or Upset Stomach
Dogs may also eat dirt to settle an upset stomach or rumbling intestines. According to the AKC, if your dog has stomach problems, they are more inclined to eat grass. It’s likely that some dirt gets mixed up with a dog’s enthusiasm to wolf down the grass.
4. The Risks of Dogs Consuming Dirt
If you see your dog eating dirt, be sure to stop them right away since it may be dangerous to their health. According to the AKC, there are various dangers related with geophagia in dogs:
- Intestinal obstructions that may need surgery
- Pesticides and other poisons are consumed.
- Choking
- Ingestion of pebbles or sticks may cause damage to the teeth, esophagus, digestive system, or stomach.
- parasites that live in the soil
5. When Should I Visit the Veterinarian?
Check to discover whether your dog eats dirt on a regular basis or if it was a one-time occurrence. You should discourage them from eating dirt more than once or twice to alleviate tension or boredom, but it may not be a reason for worry.
Contact your veterinarian if it becomes a habit or if you see your dog behaving differently after eating the dirt. They’ll have to evaluate your dog to see if there are any underlying health concerns that are causing this behavior. Your dog’s interior damage from ingesting dirt may also be checked by the veterinarian.
How to Keep Your Dog from Digging in the Dirt
- If your dog’s geophagia is caused by a health issue or nutritional imbalance, fixing the problem, or improving your dog’s diet should cease the tendency. If, on the other hand, eating dirt has become a habit that has to be stopped, consider the following strategies:
- If your dog begins to eat dirt, provide a diversion. You may use a verbal order or a loud noise to distract them, or you can give them a toy to gnaw on instead.
- When you go outdoors, keep your dog on a leash so you can guide them away from open dirt.
- Remove indoor potted plants or keep them out of reach of your dog.
- To reduce tension and keep them from eating dirt out of boredom, make sure your dog receives enough of physical exercise and cerebral stimulation.
- Any possible sources of stress in your dog’s life, such as a significant change in routine or family structure, or separation anxiety, should be addressed. It’s possible that your dog just needs some time to acclimate.
- If none of these approaches work, you may need to seek expert assistance from a dog trainer or behavior specialist to help you stop the habit.
While dogs are known to eat dirt, it is not safe to allow this behavior to continue. The sooner you take steps to avoid this behavior and figure out why it’s occurring, the better for your dog’s health and happiness.
Why eating dirt is dangerous?
Allowing your dog to eat dirt on a regular basis has hazards, as you would anticipate. If your dog consumes a much at once, the most common problem is gut impaction. Impaction often needs surgery.
The soil might potentially include pesticides, fertilizers, or other pollutants that could reach deadly levels if enough dirt was consumed. Dental injury or wear might be a worry depending on the dirt.
For example, if the soil contains pebbles, it might harm your dog’s teeth and create blockage in the throat or anywhere else in the digestive system. Sharp sticks might pierce your dog’s mouth, throat, gut, or stomach linings. It’s also conceivable that your dog ingests a parasite along with the dirt, resulting in a variety of other health problems.
Final words
If you’re concerned that your dog’s dirt-eating is caused by a nutritional imbalance, talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s food and if any adjustments are required.
On the behavior front, make sure your dog gets adequate physical and mental activity to prevent boredom-related dirt chewing.
Denying access to preferred dirt-eating spots may be essential if everything else fails. Remember that dirt eating might be an indication of something more serious, so don’t dismiss it.