Looks like you caught your dog snacking on something that made you question their life choices. Maybe it was a random sock, a piece of furniture, or—heaven forbid, your old underwear. But the bigger shock happens when your dog decides that your backyard is an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Let's dig into why on earth (pun intended) your dog enjoys munching on dirt and whether it's something to worry about. Spoiler alert! It’s not for fun. The reasons are actually very different from what you think.
Some dogs have a medical condition called ‘pica’ that makes them eat things that are not food-related. A form of pica called geophagia causes dogs to purposely eat dirt or mud. The reasons for your dog to eat dirt can be as below – (1)
Nutritional deficiencies
If your dog is not eating a well-rounded diet, it can cause some nutritional deficiencies in them. These deficiencies can sometimes cause dogs to eat dirt to obtain necessary minerals like sodium, iron, and calcium from the soil. Even hunger can make them eat dirt.
Boredom
Lack of enough physical and mental stimulation can also cause some dogs to eat dirt as a way to pass their time.
Stress
Just like some people have a habit of biting their fingers when they are stressed, some dogs also end up eating dirt when they are stressed or are dealing with separation anxiety.
Illnesses
Anemia is a medical condition that refers to a low red blood cell count in the body. It is usually caused by hookworms, flea infestation, tick disease, cancer, immune-mediated diseases, or bleeding disorders. If this condition gets severe in dogs, it can cause them to eat dirt.
Liver shunt
A shunt is an abnormal blood vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver resulting into inadequate supply of blood to the liver. Even this may cause some dogs to eat dirt.
Stomach inflammation
Sometimes when dogs have an upset stomach, they try to be doctors themselves. They try to eat dirt or grass to make themselves puke hoping for the inflammation or the upset to go away.
Whatever the reason, you should not allow your dog to eat dirt at all. There are numerous risks of eating dirt for dogs. They include – (1)
Choking hazard because of the stones or any pointed objects in the dirt.
Teeth fracture because of the small rocks and hard objects
Toxins like pesticides and fertilizers.
Soil-dwelling parasites, such as Capillaria, Giardia, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms
Obstruction in the dog’s esophagus, stomach, or intestines called as gastrointestinal obstruction. The symptoms here include –
Coughing or gagging
Regurgitation (if you don’t need to google this one then your vocab is really good)
Decreased appetite
Vomiting
Lethargy
Is it OK for a Dog to Eat Grass With Dirt?
There is a theory that says that dogs like the taste of grass. It may or may not be the case with your dog. Whatever the reason, eating grass with dirt on it comes with all the risks as with eating dirt directly.
Some people may say that eating grass is normal in dogs and there is no issue if your dog indulges in it once in a while. However, if the grass is unknown, there is no way to know if it has been sprayed with pesticides or other harmful chemicals or not. Ingesting them could be severely harmful to your dog.
Can Dogs Get Sick From Dirt?
Eating dirt cannot only get your dog ill but can cause some serious damage to their internal organs as well. The dirt and rocks can cause abrasions and inflammation to the lining of a dog’s gastrointestinal tract as they pass through each of the organs involved in digestion. And then there are all the above-mentioned illnesses that can affect your dog.
Should I Take My Dog to the Vet If He Eats Dirt?
If you notice your dog eating dirt frequently, look out for the following symptoms – (1)
Decreased appetite
Irregular bowel movements
Lethargy
Pale gums
Vomiting (especially within 24 hours of eating or drinking anything)
You should take your dog to the vet straight away if you see any of these. Even if you don’t see any symptoms but know that your dog keeps eating dirt every now and then, we would recommend you visit a vet immediately.
The vet may conduct a few tests like CBC (blood cell count), urinalysis, bile acid test, ultrasound, endoscopy, etc. to determine the impact of dirt on the body and prescribe an appropriate treatment.
Why Do Puppies Love Eating Dirt?
Puppies are usually seen indulging in dirt eating more than adult dogs. The reason could be that the spirit of exploring the world around them is much higher in dogs in the early stages. Other reasons could be any one of the above-mentioned ones.
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Diener, M., DVM. (2024, February 1). Why do dogs eat dirt? PetMD. https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/why-do-dogs-eat-dirt
