When dogs eat dirt

However, there are also some underlying medical issues that may drive your dog to eat dirt. In dogs, anemia is considered to be either a low red blood cell count or low hemoglobin levels in the blood. Hemoglobin is the compound in red blood cells that binds oxygen for transport throughout the body, and iron is an essential element in hemoglobin.

Whether your dog is anemic because they don't have enough red blood cells or they don't have enough hemoglobin, your dog may instinctively eat dirt because of it. By eating dirt, your dog may be trying to obtain iron from the soil to help with their anemia. Certain gastrointestinal problems may also cause your dog to eat dirt. Dogs that suffer from irritable bowel syndrome , parasite infestations, and liver or gallbladder dysfunctions may feel compelled to eat dirt.

It is believed that, similar to eating grass for an upset stomach, a dog suffering from any of these GI illnesses will eat dirt to soothe their GI tract. A dog may also start eating dirt if there are nutritional imbalances in their diet. There are various minerals in the soil that a dog with a nutritional imbalance may be trying to obtain. Nutritional imbalances can arise either from improper diet or a malabsorption disorder in your dog's GI tract. All commercially prepared dog food is required be nutritionally balanced and complete for their stated life stage.

This means all required nutrients are present and balanced and in the proper ratios. This is actually what the AAFCO statement on all pet food is in reference to—that the food in question is nutritionally complete and balanced. They are growth and reproduction i. So if you feed your adult dog a commercially prepared food made specifically for adult dogs, it's unlikely a nutritional imbalance will be from their diet.

Nutritional imbalances from diet is more commonly seen in dogs that eat home-prepared meals. Making your dog's food balanced and complete is more difficult when making it from scratch, whether you cook it or feed them a raw home-prepared diet. There are various vitamins and minerals that your dog will need that may be difficult to find. There are board certified veterinary nutritionists that can review a recipe to ensure it is balanced and complete, or they can even give you a recipe to follow.

Share on facebook Facebook. Share on pinterest Pinterest. Share on twitter Twitter. Share on linkedin LinkedIn. Share on email Email. Share on print Print. Post At A Glance. Chronic Health Concerns That search for vitamins and minerals could also be a sign that your dog has a medical condition like inflammatory bowel disease or hypothyroidism. Tasty Dirt A less serious cause is simply that your dog is going after something tasty, like bacon or hamburger grease under a grill.

Behavioral Issues Humans exhibit strange habits out of stress and boredom — hair twirling, knuckle cracking, overeating, etc. Now, if the issue is food, a dietary change is in order.

Start Now. Jessica Peralta. Jessica Peralta has been a journalist for over 15 years and an animal lover all her life. She has had dogs, cats, birds, turtles, fish, frogs, and rabbits. Her current children are a German shepherd named Guinness and a black domestic cat called Derby. She loves spending time with them and also learning about all the ways she can make them healthier, the natural way.

Related Posts. Popular Posts. Learn More. DNM Partners. Dogs Naturally. The content on this website is not meant to replace veterinary advice. Joanna Woodnutt , a veterinarian based in the U. Other less common reasons for dogs eating dirt include:. Finally, you may find your dog eating grass and dirt or even stones and gravel due to gastrointestinal distress.

Both roundworm and whipworm eggs are hardy and can persist in the environment for years. If your dog has a habit of eating dirt, and you spend a lot of time in public parks, you should be aware of the parasitic risks. In a recent study of parks across the U. If your dog is grinding down on hard or sharp objects like rocks and sticks, he could also damage his gums, teeth, and esophagus.