HI
I have 2 healthy labrador dogs, one female and one male. They seem well and lively but every once in a while I see them dig up dirt and then lick and eat it. Is something lacking in their diet? Something I should be giving them?
Eagerly awaiting any replys
Thanks
Trinity
Dog eating dirt
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TheSkeptic
- Posts: 1703
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Re: Dog eating dirt
I asked the same question. I have a Black Lab, A JRT/Chow mix and a couple of Beagle mixes that occassionaly do the same thing. My vet does not think it is a dietary imbalance or anything like that, but rather a behavioral thing. (I think he is trying to tell me my dogs may be psycho.) Evidently that behaviour is not uncommon and unless it is chronic he tells me not to worry about it.
He says it is similar to dogs occassionally eating poop.
He says it is similar to dogs occassionally eating poop.
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ShelbysMom
- Posts: 613
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 10:28 am
- Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Dog eating dirt
My 6 mo. old Doberman is doing the same thing. She's digging holes in my grass and then eating the dirt. She also eats tree bark and small insects.
I was thinking she would grow out of it. I hope she doesn't move on to other things like poop because I will flip out. I have never had a Doberman that ate it's own poop.
I was thinking she would grow out of it. I hope she doesn't move on to other things like poop because I will flip out. I have never had a Doberman that ate it's own poop.
Re: Dog eating dirt
i saw my german shepard do this once, i have to say that i nearly hurled.TheSkeptic wrote:He says it is similar to dogs occassionally eating poop.
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LinZ
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Re: Dog eating dirt
Don't fret - my dog Nikki will actually nose through the litter box (we have cats too) and eat the droppings! And when she's in the garage for the evening, she will take them back to her bed or blanket and eat them - midnight snack I guess.
She also likes crickets. O.o
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LinZ - has a very quirky dog
She also likes crickets. O.o
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LinZ - has a very quirky dog
"There's three ways to a man's heart - through his stomach, through his crotch, and through his rib cage." - Squeak
Re: Dog eating dirt
I read that dogs eat cat poop because cats have inefficient digestive systems and there is a lot of protein in cat poop. I guess it would be one explanation. Certainly gives them bad breath, though.
Barbara
Barbara
Re: Dog eating dirt
I think they eat dirt because they are bored and it's something to do. Dogs don't think the same way we do, and, I don't think it's anything crazy or psycho or weird - just dogs having fun being dogs. (Don't you wish being human was so simple?!!)
As for eating poop - Allie does that, and no amout of discipline will stop her. It is totally gross!! But, she eats everything - paper, sticks, dust bunnies, electric cords (she stopped that after puppyhood, thank goodness), soap, bandaids, grass and weeds, the other dogs' ears (at least she tries
), etc. There isn't a food on the planet she won't eat - sauerkraut, mustard, jalapenos (found that out by accident when one fell on the floor, we don't feed them to her), pickles, and on and on and on - I think I could go on forever, and she never has a stomach upset no matter what she eats - only if she doesn't eat. She also likes wine and beer - we have to keep things like that away from her. We have to be very careful around her, if it drops on the floor, it's in her mouth!! Go figure!
As for eating poop - Allie does that, and no amout of discipline will stop her. It is totally gross!! But, she eats everything - paper, sticks, dust bunnies, electric cords (she stopped that after puppyhood, thank goodness), soap, bandaids, grass and weeds, the other dogs' ears (at least she tries
), etc. There isn't a food on the planet she won't eat - sauerkraut, mustard, jalapenos (found that out by accident when one fell on the floor, we don't feed them to her), pickles, and on and on and on - I think I could go on forever, and she never has a stomach upset no matter what she eats - only if she doesn't eat. She also likes wine and beer - we have to keep things like that away from her. We have to be very careful around her, if it drops on the floor, it's in her mouth!! Go figure!"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
Re: Dog eating dirt
Last year our vet told me about a vitamin that is available that will help with this problem. I have two dogs that eat dirt and a third that isn't interested in it. I wish I could recall what the name of the vitamin. I wasn't able to afford it when she told me about it.
Re: Dog eating dirt
Was it something with a high amount of iron? I know this type of problem in humans can be a sign of iron deficiency. I was wondering if the same was true in dogs?Beth Va wrote:Last year our vet told me about a vitamin that is available that will help with this problem. I have two dogs that eat dirt and a third that isn't interested in it. I wish I could recall what the name of the vitamin. I wasn't able to afford it when she told me about it.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." ~ Josh Billings.
Re: Dog eating dirt
k9Karen wrote:Was it something with a high amount of iron? I know this type of problem in humans can be a sign of iron deficiency. I was wondering if the same was true in dogs?
Yes it is an iron deficiency! If your dog is eating dirt I suggest taking your pet to your vet for a blood test. You don't want to increase their iron intake unless you've had them checked by a vet and confirmed.
Pica is the medical term for it.
I've had it all my life since infancy. Except instead of craving dirt I crave ice. Now I have a dog that needs iron supplements too.