Coger says, “both because of possible serious underlying causes and before it becomes a habit. The causes of pica can be hard to determine, but can include gastrointestinal disease, anemia, liver disease, pancreatic disease, diseases causing excess. “I would add that any new, unnatural behavior, such as dirt eating, should be acted upon quickly,” Dr. It’s also possible that your dog could ingest a parasite along with the dirt, which can cause a range of additional health issues. Sharp sticks could puncture the linings of your dog’s mouth, throat, intestine, or stomach. “Depending on the dirt, dental damage or wear could also be a concern.” If the dirt has rocks in it, for example, it could cause damage to your dog’s teeth and cause obstruction in the throat or any point along the digestive tract. The dirt could also contain pesticides, fertilizers, or other toxins that could reach toxic levels if enough dirt was ingested,” Dr. The main risk is impaction of the intestine (hardened stool that gets stuck in the body due to long-term constipation) if your dog eats a lot at once. Bloodwork to look for underlying abnormalities may be helpful in pinpointing a cause.”Īs you may expect, there are risks to letting your dog continually eat dirt. “Changes in stool would be another sign that a vet visit is in order. “If is frequent, intense/manic in nature, or large quantities are consumed, then it’s time to go to the vet,” she says. Coger notes that while stomach and gastrointestinal issues could be to blame for your dog’s interest in dirt, canines are more likely to seek out grass in these cases. Nutritional imbalances or deficiencies, especially in mineralsĭr.It could be a sign of a bigger issue, such as: Pica is a behavioral disorder that drives dogs (and humans) to want to eat non-food objects. The most commonly observed obsessive-compulsive behaviors are spinning, tail chasing, self-mutilation, hallucinating (fly biting), circling, fence running, hair/air biting, pica (appetite for non-food substances such as dirt, rocks or feces), pacing, staring, and vocalizing. If your dog is continually eating dirt, you shouldn’t discount this behavior. It is referred to as OCD or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. While many of our dogs and cats chew on a variety of objects, only a subset actually consumes the objects. Stress or boredom can also lead to eating all sorts of things, including dirt.” This problem, called pica, is defined as the persistent chewing and consumption of non-nutritional substances that provide no physical benefit to the animal. There are many causes, including nutritional, behavioral, and physical. Your dog or puppy may eat dirt, or pick up a rock just. Coger, DVM, explains, “Dirt eating is a form of what is termed ‘pica,’ the ingestion of nonfood materials. If all health disorders have been ruled out, then behavioral reasons for pica should be considered.
But have you ever observed your pet snacking on straight-up dirt? Why Do Dogs Eat Dirt? As a pet owner, you may have caught your dog eating (or attempting to eat) some pretty weird stuff.
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