My dogs eat soil, WHY? they are healthy & well fed. Vet does not know?

They are healthy & well fed. Vet does not know. Asked by woodlander 50 months ago Similar questions: dogs eat soil healthy fed Vet Pets.

Similar questions: dogs eat soil healthy fed Vet.

I have searched the internet and cannot find a definite answer. Some say it is something lacking in their food, but when they are eating Flint River Ranch, or in my case Innova Evo, they should not be lacking in anything. Two of my dogs eat dirt and one does not.So why would two be lacking in nutrients and one not be?

They all eat the same food. They don’t eat dirt constantly, but fairly often.My English Setter mix will eat it the most and bring mud into the house in his mouth! In my opinion, there is no particular reason, except they run out of things to do.

I try to spend a lot of time with my dogs, but there is still a lot of time that they are outside alone while I am home. I never leave them in the fenced in yard when I am not home. I think they just like the taste of something in the dirt.

I know there are no chemicals or anything in our yard, so I really do not worry about it very much. From reading, it sounds like an awful lot of dogs are eating dirt, mud and grass. Yet no one seems to know the reason, only speculation.

The reasons for eating grass vary also, although most say there may be several reasons. These include that when they were in the wild, the animals that they ate had grass in their stomachs. Therfore they may need the nutrients of grass.

Another reason is that they instinctively know that by eating grass they will vomit, so if their tummies are upset they may eat it to cause them to vomit. The other reason is simply because it tastes good! You know the more disgusting anything is the more they like it :-) Unless your dog is eating a large amount of dirt, I would not worry about it.

It seems to be something that most dogs do for one reason or another just because they are dogs! Sources: My knowledge and various internet sites. Video .

Suspect a mineral deficiency or a behavioral issue I have heard of dogs eating non-food items because they have a nutritional deficiency. Soil is a common culprit because it contains so many minerals -- for example, iron. I would want the vet to check the dog's blood for an iron deficiency and other common vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

For many dogs, pica (that is what eating non-food items is called) doesn't have a clear cause. It can just be a behavioral issue -- i.e. , the dog thinks it tastes good or he or she enjoys getting a rise out of you or he or she is bored.

If this is an outdoor dog, you will want to provide more toys and stuff to help him or her to be less bored. Toys that contain small amounts of treats (like a Kong) are great for a pet who is bored enough to "get into" things. They can redirect that energy toward getting their treats out of the Kong.

A bunch of chew toys would also be a good idea. Themarquis's Recommendations Kong Classic Small Dog Toy, Red Amazon List Price: $7.98 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 8 reviews) Kong Extreme Large Dog Toy, Black Amazon List Price: $13.77 Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 8 reviews) Kong Stuff'N Mini Beef & Liver Amazon List Price: $6.81 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 1 reviews) Kong Stuff 'N Peanut Butter Paste Amazon List Price: $10.17 Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (based on 6 reviews) .

Possible health benefits from it Woodlander: I remember seeing a National Geographic program several years ago about a tribe in Africa that ate dirt, and there were also some mice in the area that ate dirt. They researched this, and found that there were certain clay like substances in the soil that served as a cleansing effect on the body, and that it was actually quite a healthy practice... So as disgusting as it sounds, your dog is probably doing something to cleanse out its system from all the toxins it gets through pet food (low quality protein - "bone meal" and "meat by-products" etc. ) Some food colorings and preservatives in dog food are known carcinogens... So your dog is probably smarter than you think. Try changing the food you give him to a vet approved food or one with healthier ingredients and see if he stops eating the dirt...

1 I would also like to know the answer to this. One of my dogs has eaten dirt on occasion for over five years. He'll pick a spot in the driveway, dig down a little,and eat a few bites of the dirt until I notice and stop him.

The other day when I cleaned out the gutters, where the leaves had started turning to compost, all 3 dogs started eating the muck. The main dirt-eating culprit recently had a yearly physical including a full blood screening, and he was perfectly fine.

I would also like to know the answer to this. One of my dogs has eaten dirt on occasion for over five years. He'll pick a spot in the driveway, dig down a little,and eat a few bites of the dirt until I notice and stop him.

The other day when I cleaned out the gutters, where the leaves had started turning to compost, all 3 dogs started eating the muck. The main dirt-eating culprit recently had a yearly physical including a full blood screening, and he was perfectly fine.

2 I didn't answer because I wanted to see what was already there, but I will offer another suggestion. Possilby salts. Not 'table salt', but there are other kinds.

If, when you water your plants in the house and you see a sort of white residue on the soil after awhile, you have salts in your water and thus in your soil. We may not taste them, but the dogs very well might, and enjoy them. Dogs are not carniverous animals -- the are omniverous.

And some give a whole new meaning to the word. When one of our dogs was about a year old he took out three young birch trees, a liquidamber, and a rhododendron....and just burped a little! .

I didn't answer because I wanted to see what was already there, but I will offer another suggestion. Possilby salts. Not 'table salt', but there are other kinds.

If, when you water your plants in the house and you see a sort of white residue on the soil after awhile, you have salts in your water and thus in your soil. We may not taste them, but the dogs very well might, and enjoy them. Dogs are not carniverous animals -- the are omniverous.

And some give a whole new meaning to the word. When one of our dogs was about a year old he took out three young birch trees, a liquidamber, and a rhododendron....and just burped a little!

" "I work out often and eat healthy. But I can't seem to get a flat stomach, why? " "Why do my dogs eat their own poop?

And what can I do to stop them?" "I still can't get my cat to eat and drink, even after I took him to the Vet. " "is it more healthy to eat just lettuce and salsa, instead of a dressing? " "Is it possible to eat healthy and cheap at restaurants?" "What should you make sure your vet does / checks at the dogs annual checkup?

" "what do ducks eat when they aren't fed by people with bread? " "Have you gotten your Healthy Choice coupon yet? Would you like to eat FREE?

I work out often and eat healthy. But I can't seem to get a flat stomach, why?

I still can't get my cat to eat and drink, even after I took him to the Vet.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.