Why dogs eat dirt

Ingesting land is a fairly common action among dogs. There are several factors that drive the dog to eat land ; some of them are completely normal, like, for example, looking for something that is buried or removing the earth because it is an impediment to achieve something. However, in certain circumstances, the fact that dogs eat dirt is a warning that something is not right.

If you have ever seen your dog eat dirt, you may have wondered why dogs eat dirt . To answer this question, keep reading this article in which we reveal the reasons that lead your pet to ingest land, if it is a beneficial action or, on the contrary, harmful to the animal and, finally, what to do so that the can stop eating earth.

What causes dogs to eat land

Dogs eat dirt for very different reasons. As we mentioned before, some of them are not cause for alarm because they are usual actions within the normal behavior of the animal . For example, if your dog has buried a toy and wants to retrieve it, when digging it up, it is more than likely that it will swallow dirt, just as if to cross from one place to another in a park, for example, you need to remove or dig up the earth to pass, or simply by boredom.

Now, if you suddenly notice that your pet begins to eat dirt too often and with anxiety, you should be alert because this may be the indicator of some major problem with your dog. The first thing you should do is carefully monitor the amount of soil your dog eats in order to find out the causes and the possible treatment to follow.

When dogs eat substances that are not food, such as land, it is known by the term "pica" veterinarian. This food disorder of the dogs occurs, either because the animal does not have the necessary nutrients and has a deficiency of minerals and vitamins, or because it has a parasitic infection. Also, if your pet has ingested something in poor condition or that has been sitting badly, you may decide to purge the intestine eating dirt, in addition, when you want to achieve this is also common to see that dogs eat grass. Similarly, the intake of soil can be a sign that the dog is hungry or that he wants to purge the intestines but not because he has sat down badly, but this behavior of ingesting land can also be a signal for you to Know if your dog has internal parasites.

Consequences of eating dirt for your dog's health

In most circumstances, eating dirt compulsively can be harmful to your pet . For example, when dogs eat dirt, this can contain chemicals such as insecticides and fertilizers that can harm the health of the animal, there may even be something really toxic or poisonous and you should go to the first symptom to the veterinarian to treat the dog poisoned before.

In addition, there may be sharps or sharp objects on the ground that your dog runs the risk of swallowing when eating dirt. Also, another possible health problem that may arise from the intake of earth in the dogs is that they parasitize internally, so it is very important to deworm your dog properly.

How to make your dog stop eating earth

To get your dog to stop eating dirt, the first thing you have to do is monitor your diet . Not all dog foods have the same quality or are equally rich in vitamins and minerals.

To keep your dog strong and healthy, you must feed it with products that contain the right amounts of these substances so that your pet is well nourished and does not feel the need to eat soil to supply the lack of nutrients. Pay attention also to the amount of food that your dog eats, since the dogs can eat earth also because they are hungry. Make sure the food ration is adequate. If changing the eating behavior does not decrease the intake of soil, go to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Ask the veterinarian for an appointment

If you see that your dog begins to eat dirt compulsively, check the appearance of your gums. If they present a yellowish color, it is more than likely that you have a parasitic infection, so you should take it as soon as possible to the veterinarian to diagnose it and start the appropriate treatment to cure it.

You should also check the stool of your pet, because if you have diarrhea may be due to not digest the food as it should and eat earth instead to try to alleviate the lack of nutrients. Ask your trusted veterinarian for advice on what to do in these cases.

If it has helped you to know why dogs eat dirt, you may also want to read this article in which we explain how to prevent your dog from eating things from the street.