You can also walk your dog in a basket muzzle, which fits loosely over the mouth and will prevent ingesting dirt or other foreign objects. Walk your dog on a lead – keeping dogs under your direct supervision while walking can help prevent them from swallowing anything unusual.Feed smaller meals more often – dogs who only eat once per day may get hungry between meals, so divide the total recommended daily allowance for his or her age and size into two or three smaller meals.Feed a complete and balanced, veterinary-recommended diet – to ensure that all your furry friend’s nutritional needs are met.The five most effective ways to ensure that your dog does not eat dirt are: So, How Do I Stop My Dog From Eating Dirt? Vomiting multiple times in a 24hr period, especially if this happens soon after eating or drinking.He should be checked out by a vet, particularly if he’s showing any of the following symptoms as well: If your dog suddenly starts eating dirt when he hasn’t done so before, this could indicate an underlying medical condition. They may also swallow fleas which, in turn, transmit tapeworm. Parasites:ĭogs who eat dirt are also more prone to picking up soil-dwelling parasites like giardia, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm. Toxins:Īnother risk associated with eating dirt or grass is that your dog may swallow pesticides, fertilisers or other poisons that may be dangerous or even fatal. A horrible blockage often occurs in the rectum, requiring veterinary treatment to move it out. Damage to the teeth and intestinal tract:Įven if surgery isn’t required, you can imagine the potential damage that sharp stones, sticks or bones eaten in a mouthful of soil can do to a dog’s teeth and gastrointestinal tract as they make their way down to finally be excreted in faeces. Often the only intervention in the case of foreign body ingestion is surgery. It may also contain any number of foreign bodies that can get stuck in a dog’s throat, oesophagus, stomach or intestines (think stones, sticks, bones, kids’ toys, and pieces of metal….). Soil is not food and cannot be broken down effectively by the body. A number of very real dangers can result if dogs regularly eat soil: Gastrointestinal obstruction: While occasionally eating small amounts of soil isn’t likely harmful, this should always be discouraged. Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) – when dogs have a tummy upset, they may eat dirt or grass to make themselves vomit.Portosystemic shunt – an abnormal blood vessel that allows blood to bypass a dog’s liver and results in the organ receiving inadequate blood supply and malfunctioning.Anaemia – often associated with hookworms, flea infestation, tick-borne diseases, cancer, immune-mediated diseases or bleeding disorders.Medical IssuesĪ number of medical conditions can also cause dogs to eat soil. Dogs suffering from separation anxiety or other stress disorders may eat dirt or display other stress behaviours like digging, self-harming, or vocalising to express their distress at being separated from their humans. Behavioural Issueĭogs not provided with adequate exercise and an enriching environment quickly get bored, and some may eat dirt to keep themselves busy. Underfed dogs will also eat dirt and other objects to stave off hunger pangs and gain some nutritional benefits. Please feel free to ask a CVC team member for assistance in selecting a diet for your pet that will support all his/her nutritional needs.ĭietary deficiencies may cause dogs to eat dirt to obtain minerals like iron, sodium and calcium from the soil. Investing in a high-quality, complete and balanced diet is one of the primary ways a pet parent can ensure their furry (or feathery or scaly) family member’s health and well-being. While the old adage, “You get what you pay for”, certainly applies, there are veterinarian-endorsed diets to suit most budgets. Your vet is the best person to advise you on which pet food contains all the minerals and nutrients your companion animal requires for his or her life stage and activity level. While every commercial we see for pet food promises that the product is the “very best for your best friend”, not all diets are equal. Nutritional, behavioural or medical factors generally cause the urge to eat soil. In this month’s blog, we’ll look at a specific form of pica, called geophagia, which causes dogs to specifically eat dirt or mud, and how this habit can affect your dog’s health. While this is normal, the habitual consumption of non-food items is classified as an eating disorder called pica. As the human parent of a canine, you have, in all likelihood, often asked yourself, “Why did my dog just eat that?” Dogs are, by nature, inquisitive beings and tend to “investigate” things first with their noses and mouths.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |