Dogs eat dirt for a lot of reasons, some minor but others a little more serious. If your furry friend only eats it occasionally, you probably have nothing to worry about. Maybe he's just trying to get some food that's been buried under a mound of dirt and eat some just because it's just in its path! However, if you ingest it quite often, it could be a sign of a more serious problem. You will need to monitor him closely to determine when he eats it and try to understand why. Only then can you take effective measures to solve the problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Establishing Why the Dog Eats the Earth
Step 1. Try to identify some of the reasons dogs eat dirt
This behavior is a form of pica - or pica - that is, ingesting substances that are not edible. In some cases, pica is caused by a mineral deficiency in the animal's diet or a parasite infestation. In other cases, however, it may simply be a sign of boredom. This is especially true in puppies and younger dogs. A dog can also eat earth to relieve intestinal discomfort caused by ingesting something it shouldn't have.
Step 2. Find out when he started eating the earth
Have there been any recent changes in your diet, activity level or surrounding environment? Does the dog exhibit any other unusual symptoms or behaviors that could help justify the problem? If you have more than one dog, are they all eating dirt?
- If your wagging friend eats an unusual amount of dirt, check him out especially in case he has ingested something he shouldn't have and is showing signs of poisoning.
- If multiple dogs in the same household exhibit this behavior, it could be a sign of some nutritional deficiency in their diet.
- However, if multiple dogs are eating the dirt and all in the same area, it may be because there is something delicious about that particular soil.
Step 3. Check your furry friend's gums
Eating the earth can be a sign of anemia caused by food shortages or parasites. If his gums are pale or yellowish, take him to the vet right away for further checks and to find appropriate treatment.
Step 4. Analyze its nutrition
Most dog foods on the market contain enough vitamins and minerals to keep dogs healthy, but some brands contain fewer minerals than others. Check the label of the food you buy for your faithful friend and compare it to other brands to make sure it has similar amounts of minerals such as iron and calcium. If your dog is on a raw diet or you feed him home-cooked foods, he may not always be getting all the nutrients he needs. If this is the case, talk to your vet to see if they should be given mineral supplements.
A dog might also eat dirt because he is hungry. If you've cut his portions because he's overweight, consider giving him a low calorie food that still leaves him feeling full, rather than giving him a smaller amount of his usual food
Step 5. Contact your vet
If you can't figure out what's causing your dog to ingest earth or you're worried that it may be a sign of a more serious problem, take your dog to the doctor for a checkup. During the visit, the veterinarian can check the general health of the animal, prescribe laboratory tests to rule out deficiencies or diseases and diagnose the possible presence of parasites.
- Some vets can also offer you some advice over the phone. Try contacting yours to discuss your furry friend's behavior with him and get suggestions on how to intervene.
- Check the dog's feces. If you have diarrhea or your stools are greasy, then you may have trouble digesting food properly. This could cause him to have a nutritional imbalance that the dog would try to compensate for by ingesting the earth. In this case, the advice of the veterinarian is essential, since the problem must be analyzed and solved.
Part 2 of 2: Preventing the Dog from Eating the Earth
Step 1. Entertain the pet
Increase the attention you give him, buy him a series of interesting new toys that he can play with. If possible, take him out for walks several times a day. A tired and busy dog has less chance of trying to eat the dirt and distracting himself with this unhealthy "pastime".
Step 2. Change his food
If you suspect that the foods you provide are low in minerals, then try a different brand. There is a myriad of products for canine nutrition on the market. If you can afford them, try the most prestigious brands that offer foods with highly digestible ingredients. Remember to look for a food that satisfies all the particular needs of your specimen (by age, size, activity level and pathologies). If in doubt, call your vet and ask for advice.
Step 3. Have your pet get worm treatment
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms absorb the nutrients the animal needs, causing anemia and gastrointestinal problems, which, in turn, can trigger the urge to eat the earth. The presence of visible worms in the dog's stool is an indisputable sign of infestation, but other symptoms can be diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy and so on. If you suspect that your faithful friend has worms, then you should purchase specific medicines at the pharmacy or veterinarian.
Some breeds (such as the Australian Shepherd and Collie) are sensitive to certain active ingredients in worming medications, so you should consult with your vet first
Step 4. If your dog only eats dirt from a specific area, then avoid that place
Probably the animal is interested in eating something that is in that soil and not in the soil itself. However, if his behavior bothers you, then prevent him from accessing that place.
Step 5. Supervise your four-legged friend when he is outdoors
Take him for a walk on a leash and watch over him when he is in the garden. Verbally discourage him when you catch him eating the earth. Try to distract him or "divert" him to something else and praise him when he leaves the earth.
If you find that it only eats dirt from a specific spot in the garden, try treating the area with an unpleasant taste, such as sprinkle it with cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or a citrullus colocynthis spray (available at pet stores)
Step 6. Keep indoor plants out of your dog's reach
If you notice that the animal eats the dirt from the pots, then move them if possible. You can also spray them with a deterrent.
When you catch your dog approaching the plants, say the command "sit" firmly. When he obeys, reward him with a treat to reinforce correct behavior
Step 7. Use a spray bottle to train your dog and get him to stop eating dirt
Bring a bottle of cold, clean water with you on walks and keep it handy when your pet plays in the garden. Wait for the dog to start eating the dirt, approach him and surprise him with a "No!" decided. Wait a second and then sprinkle his face with the bottle of water.
- Never use boiling water or add anything that could harm your dog or burn his eyes.
- Never use this remedy on a dog that may bite you.
Step 8. Try a "remote punishment" device
These devices are triggered precisely at a distance, so that the dog does not associate the punishment with you. Among the most popular are horns and citronella collars that release an unpleasant odor when operated. There is a lot of debate regarding these solutions, firstly because a dog does not respond positively to punishment, secondly because they do not treat a problem, but merely repress symptomatic behavior and thirdly the boundary between correction and mistreatment. it is very subtle. The law against animal abuse in Italy is quite strict, before resorting to these solutions, do the necessary research.
Many dog owners disagree on the effectiveness of these tools, while others justify them if the behavior they try to prevent is harmful to the animal. Use common sense before deciding what is best for your specimen
Step 9. Keep the dog indoors
If you cannot control it when it is outdoors and you cannot stop it from eating the dirt, then you will need to keep it indoors while you are out. Remember to keep houseplants out of his reach or the dog will find a way to get soil indoors.
Step 10. Consider giving him anxiolytics
If the pet does not stop this behavior and shows other signs of stress, first try to entertain and entertain your furry friend more and eliminate any sources of anxiety from his life. If this is not possible or this method does not lead to the desired results, then talk to your vet about anxiolytic medications.
Step 11. Talk to a dog trainer or canine behavior professional
If your vet does not find any physical problems in the dog and none of the home remedies described here lead to satisfactory results, then a dog trainer or psychologist could be the solution. Ask the vet to suggest some names or ask for information at the pet store. You can also do an online search by typing the words "animal behavior" or "dog trainer" and the name of your city or province.
