Reasons why your dog eats dirt

In another article of our blog, we already talked about why dogs sometimes eat grass. In today's article, we will unveil another of the enigmas that baffle those who are parents of a furry dog: the habit of eating dirt in dogs.

Behind this behavior, more common than it seems to us at first glance, there are several reasons why it occurs, from unsatisfied food needs to simple curiosity. The reasons are as varied as our beloved furry friends. Read on and we'll explain them one by one!

The six reasons why dogs eat dirt

Hunger or nutritional deficiencies

Our furry friends may not be getting all the nutrients they need from their regular diet, such as minerals or vitamins. So, if that need is great, soil may seem like a very nutritious food to them, and they won't hesitate for a second to put it in their mouths.

2. Stress or anxiety

People suffer from periods of stress or anxiety, and some people may overeat to calm down. Like us, dogs can also go through times of stress, and eating dirt would be a way to escape from these uncomfortable situations.

3. Boredom

Like stress and anxiety, boredom is not just a human problem: our dogs feel it too. If we don't play enough with him or don't give him enough daily physical exercise, eating dirt will become a great way for them to pass the time and kill boredom.

4. Exploration and curiosity

Especially when they are puppies, furry dogs are in a constant stage of discovery and learning. Licking, biting and even swallowing different objects is part of their exploration process, and the earth does not escape their curiosity to discover the world around them. Although it is more typical in puppies, it is not uncommon to see dogs of older ages eating dirt out of mere curiosity.

5. Spoiled food

As with grass, it is also possible that our dog eats dirt as a way to purge the intestine after eating bad food. Thus, it is quite frequent that he eats dirt if he suffers from an infection or gastrointestinal disease, and, instead of grass, what he has more within reach is dirt (or both).

6. Smells or presence of other animals

In addition to the above reasons, there are other factors that can lead our dogs to eat soil, such as interesting smells or the presence of other animals, such as insects or small mammals. Their eagerness to find out what they are (or to eat them) leads them to ingest soil as a way to get to them.

6 razones por las que tu perro come tierra

What happens if our dogs eat soil?

Although eating soil is not in itself a strange behavior (for the reasons we have seen), it does have an important risk for our dog's health.

The soil may contain toxic products, such as insecticides and fertilizers, which could poison him. In this case, provoking our dog to vomit and going immediately to the vet could save his life.

In addition to these types of harmful products, it is also common for the soil to contain sharp, cutting or large objects, objects that could be swallowed and cause damage by tearing. Unlike toxic substances, we should not provoke vomiting, as these objects would cause even more damage on the way back through the digestive tract.

How can we prevent our dog from eating dirt?

As we have seen, the behavior of eating dirt in our dogs is a sign of various conditions, from simple curiosities to indicators of more serious health problems. As responsible owners, it is essential to observe and understand the needs and behaviors of our furry friends.

By paying attention to their diet, providing them with physical activity, providing an enriching environment and seeing a veterinarian regularly, we can ensure that our dogs live a full and healthy life.

We can also reinforce their health with special vitamins for dogs, such as the turmeric-based anti-inflammatory from Baluka Petscreated to prevent and reduce pain caused by canine diseases such as hip dysplasia, arthritis or osteoarthritis.