Written in collaboration with vets
You may find your dog eating soil occasionally. This is generally deemed normal behaviour; however, there can be negative side effects when your pet consumes parasites, pesticides or objects that could cause damage or blockages. Dogs eating mud can also be referred to as pica, which means eating something that is not intended for consumption.
There are several reasons why your dog may be eating soil. These range from behavioural issues, such as boredom, to medical problems like anaemia. Dogs may also eat dirt and or poop when they have an upset stomach to induce vomiting. We will also address how to stop your dog from eating soil in this piece.
Sometimes, you might find your dog eating soil or grass. This is generally not a huge cause for concern unless they consume something dangerous with the soil or eat soil very frequently. It is a common behaviour in dogs, and they may eat soil for several reasons, let's explore this further.
Health Problems
If your dog eats dirt often it’s likely to be a behavioural issue, but in rare cases, it could indicate health problems. If the behaviour happens frequently and is accompanied by any other health concerns, it is advisable to consult your vet.
Behavioural Issues
Dogs eating soil can also be a behavioural issue, possibly due to boredom or anxiety. Try to soothe your dog by keeping them mentally and physically stimulated. You can achieve this by taking them for a walk, incorporating their favourite toys into playtime, or paying them more attention and talking to them. Dogs have a natural desire to dig and soil is super appealing to satisfy this instinct. Some dogs may eat a bit of soil as part of the excitement and joy of a good muddy dig!
Nutritional Deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to your dog’s mud-eating habit. They may start eating mud if they lack vital minerals such as iron or calcium. Feeding a complete and balanced dog food, tailored to the life-stage and life-style of your dog, will provide all of the nutrients they need.
Hunger
Hunger can also cause dogs to eat soil. Make sure your dog is eating a well-balanced and complete diet. Smells - dogs have a sense of smell over 20,000 times more sensitive than ours. They can detect other animal faeces in the soil and may try to locate it and eat it because, to a dog, it smells irresistible!
Health issues could be the reason behind your dog’s new dirt-eating habit. Make a note of any sudden changes you see in your dog’s behaviour so they can be investigated by a vet. We also recommend looking into any changes in your dog’s environment or diet that could have triggered it.
Stress or anxiety could be causing this behaviour. New animals, people, loud noises and routine changes in a dog’s environment can cause stress. It’s also highly possible the dog has previously found something scrumptious to eat in the soil (hedgehog poo, cat poo, other dog's poop for example!) and that this is the thing attracting them back to the mud to repeat the behaviour. Breeds known for insatiable appetites, such as Beagles and Labradors, can be particularly prone to such traits.
The most common health issues associated with dogs eating soil are digestive issues and parasites. You should always monitor any changes to your dog’s health after they have eaten soil, to be safe.
There are different ways you can discourage your dog from eating soil, including dietary adjustments, increased supervision, and environmental changes. A well-balanced and complete diet can help avoid soil eating and licking habits. Keeping your dog mentally and physically stimulated also helps distract them from wanting to eat soil in the first place.
Dogs eating soil is a common behaviour. There is generally no need to worry about your dog eating a little bit of soil unless it happens frequently. Soil eating can cause gastrointestinal blockages or exposure to harmful substances. Always keep an eye on your dog if they are prone to mud eating and speak to your vet for advice.
Dogs sometimes eat dirt when they’re lacking nutrients such as calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium. The best way to stop your dog eating soil is to make sure they eat a complete and balanced diet. High quality diets contain all of the nutrients in the correct ratios, and therefore provide everything your dog needs for their life-stage and life-style. You can also try our Pedigree Dog Multivitamins to support a healthy, balanced diet.
Interested in learning more about dog behaviour? Check out our articles for more tips and advice.
