![]() The problem with some homemade dog food, however, is that it can have trace vitamin or mineral deficiencies that hinder a dog’s overall digestive system. ![]() Some dog owners choose to make their own dog food because it’s more affordable, or because they don’t trust commercial dog food and prefer to know everything that’s going into their furry companion’s meals. If a dog gets only homemade meals rather than an AAFCO-certified balanced dog food, or if they get a low-quality dog food, then the pup suffering from pica is likely lacking in the balanced-diet department. When dogs miss out on specific nutrients in their diet, they seek them out by eating non-food items like dirt. Why do dogs eat dirt? One common reason is because Fido isn’t getting a balanced diet. What Dirt Eating Says About Your Dog’s Diet If not, your pup could do a lot of unwanted landscaping in your yard. Is your dog’s pica only directed at dirt? Keep reading to learn how to help your dog start making dietary and behavioral changes. “Towels and washcloths are also very common, as well as parts of dog beds if they have one.” “Things like socks, underwear, and pantyhose seem to be more frequent than others,” she said. Kelly Black, faculty coordinator of veterinary technology at Cedar Valley College, told PetMD that dogs with pica often eat items that carry the scent of their owner. Some dogs with pica might not eat dirt, though.ĭr. Pica in dogs can take a turn for the worse if they swallow an item that is toxic to dogs, is too large and gets lodged in their digestive tract, or is disruptive to the normal digestive process. ![]() Pica can be an emotionally driven condition caused by overwhelming feelings of boredom, anxiety, or stress.Ī dog who’s afraid of being alone and has separation anxiety, for example, might compulsively eat dirt, destroy a room, or tear their chew toys to shreds when left at home with nothing to do. In other words, if your dog is eating anything that’s not considered edible, they might have pica. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, pica is “an eating disorder that involves eating items that are not typically thought of as food and that do not contain significant nutritional value, such as hair, dirt, and paint chips.” ![]() ![]() If dogs have a condition called “pica,” they will eat dirt like it’s dog food. This article will explain what dirt eating means for your dog’s health, why they picked up the messy habit, and how dog parents can help their canine kick the habit and stick with dog food. But if it seems like your dog is eating dirt all the time, you might have a problem. If you’ve seen your dog eat dirt once or twice but haven’t seen them make a habit of it, you don’t have much to worry about. So why do dogs eat dirt? Is this a random behavior they have developed? If you see your dog snacking on dirt, take a look at how much dirt they’re eating and how often to figure out whether this is just a phase or there’s an underlying health issue at hand. Does your dog ever go out in nature, sniff around, and then suddenly decide to make a meal out of the soil? Dogs do some pretty weird stuff sometimes, but there’s usually a concrete reason why they exhibit many seemingly odd behaviors like eating dirt. ![]()
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