This is Why Your Dog is Eating Dirt

Dogs love human connection. All they want is love and care from you. In return, you get a loyal and loving partner. If you are in a mood or are upset about anything, just play with a pup, and you will see the change in your mood. That’s why they are used as emotional support animals by a lot of people. An ESA can stay with its owner in an apartment with a no-pets policy. The landlord can not say no to this. This happens due to the Fair Housing Act and emotional support animal. But, you may notice that your dog is interested in eating dirt. There can be many reasons why he is doing that. So, let’s learn about what are the possible reasons for him looking for treasure in the dirt.

His Food is Not Good

Maybe he’s just looking to get some minerals, vitamins, or some probiotic bacteria. Chances are that his diet is not providing him all that. So, an unbalanced diet can be a reason. 
Eating dirt can be a pica disorder. In this disorder, a dog would eat things other than food. This condition happens when a dog is suffering from nutritional deficiencies. If your pooch has been eating dirt for quite some time then try changing his diet. Go to your veterinarian.
This happens many times if your dog is not getting enough bones. Get him on a raw diet if you still haven’t.

Chronic Health Concerns

His search for vitamins and minerals could also be due to inflammatory bowel disease or hypothyroidism. You might not be aware of this medical condition. During IBD, your dog is not able to absorb the required amount of vitamin B. So your dog might just eat dirt to get enough minerals to fight the anemia.

Bleeding tumors, parasites, ulcers, or dreadful kidney disease can also cause anemia. Go to your vet now and get him checked to catch the problem.

Maybe The Dirt is Just Too Yummy For Him

Yeah, it might be the case. Not everything has to be serious. Maybe your dog found some bacon or hamburger grease under a grill, so he’s digging his way to it. So, next time you see your dog trying to eat some dirt, go to that area and check whether there is something your dog is looking for. This becomes important especially if your dog is going to the same place again and again.

Behavior Issues

What do you do when you are stressed and bored? Some might start playing with their hair, cracking their knuckles or just starts overeating. The same happens to your fur-pal. If your dog is not getting the mental stimulation or enough exercise, it may trigger boredom. So, to get himself out of that, he starts entertaining himself. This may result in him eating dirt.

This happens a lot if you have a small puppy or a “young” dog, who is still growing. This could be because of reduced exercise or playtime, or he is not getting enough social interaction. Dogs need a purpose and work to do, especially if you have an active breed.

Conclusion

Are you concerned about what to do? There can be many reasons for your dog to eat dirt, and some might not even be that serious. But, you should never ignore this, and should always get him checked. Eating dirt can be really harmful to your dog as it may contain toxins, pesticides, and poisons. So, it’s better to avoid any serious problem for your pooch and get him checked.