What happens if puppies eat dirt

It could also stimulate more contractions of the intestine, moving material through the digestive tract more quickly.

Mainly because dirt nowadays, is well, dirty. But not in the way you might think. If the problem is boredom, remember to keep your dog working and playing.

Consult with an animal behaviorist for more serious behavior issues like OCD. Kibble , similar to human processed food, is far from what nature intended. Coger says that adding bones may stop the dirt eating in cases where a raw diet is being fed without bones.

The size of the dog will determine which of these are appropriate. For recreational chewing I like beef ribs. Remember, dirt eating is something to pay attention to and investigate. It can mean many different things, but you definitely want to know what that is.

Get instant access to easy-to-make and affordable recipes. Plus get new recipes delivered right to your inbox. Join nearly , subscribers who love Dogs Naturally to unlock special discounts and premium content. Ready to make your own dog food? Shop Now. Jessica Peralta November 5, In this case, call your veterinarian immediately for advice, Woodnutt says. Data on File. While your automatic reaction might be to yell and pull your dog away, avoid making a big deal of it.

This may inadvertently make matters worse by triggering fear, stress, and anxiety—all of which can lead to worsening of the behavior, explains Flynn. Instead, encourage your dog to stay away from dirt as much as possible with training and rewards. If your dog eats the dirt from houseplants, remove them from reach, if possible. You can also try spraying them with a taste deterrent. Use a spray bottle to train your dog not to eat dirt. Carry a spray bottle filled with cool, clean water when you go on walks, and keep it nearby when your dog is in the yard.

When you see your dog begin to eat dirt, approach him and scold him with a firm "No! Never use a spray bottle on a dog that might bite you. Try a remote punishment device to train your dog. These devices are triggered remotely so the dog does not associate the punishment with you personally.

Popular choices include an air horn, or a citronella collar that can be activated to release an unpleasant smell when remotely triggered. Use your best judgement and do what's right for you and your dog. Keep your dog indoors. If you are unable to supervise your dog when he is outside and can't get him to stop eating dirt, you may need to keep him indoors while you are away. Make sure to keep all houseplants out of reach, or he may still find a way to get his dirt fix indoors.

Consider anxiety medication for your dog. If your dog won't stop eating dirt and exhibits other signs of anxiety, first try adding more entertainment and removing any stressors from his life that you can. If this is not possible or does not help, talk to your vet about the possibility that he needs an anxiety medication. Consult with a dog trainer or behavior specialist. If your vet finds nothing physically wrong with your dog, and none of these at-home remedies are successful, an experienced trainer or animal behavior specialist may be able to help.

Ask your vet for a recommendation, or call your local pet store. You can also do a web search for "animal behavior" or "dog training" in your area. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Beverly Ulbrich. Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. Not Helpful 7 Helpful Eating dirt may be just a habit out of boredom. Give him a chew toy or a marrow bone to keep him occupied.

Not Helpful 6 Helpful Dogs are carnivorous by nature. You can't change that unless you want an unhealthy and unhappy dog. Not Helpful 31 Helpful It's also possible that a dog eats rocks because of an underlying medical condition.

These can include intestinal tract disorders, nutritional deficiency, diabetes, or other illnesses. It is vital to rule out any medical cause by paying a visit to your vet if continued efforts to stop this behavior are unsuccessful.

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 6. Punish it but not too stern. If it doesn't eat it, reward it. If he continues, don't let it play in the sand. Always make sure you are feeding the dog enough food and water as well. Not Helpful 8 Helpful Mix some pumpkin puree into your pet's food. There are no side effects, and it works like a charm.

Not Helpful 10 Helpful Why does our female shepherd eat dirt? Are there any negative health consequences to this particular action? Of course there are some times when this love of dirt could be cause for concern. PetMD checked in with the experts to get to the bottom of why our dogs eat dirt—and what, if anything, we should be doing to stop this behavior.

When we think about the things that our dogs love in general, it may start to make a bit more sense why they might be interested in eating dirt. Oscar E. If you are feeding a homemade diet and your dog is eating dirt, you should be concerned about deficiencies.

For starters, in rare cases, Dr. Chavez says that dogs with anemia may take a liking to dirt. Additionally, in very rare cases, pica — or the condition of eating or consuming non-nutrients as food — can be seen as a sign of other disorders including gastrointestinal and liver disease.