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Dogs Eating Soil: Causes, Risks and Tips

Dogs Eating Soil

Dogs can have strange eating habits. Some four-legged friends seem to devour almost anything that seems remotely edible.

For example, it is not uncommon for a dog to eat soil. Below you can find out possible reasons and whether eating soil is dangerous for your dog. We also give you advice on how to counteract your four-legged friend's appetite for soil.

Why does my dog eat soil?

There can be various reasons for your dog eating soil. The possible causes range from boredom to problems with the intestines.

If you frequently see your dog eating soil, you should consider in particular the following causes:

  • boredom
  • stressful situations
  • behavioural problems
  • intestinal parasites
  • dental diseases
  • malnutrition
  • detoxification
  • imbalance in the gut microbiota

The dog eats soil out of boredom 

Dogs need stimulation. Simple walks are usually not enough to keep the four-legged friends occupied. If you don't sufficiently engage with your dog, it's only a matter of time before the animal finds its own way to keep itself busy. This can also mean, among other things, that your dog starts eating dirt when you take it out for a walk.

The dog eats soil in stressful situations

Stress is another possible cause that can be responsible for your dog eating soil. In this case, it is a so-called displacement activity, which can occur above all if your four-legged friend encounters other dogs or if they feel unsafe due to any other situation that is unfamiliar to them.

The dog eats soil because of a behavioural problem

Aside from boredom and stress, soil eating in dogs can also indicate a behavioural disorder. If you tolerate your four-legged friend’s supposedly harmless quirk over a longer period of time, it will eventually become a habit which will be difficult to break. Under certain circumstances, the help of a dog psychologist may be necessary in this case.

The dog eats soil due to an infestation with intestinal parasites

Psychological issues are not always to blame for a dog eating soil. Sometimes the unusual behaviour can also be a sign of an infestation with intestinal parasites such as giardia or worms. In order to counteract possible health consequences, it is important to treat parasites in dogs promptly.

So-called wormers are used for this purpose, with natural preparations being preferable whenever possible. These are less stressful for the dog's body and, moreover, do not lead to resistance even with repeated use.

The dog eats soil because of a dental problem

Some dogs will eat soil when suffering from a toothache or gum disease. Dental problems are just as painful for dogs as they are for humans. In order to avoid them, it is important to give your four-legged friend the necessary attention regarding their dental care from an early age. In our range you will find high-quality solutions for your dog's daily dental care with products such as Bellfor Dental Powder and Dental Spray.

The dog eats soil due to malnutrition

In some cases a lack of certain nutrients can also cause a dog to eat soil. In the case of domestic dogs kept by humans, malnutrition is rather the exception. However, you should make sure that your four-legged friend's food is of good quality and that the portion sizes correspond to the animal's needs.  This is not only important to prevent the dog from eating soil, but for their general health. 

The dog eats soil to detox

Occasionally, dogs eating soil can also serve to bind toxins in the body so they can be excreted. Clay soil in particular is considered effective for this purpose. However, there are undoubtedly more sensible ways to help your dog detox when needed. Eating soil while going out for walks is therefore certainly not a solution that you should accept or even encourage in your dog.

The dog eats soil because of an imbalanced gut microbiota

If your dog eats soil, in some cases this can also be a sign of an imbalanced intestinal flora, also known as the intestinal microbiome or gut microbiota. It consists of countless beneficial microorganisms. It can become imbalanced for various reasons, such as illness or the administration of antibiotics. Sooner or later this has serious consequences for the health of the four-legged friend. Instead of letting your dog eat dirt, you should support the intestinal health with suitable food supplements such as Bellfor Gastro Activia.

What are the risks of eating soil for dogs?

In principle it is largely harmless if your dog occasionally eats small amounts of soil. However, keep in mind that the soil can be contaminated with various substances.

These include pesticides, fertilizers and animal excrement. Apart from that, various pathogens and parasites can also enter the dog's body with the soil. Due to the risks involved, it is advisable not to let your four-legged friend eat soil.

When should a vet be consulted?

If your dog eats some soil just occasionally, it's usually nothing to worry about and you don't need to go to the vet. However, if it becomes a habit or if your dog eats large amounts of soil, an appointment at the vet is highly recommended.

After all, it is quite possible that your dog may have health problems such as gingivitis, a disorder of the intestinal flora or an infestation with giardia.

The veterinarian can examine your four-legged friend and, if necessary, determine the necessary treatment measures. Depending on the reason for eating soil, these can look very different and include, for example, the administration of a wormer or even the extraction of a tooth.

How to stop a dog from eating soil

Regardless of the treatment of the underlying cause that may be necessary, you should ensure that your dog does not eat soil in the future due to the risks involved, such as the ingestion of pesticides or pathogens.

Keep your four-legged friend busy when you go for a walk so that they don’t get bored. For example, try search games, obedience training or fetching. The more varied your walks are, the less likely it is that your dog will eat soil.

Also, always keep a close eye on your four-legged friend when you are out and about. This way you can stop unwanted behaviour like eating soil or other inedible items right away.

Adequate dog nutrition with high-quality products from Bellfor

A balanced diet is vital to your dog's health. It ensures that your four-legged friend is supplied with all the nutrients it needs, and last but not least can also help to prevent soil from being ingested due to a lack of nutrients.

When feeding your four-legged friend, make sure that the dog food is of good quality in addition to giving the correct amount of food that meets their needs.

The Bellfor range offers you everything you need for the appropriate care of your dog. In addition to easily digestible dry and wet food, you will also find special varieties for nutrition-sensitive animals, for which we use the larvae of Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly) as a protein source.

You will also find a large selection of healthy dog ​​treats in our shop, which will surely delight your four-legged friend and which are ideal, for example, as a little treat when going for a walk.

The dog eats soil – our conclusion

As you can see, there can be a number of reasons why your dog eats dirt. Regular consumption of large amounts can indicate a health problem. A visit to the veterinarian is therefore advisable in this case.

Also, keep in mind that soil can contain a variety of harmful substances, e.g. pathogens and pesticides. For this reason, you should prevent your dog from eating soil, even if there are no signs of an existing health problem.

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