Dogs eat dirt for several different reasons, and most of them are harmless. More often than not it comes down to curiosity, boredom or an enticing scent in the soil, but in some cases it can be a sign of an upset stomach, an unbalanced diet or a habit that has gotten out of hand. What matters is not that your dog occasionally licks or chews on a bit of soil, but how often it happens, and whether it seems compulsive. Here you get an overview of the most common reasons why dogs eat dirt, when the behaviour is harmless, and when you should take action.
Curiosity and boredom are the most frequent explanation
Dogs explore the world with their nose and mouth, and dirt is full of exciting scents from other animals, plant remains and organic matter. A dog that digs and tastes the soil in the garden often does so out of pure investigative urge. The same goes for when boredom sets in. A dog that lacks mental and physical stimulation in everyday life will find something to do on its own, and for some that becomes rummaging in the dirt. Dogs with a high activity level that don't get an outlet for their energy are especially prone to inventing that kind of pastime.
The good news is that this form of dirt eating usually disappears on its own once the dog has more to do. More daily walks, scent work, enrichment toys and training that engages the mind can remove the basis for the behaviour. A THE LICKING MAT is a simple tool for giving your dog a calm, mental task that channels the urge to use its mouth somewhere else.
Puppies taste everything, and usually grow out of it
In puppies it is completely normal to put dirt, sticks, stones and other things in their mouth. The mouth is a puppy's most important tool for getting to know its surroundings, and most puppies drop the behaviour on their own as they grow older and find other ways to explore. As an owner, during that period it is mostly about keeping an eye out that the puppy doesn't swallow anything harmful, and about redirecting its attention to something more appropriate when it starts gnawing on the soil.
If you want to give your puppy the best start in every respect, you'll find comprehensive advice in ESSENTIAL FOODS' Puppy universe, where knowledge about behaviour, wellbeing and feeding is brought together. Here you can also explore our puppy & junior meals, composed for the finest beginning.
Eating dirt can be an attempt to soothe an unsettled stomach
Some dogs turn to dirt, grass or mud when their stomach is upset. Just as many dogs eat grass when they feel unwell inside, dirt can be an instinctive attempt to relieve a feeling of discomfort in the digestion. If it happens once in a while, there is rarely any cause for concern. But if your dog repeatedly turns to the dirt along with signs such as vomiting, loose stools, reduced appetite or lethargy, you should contact your vet so that any underlying cause can be investigated.
A meal that is easy for the stomach to work with can make a noticeable difference for a dog with a sensitive digestion. In our range for sensitive stomach you'll find meals composed with that delicate stomach in mind, prepared from fresh produce and human-grade ingredients.
Can eating dirt be due to a nutritional deficiency?
One theory behind eating dirt is that the dog lacks certain minerals or nutrients and tries to make up for the deficiency by eating soil. This can be due to a one-sided or unbalanced diet, or to the dog having difficulty absorbing the nutrients from its food. Here the foundation is a meal that gives the dog everything it needs, in the right balance, so that the body doesn't go looking for it elsewhere.
ESSENTIAL FOODS' meals are composed to cover the dog's nutritional needs through carefully selected ingredients. If you're in doubt about whether your dog's current diet is balanced, or which meal suits your particular dog, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers are ready to guide you on feeding and nutrition by phone, chat or email. You can take our wide selection of all meals for dogs as your starting point when the two of you set out to find the right one.
When eating dirt becomes compulsive: pica
When a dog persistently eats things that aren't food, such as dirt, stones, fabric or rubbish, it is called pica. Here the difference between ordinary curiosity and pica is that the dog seeks out the inedible item again and again, almost compulsively. Pica can have both behavioural and health-related causes, and it can be associated with stress, anxiety or a lack of stimulation. Because persistent dirt eating can lead to a blocked gastrointestinal tract, parasites or ingestion of harmful substances, it is important to take it seriously.
If you find that your dog repeatedly and habitually eats dirt despite receiving a complete meal and plenty of activity, you should contact your vet. Only a vet can assess whether something health-related lies behind it, and help you move forward.
How to help your dog leave the dirt alone
Once you have a sense of the cause, you can work purposefully with the behaviour. Give your dog plenty of exercise and mental activity, so that boredom and excess energy don't find their way down into the dirt. Keep an eye on when the dirt eating happens, so that you can interrupt it in time and redirect the attention to something else, for example a treat or a toy. On the walk, a leash and a little foresight can help you get between your dog and the tempting soil.
A solid foundation of a well-composed meal also gives your dog the best starting point for thriving, so that the body doesn't go looking in the garden for what it lacks. If the behaviour continues, or is accompanied by signs that the dog isn't feeling well, your vet is always the right one to ask. For the vast majority of dogs, however, a bit of dirt now and then is simply a natural part of being a curious dog, and something that disappears again with the right everyday life around it.