Dietary deficiencies can cause dogs of any age to eat dirt to obtain minerals, like sodium, iron, and calcium from the soil. Dogs that are underfed may also eat dirt and other objects due to hunger and nutritional deficiencies.
Sometimes, the urge to eat dirt comes from cravings that stem from a vitamin or mineral deficiency in the diet. Your dog may experience unusual cravings as a result of not getting enough iron, b-vitamins or zinc, for example.
If your dog's dirt-eating habits are due to a lack of minerals, try selecting high-quality dog food to replace what they're eating now. Whichever brand you choose, be sure that it meets the nutritional guidelines set by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).
Other than having pica, “dogs can frequently eat dirt or other plants in their environment if they're lacking the proper nutrients, or if they're trying to calm an upset stomach. Both of these issues can be addressed by altering your dog's diet,” says Dr. Barrack.
Some dietary sources of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium for dogs include bone meal, fish, beans, molasses, muscle and organ meats, wheat bran and vegetables. Sodium and chloride are minerals that work together to control the balance of fluid inside and outside of the body's cells.
Your dog needs vitamins from two different groups: water-soluble vitamins C and B-complex, and the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. These vitamins help a dog's body to build bones, teeth and connective tissues.
Iron dextran can be given at a dose of 10 mg elemental iron per kg body weight weekly to dogs, and at a dose of 50 mg per cat once every 3 to 4 wk (3,30). A small dose should be administered first as hypersensitivity reactions can occur (9).
You can start with green vegetables, beef liver, raw egg yok (from local or organic eggs) and adding canned sardines to their regular food. Depending on your dog's size, you'll want to aim to add anywhere from 500 to 2,000 milligrams of Vitamin C (which can help the body absorb iron from the intestinal tract) per day.
This means you should stick with a veterinary vitamin supplement or one specifically made for dogs, and you should always check the label to make sure the vitamin contains the appropriate amount of the vitamins your dog needs.
Anemic dogs also have little stamina or energy, so they seem listless or tire more easily. Additionally, weight loss, labored breathing, loss of appetite, a faster heart rate, or signs of blood loss (bloody nose, blood in the stool, urine, or vomit) may also be seen.
Is it okay for my dog to eat grass and dirt? Grass eating is a normal behaviour for dogs and it's not a concern unless they're doing it excessively. If they start ingesting a lot and don't seem okay in themselves or are repeatedly eating grass and vomiting over a period of a few hours, it's time to contact your vet.
They need fiber
If your dog eats a lot of grass, you might want to take a look at his diet. It could be a sign that he isn't getting enough fiber and, as a result, is seeking out roughage to eat. Just like humans, dogs need fiber to help them digest their food and pass stool regularly.
Whilst food source is always preferable, we can see that there can be many reasons for dog's not to absorb effectively. The most common deficiencies I see in clinic today are vitamin B9, vitamin B12, vitamin D, magnesium and zinc.
Your dog will be getting plenty of Vitamin B12 from organ meat and different other products, such as eggs, yoghurt, goat milk, and fresh raw or lighty cooked muscle meat. If you would like to improve your current diet by adding plants, then seaweed is your best choice.
Wondering about good sources of iron for dogs? Adding fresh foods with iron in them to your dog's diet can help boost this important mineral. To start, you can feed your dog canned sardines along with their regular food, raw egg yolk (from organic or local eggs), green vegetables, and beef liver.
Carrots, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, and bananas are packed with important vitamins, along with potassium, which is good for a dog's muscles, nerves, and kidneys. Their fiber can also help dogs stay regular.
Pumpkin is a natural source of fibre. Cooked and mashed pumpkin with no added salt can help settle down an upset stomach , improve digestion, reduce anal gland problems, prevent hairball build up and help dogs and cats with both constipation and diarrhoea.
While dogs don't actually need large amounts of fruits and vegetables to live healthy lives, certain ones do make suitable treats on occasion and can even provide health benefits. Broccoli is high in fiber and vitamin C and low in fat. It is safe for dogs to eat, raw or cooked, as long as no seasonings are added.
Most veterinarians recommend cooking eggs before feeding them to your dog, but some dog owners feed their dogs raw eggs. There are a few concerns about feeding raw eggs to dogs that owners should be aware of: Salmonella — Dogs are at risk of contracting salmonella.
Symptoms of a phosphate deficiency include stunted growth, heart problems, and inhibited red blood cell function. Some pet parents of dogs with kidney failure feed their dogs a phosphorus-deficient diet to try to combat the condition.
Human vitamins are not designed for dogs, and you shouldn't give them to your dog unless your veterinarian has okayed a specific duration and quantity of supplementation.
Feeding dogs a diet made with natural, real ingredients, such as beef, chicken, lamb, peas, spinach, carrots, and blueberries, can do wonders for their overall well-being — promoting heart health, increasing energy level, making coats shiny and breath smell better, improving eyesight, and even impacting a dog's stool.
The symptoms of B12 deficiency are not always easy to spot. The most common is weight loss, which can easily be mistaken for other health disorders. Some of the common symptoms would include reduced appetite, a dull hair coat, diarrhea, lethargy, mental dullness and neurological problems.