The cause may be from the lack of dietary bulk fibre which helps keep your horse's stomach full. Potassium deficit animals may lick at wood and concrete. Sodium is often deficient in horses that exercise strenuously, which may lead to the dirt consumption, done to balance out their needs.
Horses May Lick Out of Boredom
If your horse is not getting enough exercise, mental stimulation, or they are stuck in a predictable routine, they may develop a new habit of licking. If you find your horse is licking everything within its reach, including you, boredom might be the cause!
There are several reasons why your horses may form a habit of chewing. This habit is more common among horses that are kept indoors more often than others. Nevertheless, some of the most common causes are boredom and frustration, stress, nutritional deficiencies, lack of social interaction, and possibly genetics.
Horses sometimes lick and chew during training and this has often been interpreted as a sign that the horse is learning or showing “submission” to the trainer. However, a new study suggests that this non-nutritive licking and chewing behaviour is a natural behaviour that is shown after a stressful situation.
Many essential minerals horses lack through diet exist in the soil. Horses know this, which is why it's not uncommon to occasionally see them licking the ground. If you observe horses gobbling mouthfuls of dirt, however, that's a clear sign of a mineral deficiency and should be addressed.
Some of the more common forms of pica in horses include ingesting faeces (coprophagia), chewing and eating wood (lignophagia), and eating soil/ dirt (geophagia). Geophagia, the consuming of dirt is not uncommon.
The cause may be from the lack of dietary bulk fibre which helps keep your horse's stomach full. Potassium deficit animals may lick at wood and concrete.
While this can seem to be an endearing habit, it might be indicative of a problem. Incessant licking may be an attempt to create saliva, and in some cases it may be related to the presence of gastric ulcers. Horses that do not have access to salt may also engage in this behavior.
A horse that has a penchant for licking dirt, objects, or people can mean different things. Maybe you have an affectionate or playful horse, they're looking for treats or something salty, or they might be lacking nutrients in their diet and seeking them in objects with no nutritional value.
Horses may chew on wood in their stable, fencing, or trees. Hay and pasture may vary in the content of fiber and it is shown that if horses are not getting enough fiber in your diet they may choose to chew wood.
Windsucking in horses is associated with several health concerns such as colic, gastric ulcers, respiratory issues and weight loss. Both windsucking and cribbing can also reduce performance, contribute to poor body condition and cause behavioural problems.
Often, walls will collect moisture and condensation. This is especially true if you live in a humid area. Your cat may try and lick up this moisture from the wall, especially if they think it tastes delicious. Cats may also do this if they don't have access to fresh water, even if they don't necessarily like the taste.
Gastric ulcers are sores that occur in the lining of the horse's stomach. They are a common problem in horses that aren't completely understood. Many factors can play a role in causing ulcers including: Stress. Nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (phenylbutazone and banamine)
Horses have an innate fear of new things (neophobia) that explains some behavior issues such as trailer-related problems (see below). The management is similar to that in dogs and cats ( see Treatment of Fears, Phobias, Anxiety, and Aggression. In these cases, the owners need guidance... read more ).
Occasionally you may come across a horse with a large appetite for salt, whether it's salt blocks, salt licks, or loose salt. Salt is not produced by the body, and is necessary for life and health, so your horse should be getting a salt supplement every day.
Rockies MagnaCalm Lick contains high levels of magnesium, to calm horses who are prone to getting stressed or excitable.
The issues with salt deficiency or consuming too much salt
If the horse consumes too little salt, it can lead to digestive problems, listlessness, and performance deficits. An excess of salt may be noticeable through diarrhea, fecal water, and increased water intake.
The majority of horses with gastric ulcers do not show outward symptoms. They have more subtle symptoms, such as a poor appetite, and poor hair coat. The effect on performance is not well understood. Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses with poor performance have a higher incidence of squamous gastric ulcers.
Why Horses Need Salt
Salt is an electrolyte - and the most crucial mineral in the equine diet and helps to maintain optimum pH levels. Sodium levels are measured by the brain, which signals the horse to drink. If sodium blood concentration is low, the signal to drink water will be greatly diminished.
This can vary greatly. It may be that the horse consumes substantially more, but also substantially less water. Because horses drink when they want, this problem is often overlooked or can be difficult to control.
While certain breeds like Labradors are more naturally prone to pica, dogs that have high energy but do not get enough exercise or stimulation often choose to ingest non-food items. Pica is also considered an attention-seeking behavior and can result from lack of socialization with humans or other dogs.
Pica in dogs treatment
If a nutritional deficiency is a cause, your vet may recommend dietary changes, nutritional supplements, or changes in your dog's feeding schedule. Dogs with intestinal blockage will require hospitalization to undergo surgery.