Why do dogs eat dirt?

Mineral Deficiency. One reason that some dogs eat dirt is because their standard diet lacks in certain minerals. If the food is missing many of those crucial vitamins and minerals, get rid of it and purchase a higher quality and well balanced food for your dog. read more

Your dog’s dirt eating could actually be a search for minerals, vitamins or even good probiotic bacteria that he isn’t getting in his diet. Kibble and unbalanced diets could be the culprits. Pica is defined as a state whereby dogs eat things other than food. For example, eating dirt would be a pica disorder. read more

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. “Dogs like to dig into and consume all kinds of smelly, pungent things, like trash, kitty litter and toilet paper,” says Dr. Oscar E. Chavez, BVetMed, MRCVS, MBA. read more

Eating dirt is an attempt to dilute or to get rid of the offending food item. This may be something as mild as a plant that has caused him a bit of distress, or it could be something very serious, like one of several human foods which are poisonous to dogs. read more