Eating Dirt

[Zoolady]

We have three greyhounds and they are fabulous. For a while thoug, Blue has been digging a hole and then eating dirt from the hole. The girls will participate but Blue is the main hole starter.

 

We have been trying different foods to see if that helped and we also put them on Dinovite that we have for Walter (Mama was a 130 pound English mastiff and Daddy a 40 pound hound dog). Walter does not eat dirt.

 

We have a feral cat population in the neighborhood and have seen cats and kittens in the yard. I'm wondering if they are going after places the cats may have relieved themselves in.

 

We tried putting poop in the hold and covering but they just dig another

 

I don't know if there is any solution to this other than muzzles but thought I would ask if anyone else deals with this or has found a way to discourage it..

 

 

[greysmom]

All of mine will eat dirt at some time. No one, including our vet, really knows why. Mine all get a balanced diet with plenty of vitamins and minerals, so I doubt it's a nutrition issue.

 

It's mostly a Springtime thing at our house. Once the dirt dries out in the summer, they stop the behavior.

[GreyhoundGirl]

Mason was doing that for awhile. No real reason...it's a dog thing, we don't understand. I said, "gross" and moved on. He only are certain dirt at the neighbor's. Apparently they have good tasting dirt. 😉

[kikibean]

Rocky always ate dirt when the ground first started freezing in the winter. No idea.

Barb is HORRIBLE about eating dirt. She wears a muzzle w/ a poop guard on it when she goes out.

[Guest IrskasMom]

My Morty does it sometime , when we go to the Park on the Dirt Road . Why , I have no Idea .

[FiveRoooooers]

Rocky always ate dirt when the ground first started freezing in the winter. No idea.

Barb is HORRIBLE about eating dirt. She wears a muzzle w/ a poop guard on it when she goes out.

Andy would choose dirt over almost anything. Weirdo.

[bradymom]

Brady has decided to graduate from dirt to pine cones and sticks, hates to wearing his racing muzzle with poop guard....

 

Debbie

[Zoolady]

I guess it will have to be muzzle time at least when Blue goes out. Maybe the girls won't do it if he doesn't start a hole. With the feral cats I wonder if they could have hookworms and give it to the greys. We do preventatives for hooks but they are so nasty here. Last time it took two rounds of meds to get rid of them. It's been a long time though since they had them.

 

Thank you for all your input. It is very much appreciated.