![]() Providing good quality time on a set schedule is preferable and more effective than petting, stroking, or verbally consoling your dog in the midst of repetitive activity.ģ. Don't reinforce the behavior by paying attention to him while he is engaged in it. For example, if your dog is crated for a large portion of the day, allow him outside the confined space to help get him on the road to recovery.Ģ. The first step in treating a compulsive disorder is to identify the cause and eliminate it. Often the compulsive behaviors are oral in nature, causing the dog to eat things he shouldn't.ġ. A dog with a compulsive disorder loses control over his ability to initiate and stop these negative, repetitive actions. Lack of socialization or too much attention, as well as a nutritional imbalance, may bring about a compulsive behavior as well. Although the exact cause of compulsive disorders is unknown, animal behaviorists feel that they are often caused by stress brought on by environmental conflicts such as competition with other pets, changes in the home, constant punishment, or confinement to small areas such as cages or crates. Compulsive disorders are repetitive, nonfunctional, nonbeneficial behaviors. In dogs, these disorders can include excessive licking and spinning in circles. In a human, a compulsive disorder may be repetitive, such as frequent hand washing or pulling one's hair out. This problem - the drive to consume material that is not generally considered food - is called "pica" and is what animal behaviorists call a compulsive disorder. Wool and other fibers, non-digestible plant material, rubber, plastic, wood, and even their own hair are just some of the things a dog may choose to ingest. With some dogs, meals aren't the only source of oral intake they have. Coger says, “both because of possible serious underlying causes and before it becomes a habit.Your email is safe with us. ![]() “I would add that any new, unnatural behavior, such as dirt eating, should be acted upon quickly,” Dr. It’s also possible that your dog could ingest a parasite along with the dirt, which can cause a range of additional health issues. Sharp sticks could puncture the linings of your dog’s mouth, throat, intestine, or stomach. “Depending on the dirt, dental damage or wear could also be a concern.” If the dirt has rocks in it, for example, it could cause damage to your dog’s teeth and cause obstruction in the throat or any point along the digestive tract. The dirt could also contain pesticides, fertilizers, or other toxins that could reach toxic levels if enough dirt was ingested,” Dr. The main risk is impaction of the intestine (hardened stool that gets stuck in the body due to long-term constipation) if your dog eats a lot at once. Bloodwork to look for underlying abnormalities may be helpful in pinpointing a cause.”Īs you may expect, there are risks to letting your dog continually eat dirt. “Changes in stool would be another sign that a vet visit is in order. “If is frequent, intense/manic in nature, or large quantities are consumed, then it’s time to go to the vet,” she says. Coger notes that while stomach and gastrointestinal issues could be to blame for your dog’s interest in dirt, canines are more likely to seek out grass in these cases. ![]() Nutritional imbalances or deficiencies, especially in mineralsĭr.It could be a sign of a bigger issue, such as: If your dog is continually eating dirt, you shouldn’t discount this behavior. Stress or boredom can also lead to eating all sorts of things, including dirt.” There are many causes, including nutritional, behavioral, and physical. Coger, DVM, explains, “Dirt eating is a form of what is termed ‘pica,’ the ingestion of nonfood materials. But have you ever observed your pet snacking on straight-up dirt? Why Do Dogs Eat Dirt? As a pet owner, you may have caught your dog eating (or attempting to eat) some pretty weird stuff.
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