Q: I have often found my dog in the garden eating soil. Why does he do that?
A: There are several possible reasons why a dog would suddenly start to eat soil. One is that the soil eating is due to a deficiency of a mineral substance in his diet. Any diet that is labelled as a complete dog food should contain all the nutrients required by a dog.
Another possibility is that although his diet is not lacking any nutrients, your dog has a problem with his metabolism that is preventing absorption, preventing the use or increasing the loss of these minerals. Although not an emergency, I would suggest that he is taken to your veterinarian.
Some useful information to find out before you go to the vet are the amount that he drinks – has it changed at all (increased or decreased)? Is his appetite normal? And any other changes in behaviour. Note these and take the info along to your vet.
