Skip to content
Browse
Browse available puppies

Petland Topeka, Kansas

Petland Logo
Login/Register

Please create a free account, or login by clicking here.

5 Reasons Dogs Eat Dirt

Dogs do the darnedestthings sometimes, don’t they?

Besides being comical they have the tendency to do weird things, like eating stuff that they shouldn’t! In this post, we’re exploring their desire to eat dirt. What does it mean? Should you be alarmed? Here are five reasons why dogs eat dirt.

It Tastes Good

One obvious reason dogs eat dirt is because it tastes good. For instance, if there was a cookout in the backyard and some food dropped in the surrounding area, one of your purebred dogs might just take a few bites. This is a less serious reason so don’t be too alarmed.

Bad Diet

Your dog may be eating dirt because he’s actually searching for minerals and vitamins that they may be missing in their daily diet. Make sure that your purebred dogs are fed healthy and nutritional diets.

Behavior Issues

Just like humans, dogs get bored and they do some weird things to entertain themselves. As odd as it may seem to pick up that as a habit, it could be because of a behavioral issue with your pup. Believe it or not, dogs can suffer from OCD and start eating dirt as part of that disorder. You may want to consult with a vet or animal behaviorist for assistance.

Chronic Health Concerns

As we mentioned in #2, when purebred dogs search for vitamins and minerals in such a way, this could be a sign of something more serious. Inflammatory bowel disease could be one reason.

Soothing an Upset Stomach

There are some types of dirt that contain clay that can actually soothe digestive issues your dogs may be having. Some say that dogs instinctively consume it in order to heal themselves, so to speak.

When dogs eat dirt, it may not always be the worst thing however it should be monitored for the very reasons we’ve outline. If you’ve started to notice a more habitual problem, we recommend that you contact your vet.
Available Now

If you loved this, you'll love our puppies

Meet the happy, healthy pups ready to join your family today — browse the whole litter below.

Browse all puppies
Still looking?

We can find you the perfect pet.

Tell our pet counselors what you're looking for: breed, gender, color, anything. No extra cost, no obligation.

Start a Special Order

Related Articles

View All Articles

Posted on Google Google
Steve Kellepouris profile picture
Steve Kellepouris
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Posted on Google Google
whitney smith profile picture
whitney smith
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Petland employees are very helpful, they have a good selection of puppies. Thr puppies are energetic I wish I was able to take another one home but with me and my wife's schedule we dont want to neglect the puppy. We love coming and giving and receiving love from them!
Posted on Google Google
Lily Hudson profile picture
Lily Hudson
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Devina was great! She explained everything so well!! Great place and puppies!
Posted on Google Google
Rebecca Greene profile picture
Rebecca Greene
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I came in for a simple bag of food but left with so much more than that! Jodie was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and patient with me while she educated me on dog food and the different kind of stimulation my dog needs!! She answered all of my questions and never once made me feel pressured into buying more than I wanted to. I won't shop anywhere else for my fur family.
Posted on Google Google
Miranda M profile picture
Miranda M
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Cara was awesome!
Posted on Google Google
Brandon Griffin profile picture
Brandon Griffin
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Cara was wonderful to work with. She was very friendly and knowledgeable. Well definitely recommend her to friends and family looking for pets.
Posted on Google Google
Mikalia Munoz profile picture
Mikalia Munoz
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Cara is amazing!!! Shes so friendly, I wouldn't come back to petland if it wasn't for her!!!!
Help Need Help?