My dog is eating dirt. What does it mean and what should I do?

Question

Is it normal for a dog to eat dirt? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 24 lbs

Jessica Keay, DVM · Accepted Answer

Some dogs are strange and will eat just about anything, but eating things like dirt (called pica) can be a sign of other illness such as malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, parasites, or malabsorptive intestinal disease. A vet exam to rule out a medical problem is the safest course of action. Bring the name of the dog food you are using so that your vet can ensure it is providing adequate nutrition for your dog. They may also do a fecal exam to check for parasites and possibly bloodwork. They may do a prophylactic deworming or recommend a diet change, or decide this is just a behavioral issue and no medical cause is present.

My dog is eating dirt. What does it mean and what should I do?

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