I walk my dog on the beach and almost everyday he takes a couple bites of damp sand. The first time he did it I thought maybe someone had dumped food out on the sand, but this behavior has continued for a few weeks now. It does not seem to have any adverse effects on him, but it doesn't seem healthy either.
Any ideas?
2006-11-03 02:28:39 · 12 answers · asked by coppersmith 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
This may be due to calcium deficiency. You can try some calcium tablets. My dog also developed this habit a few weeks back. After treating him with calcium 200mg for a week, as suggested by my friend, he is no longer interested in sand or earth.
2006-11-03 02:40:08 · answer #1 · answered by daydreamer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Within small amounts, the sand itself won't be much of a problem, provided your dog isn't prone to Gastrointestinal problems to begin with - but that's not to say that there aren't things IN the sand that won't be a problem. From the things I've found in beach sand, I would go to pretty great lengths to keep my dogs from eating it!
As for why...the pups nose may smell something that you can't nessasarily smell or your eyes can't see. Some dogs think that garbage, chocolate, carrion, and other animals poop are alright to eat but we know better. It would probably be better to make sure that he doesn't keep this up. Carry some treats with you so that he's more interested in eating those than the sand. Or get him interested in playing a game of fetch or carry. You can train him to hold onto a toy while he's walking. ^^
Good luck hope this helps,
Manda
2006-11-03 02:36:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some dogs eat feces, a cat may have used the sand as a litter box. If a dog is not corrected on eating that it will continue to do it.
2006-11-03 02:32:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do Labradors eat rocks? I don't think anybody really knows why our kids do these crazy things. Then again we eat at McDonald's so you got to ask yourself the same question..... :-)
I do think it could have something to do with a vitamin deficiency. That's what I've heard anyway. Perhaps if you start feeding a few blended veggies and add a supplement he may stop.
2006-11-03 02:33:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
maye he just likes the smell of the ocean and the dampness of the sand. when he is about to take another bite of sand just command him a strong no and keep doing it until he stops.
2006-11-03 03:40:41 · answer #5 · answered by ana l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your dog is not neutered, there may have been a female in heat that eliminated there (frequents the same areas you do on your walks).
If he drools or his teeth clatter a little after tasting an area.... that usually means there is a female in heat VERY NEAR BY.
2006-11-03 04:08:31 · answer #6 · answered by ju_li_et_10_4 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My female Jack Russell (Farrah Marie) eats sand, , then shortly after words she pucks up a lot, she started it about 3 months, ago, she no longer eats grass to help her throw up
2014-04-04 02:33:04 · answer #7 · answered by sheila 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your dog has a vitamin deficiency
i'm 100% confident
2006-11-03 02:32:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's just a bad habit of his or else he is trying to get to something that he thinks is under the sand
2006-11-03 02:30:23 · answer #9 · answered by Mary Smith 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
my dog would do the same thing . the vet said itsd because he likes the salt in the sand. wierd huh?
2006-11-03 02:32:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋