Dog Eating Tree Roots

My Golden Retriever Lilly 5mo. old is eating roots and bark. She has been doing this for about 2 months. I thought she should have learned by now that she should not do this, I watch her constantly when we are outside and correct her when she does. I feed her Canidae dry kibble. Any suggestions?

My Golden Retriever Lilly 5mo. old is eating roots and bark. She has been doing this for about 2 months. I thought she should have learned by now that she should not do this, I watch her constantly when we are outside and correct her when she does. I feed her Canidae dry kibble. Any suggestions?

Why is my dog eating roots?

Why does my dog eat dirt and grass roots? Some dogs eat grass and roots because they taste good. Others eat it to “self medicate” when feeling GI upset.

Why does my dog keep pulling up grass?

As natural scavengers, canines are programmed to search for nutrition anywhere they can find it. It’s possible that your dog finds the flavor or texture of grass yummy. Or it could be filling a nutritional need that his normal food isn’t, especially fiber.

FAQ

Why does my dog eat tree roots?

Eating the soil and grass is a little more concerning. If they are actually ingesting it, they could have a mineral deficiency and instinctively they are trying to correct it. I recommend getting them to your vet for an exam and bloodwork. If that comes out normal, then behavior is a more likely culprit.

Why does my dog dig up and eat roots?

Dogs are descended from wolves and as such, they’re natural scavengers – meaning that they might be grazing in your back garden as an opportunity to forage. Additionally, some veterinarians have suggested that dogs might eat grass to make up for nutritional deficiencies in their diet.

Why is my dog rooting in the dirt?

If you catch your dog digging in an unacceptable area, interrupt the behavior with a loud noise and firmly say, “No dig.” Then immediately take them to the digging zone. Make the unacceptable digging spots unattractive (at least temporarily) by placing rocks or chicken wire over them.