Is plant soil poisonous to dogs? Here’s What to Do Next

What if the Potted Soil Contains Bone or Blood Meal?

Dogs are attracted to the scent of bone meal which seems as a legit source of food and when ingested may cause gastrointestinal problems which includes diarrhea and vomiting.

The dog’s response to the bone meal has to do with the additives in the meal and also the potted soil mixture that the bone meal was in.

Bone meal is used to treat soil which is low in nutrients such as phosphorus and calcium. Plants that display calcium and phosphorus deficiencies have trouble with growth and have stunted leaf and root development.

Phosphorus and Calcium is necessary for plants to

  • Stimulate root Growth
  • Stimulate leaf Growth
  • Stimulate plant Growth and maturity
  • Produce fruit
  • Boost health of flowering plants
  • Bone Meal is mainly made from the bones of cattles crushed into a fine pulp and in some cases it may also contain some small bone finds as well. When ingested in large amounts the dry mixture can lead to choking. This may occur if the dog eats the bone meal straight out of the bag or if it wasnt properly mixed in with the potting soil.

    One of the top ten emergency calls the ASPCA has is with pets consuming fertilizers and other garden products.

    Other types of animal related fertilizer products may include fish meal and blood meal and as their name suggest are made with the bones of fishes and also from blood derived from farming animals which is dried and processed into a power form.

    The fish meal however, may contain shards of fish bone and these can easily get logged into the dogs throat causing irritation and vomiting.

    Whatever type of animal derived fertilizer, it will have an enticing aroma that will attract dogs. The result is that the dogs may ingest the fertilizer and then display signs of a negative reaction since it was not formulated for animals.

    Why is My Dog Eating Potting Soil?

    One of the most common questions about dogs eating potting soil is why they do it. There are many reasons your dog might eat potting soil, but some causes are more common than others.

    Dogs are naturally curious creatures. They also have extremely powerful noses, and can taste things that we can’t. This leads them to inspect interesting items, including potting soil, with their mouth and nose. While exploring, they may ingest small quantities of the soil to understand it better.

    Your dog may be drawn to the potting soil because of its taste or smell. If it has ingredients like bone meal, it’s no surprise your dog enjoys it. If it contains manure, this will also interest your dog. After all, poop smelling is a favorite pasttime for pooches.

    If your dog has a poor diet or a vitamin deficiency, they may eat potting soil in an attempt to get the needed nutrients. Your dog’s body will cause them to crave the nutrients they need, and some of these nutrients can be found in potting soil.

    Stomach problems are another culprit. You’ve probably seen your dog snacking on grass at one time or another. You may have heard they eat grass to calm their stomach. They will also consume dirt to soothe tummy troubles. Because potting soil resembles dirt closely, they may eat it to treat stomach issues. Unfortunately, it’s likely to make things worse instead of better.

    Pica is a condition that causes your dog to eat non-food items. It can have a behavioral cause. It can also be caused by an underlying medical issue. A dog with pica will frequently eat non-food items.

    If your dog eats potting soil or other nonfood items occasionally, boredom may be the culprit. A bored dog will find a way to entertain themselves. Similar to a small child left alone for too long, they tend to do things they shouldn’t when they are bored.

    My Old Dog is Eating Dirt

    Sadly, as dogs grow older, they start to experience problems with both their body and mind. If your older dog has taken to eating dirt and soil seemingly out of the blue, there are two primary potential explanations:

  • Your dog’s aging body is struggling to create particular minerals, and your dog is trying to find them elsewhere.
  • Your dog has canine senility and is growing confusion about what is food and what is not.
  • With older dogs, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and seek professional advice if you have any concerns about their behavior. If a senior dog makes himself or herself sick by eating dirt or soil, they may not be able to bounce back as quickly as a younger, healthier canine.

    If you don’t think that your dog has Pica and is just engaging in standard, albeit strange, canine behavior then you should use your discretion. A little natural curiosity surrounding dirt is probably no big deal, but if it’s becoming a compulsion, then you should get your dog checked out. Pay attention! They may be trying to tell you something, and eating dirt or soil could make them sick pretty quickly.

    The experts at PetMD recommend making an appointment with your vet if you feed your dog a homemade diet, as they may have a nutritional deficiency that they are attempting to rectify. Your vet will be able to run a number of tests that pinpoint this potential insufficiency and advise you accordingly.

    Alternatively, as we have previously discussed, your dog may be struggling with the psychological condition of Pica. If this is the case, it’s still worth having your dog looked at. It’s rare, but this issue can sometimes point to problems with your dog’s internal organs.

    PLANTS TOXIC TO DOGS! (Deadly Plants Poisonous To Dogs)

    Dog ownership isn’t always plain sailing. Dogs give us so much pleasure, but there are habits and behaviors that will drive you mad. I put a dog eating soil from pots and plants or eating up dirt in your yard firmly in that category.

    Nowhere is this trait of eating dirt more prevalent than in dogs who are enamored with food. Not only is this trait common, but it is nearly always present in popular breeds of dogs, such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds.

    But why do dogs eat dirt from plants or when they are outdoors in gardens and yards? I’ve researched this strange phenomenon for you, the side effects of eating dirt, and will also explain what it means your dog is lacking.

    Why do dogs eat dirt? Dogs will eat dirt from houseplants and soil from pots or outdoors for reasons as diverse as boredom and stress, smelling something nice in the dirt, a lack of nutrition, or a health condition such as pica.

    That’s the short answer, but there’s a lot more to it, including whether eating dirt will hurt your dog, and how you can possibly ascertain what the reason for eating soil is.