My dog eats dirt and licks her mouth. Is it safe? What about wildlife?

There could be something lacking in their diet. Since I am not sure what you are feeding it is difficult for me to say. The other possibility is it is a habit (OCD disorder). It is not a good idea for them to do this as they can get parasites, viruses and other issues from eating dirt. If you would like to post again with information on their diet we may be able to help you better.

Some dogs will do this when they are nauseous so I would monitor Willie closely for any vomiting, drooling or decrease in appetite. I've also seen dogs that tend to lick objects when they have oral pain, so if you think he could be painful you may want to have your vet examine his mouth. It's also possible that this is simply an unusual behavior he has developed and if he otherwise seems perfectly normal I think it's probably also okay to ignore it.

A small amount of dirt and leaves probably won't hurt him much although he can pick up parasites, so I would recommend deworming him on a regular basis. It may also cause him to vomit or have diarrhea. I would worry if he eats rocks or sticks as these can cause a blockage in his stomach or intestines that will require surgery. You can monitor him closely when outside and try to deter him from eating these things by giving him an appropriate chew toy.

I am sure that was a very lovely surprise! Of course there are no guarantees what s/he chewed on but many dogs do this without us even knowing and without any long-term concerns. I think you are right to keep your dog from licking your child for a while, just in case, as well as monitoring your dog for diarrhea. Be aware that peroxide can cause vomiting in dogs. If you would like something topical to spray on, you could try something like this: Finally, it would be a good idea to discuss checking for internal parasites with your vet as these can easily be transmitted to children. They can typically screen for them with a simple stool test. I hope this is helpful!

Hello, sorry to hear about Harley. If there are pesticides not he grass, this could indeed be of concern as some may contain toxic substances. The behavior itself is not normal and could indicate several things. First, if she is only licking the moisture or water, then you may not be providing her with the amount of water she needs. Make sure her water bowl is filled and that she gets water as often as she needs it. This may improve her ability to go to the bathroom and reduce her thirst and licking when outdoors. Other less likely causes for this include that Harlie has a dietary deficiency. These are far less common in pets that are eating commercial brand dog foods as these diets have to meet minimum essential ingredient requirements. Finally, the most common cause for this is an acquired aberrant behavior. This could be elicited from the lack of environmental enrichments (toys, play time, walks, etc.). It may just be that the water from the grass tastes good to her. If she continues to lick this despite having a good enrichment at home, then she may benefit from wearing a grazing or basket muzzle and discourage this behavior. Hope his helps and best of luck.

This is not normal for a puppy. He may be doing it out of boredom, curiosity or in an attempt to correct a nutritional imbalance. Restrict access to areas where there is dirt if possible. Monitor him for inappropriate licking and correct the behavior immediately. Provide a toy or task as a distraction. If he complies, praise and reward him. If possible, transition him slowly to a better quality puppy food. If the behavior persists, he will need to be examined by your veterinarian.

Certain toads (Marine Toad or Colorado River Toad) can be toxic if bitten of ingested. You should rinse Ash's mouth out with cool water for at least 15 minutes. Monitor for excessive drooling, redness or swelling in and around her mouth, increased heart rate or ataxia (wobbly gait). Frogs are less toxic than toads and may cause nothing more serious than some drooling and minor stomach upset.