Skip to content

Loves eating mud

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • Anybody's B eat mud? I take Buddy to the dog park and I can't deter him from going to this spot that has damp dirt and he eats away. Even on walks if there's any he wants to just stop and eat any damp/wet dirt. When I went on line to research you get all kinds of opinions that it's behavior to lack of nutrients. I feed him very expensive food, a probiotic and salmon oil. Maybe I'll try a supplement and see what happens. He's been eating the grass on walks too. He's energetic, no diarrhea or throwing up.

  • My dogs will eat only dirt in specific places. Like the park that also serves as the elementary school field. You would think the dirt there was steeped in bacon grease. Of course, with all those kids dropping all the lunch bits on it, well, I guess it is kind of steeped in food. They don't usually do it anywhere else but every so often there will be a spot where they catch a scent and start digging and then biting the dirt in search of something they think is edible.

  • When we walk our Bs along our single track road, there is always muddy verges etc. The Bs always take the opportunity to grab a mouthful while walking by. :confused:

  • See Dan, you could ditch the expensive food and feed him mud,lol.
    Our Benji used to dig out bits from around the grid in the garden and eat it. He also used to freak me out by eating this horrible rotting cow muck that was left in a heap on this particular walk.
    All our Dogs and Cats have eaten grass, one theory i have heard is that they do it to purge their systems. However they are not often sick after eating so i think they just do it because they like it.

  • LOL, I was trying to get him to stop and and lady at the park says "you're trying to get a Basenji to obey the word "no"! I was joking with her saying that I could save money on food by just feeding him mud. I had a RW that loved fresh green horse poop, which I think a lot of dogs like. Of course he'd eat a dead, flat dried up bird too. The dirt here is clay so maybe that's a delicacy to a Basenji.

  • All 3 of mine are "cow" basenjis - they love to eat grass, and not just to get themselves sick. Liyah loves to eat mud. I've never worried about it…Ruby and Brando always are right on the scene as soon as she looks to be really enjoying it, but they both look at her as if to say, "what's so great about that?". They don't seem to enjoy the delicacy. :)

  • Otis will eat the weirdest things too, I don't think it has to do with lack of nutrients by all means, just that the dirt is yummy..If he was showing symtoms of stomach trouble, or eating anything in site yet loosing weight there might be something going on, but I think it has something to do with the fact that they are in control..they can eat it if they want to..
    Otis favorite is chicken poo..yuk..and grass..

  • LOL, looks like our B's all have "mud" on their menus.

  • At my house, sun warmed potted plant dirt.

  • @snorky998:

    At my house, sun warmed potted plant dirt.

    Potted plant dirt? With fertilizer in it?

  • HELL NO!!!:eek:

    I don't allow any chemicals used where the dogs may be–inside or outside.

    This can be a spring/summer/fall nightmare some years as I also have as a passion multiple gardens specifically for birds and butterflies. The DH starts growing in the basement in February, transplants in the spring, and I weed and water all 9 flower beds all summer long.

    We use water and nature to help us (lady bugs, mantis, nematodes, etc., that we order and release)to control the local pests.

  • @snorky998:

    HELL NO!!!:eek:

    I don't allow any chemicals used where the dogs may be–inside or outside.

    This can be a spring/summer/fall nightmare some years as I also have as a passion multiple gardens specifically for birds and butterflies. The DH starts growing in the basement in February, transplants in the spring, and I weed and water all 9 flower beds all summer long.

    We use water and nature to help us (lady bugs, mantis, nematodes, etc., that we order and release)to control the local pests.

    Reason I was asking that is because I don't pot any plants in plain dirt. You don't amend the soil?

  • Mine all (especially Topper) eat mud and dirt at the dog park, but nowhere else. Funny how his poop will look just like the mud the next day.

  • @MacPack:

    Mine all (especially Topper) eat mud and dirt at the dog park, but nowhere else. Funny how his poop will look just like the mud the next day.

    That's funny Ann because I just had Buddy out for a walk and yesterday's mud meal came out and it looked just like the mud he gobbled at the dog park. There were all these dogs to play with and he kept going to that mud hole gulping it down like it was chocolate fudge.

  • Yes, mud and soil conditioner that has mushroom compost in it. I find big chunks of both in the house from time to time.

  • LOL, I have had Basenjis in the 70s, 80's and early 90's with no internet and the things I learn on this forum.

  • Our B Kairoe, has a flavour for ants!! One day at the dog park, I noticed him hunched over a dirt patch eating dirt, so I walked over to inspect the mud and noticed that he was chasing and eating the ants. I read somewhere that many animals including B's, will eat ants if they're in need of water or are hungry. Either way, I had the water and he was a couple hours away from feeding but I think the ants tasted better!

    Some of the other owners of different breeds at the park have the same scenario but we noticed that the dogs were eating the sweet tasting roots…

  • @-Clar|Emm|Kai-:

    Our B Kairoe, has a flavour for ants!! One day at the dog park, I noticed him hunched over a dirt patch eating dirt, so I walked over to inspect the mud and noticed that he was chasing and eating the ants. I read somewhere that many animals including B's, will eat ants if they're in need of water or are hungry. Either way, I had the water and he was a couple hours away from feeding but I think the ants tasted better!

    Some of the other owners of different breeds at the park have the same scenario but we noticed that the dogs were eating the sweet tasting roots…

    LOL, eating ants is new one I have not heard about.

  • @nobarkus:

    Reason I was asking that is because I don't pot any plants in plain dirt. You don't amend the soil?

    Only with our own home made compost, and for the house plants that's only every 4-5 years or so.

  • Aren't you concerned about your dogs eating dirt at a dog park?
    I think dog parks and highway rest stops are the dirtiest places to allow dogs to play - my vet agrees with me and discourages her clients from visiting either. I don't want my dogs in an area where other dogs are peeing and poo'ing - dogs can contact whipworms and Lord knows what else.

Suggested Topics

  • Not Interested In Eating His Food!

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    31
    1 Votes
    31 Posts
    2k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    I'll just add this in case the testing doesnt give you answers. Anorexia exits. Although nearly ALL cases of dogs who do not want food has an underlying medical cause. But some dogs simply have anorexia. There are drugs that work very good for it..At one point they stopped making one type so we had so we had to switch. They increased Sayblees aggression. So from then on i handfed her. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/anorexia-in-dogs
  • Eating Disorder or Normal?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    12
    1 Votes
    12 Posts
    2k Views
    D
    @annie said in Eating Disorder or Normal?: That is call him Catfish Ha! Damn you auto-correct.
  • Some good info on poop eating

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    1k Views
    No one has replied
  • Eating faeces

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    4k Views
    JISGARDJ
    Hi Shelley – Poppy did the same when she was a puppy with her own and the other dogs offerings but she has grown out of it now with the exception of rabbit droppings and as Scott says cat droppings which most dogs seem to find irresistible!. We have been feeding Royal Canin with no problems, so it may not be down to that. It may be a family trait! Steve.
  • How do I get my basenji to eat

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    8
    0 Votes
    8 Posts
    3k Views
    tanzaT
    @kipper: Thank you to everyone for the great advice! Kipper is our second Basenji and the thought of loosing him at such a young age is horrific to us. Kip is currently taking metronidazole twice a day. I know the med does make him tired, but it's supposed to help get rid of his virus that in turn will bring back his appetite. I have tried all his favorites like cheese, sour cream and even homemade waffles. His diet is meat twice a day and free feeding of high quality kibble. The vet is very knowledgeable about Falconi and says all his levels are were they should be and the bicarb is all he needs. We will take Kip in again in 3 months for another blood test. Thanks again! Anna I don't want to doubt your Vet, But honestly, I find that hard to believe that he only needs Bicarb and not any of the Vitamins that are recommended in the protocol. If it were my dog, I would contact Dr. Gonto who developed the Protocol and run it by him and he is happy to talk to owners with Fanconi (it is Fanconi, not Falconi) about treatment along with conversations with your Vet. Also Thyroid testing is important for a dog with Fanconi. This would be the fill panel not just the one T4 level that are shown on regular blood work. Dr Gonto's contact info can be found at the bottom of the Fanconi Protocol information http://www.basenji.org/ClubDocs/fanconiprotocol2003.pdf Also you might want to consider joining the Fanconi Yahoo group for people with Fanconi affected dogs. They would also be able to give you good ideas since they are all dealing with dogs with Fanconi. It is a closed group for only people with affected dogs. If he was eating before the metronidazole then hopefully when he is done with that he will begin eating again.
  • Keoki not eating, stool is runny

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    3k Views
    PhocoenaGirlP
    Viruses and bacteria can persist on the ground, in the air, on various surfaces for differing amounts of time depending on the nature of the beast (or bug as it were) so there may not have to be dog-to-dog or even dog-to-kid contact. Hand washing and shoe removal are always good ideas but there may not be much you can do about it. On the positive side, people and dogs too usually don't get reinfected with the same bug once they get over it the first time as their immune systems are now prepared for a second bout. Unless Jass or Keoki are immune-suppressed in any way, they ought to be fine here shortly.