Skip to content

Loves eating mud

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • 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.

  • @nobarkus:

    …I had a RW that loved fresh green horse poop, which I think a lot of dogs like. ...

    When she was a pup, we would call them "meatballs"…thankfully she has "outgrown" her taste for them!;)

  • @nala121498:

    When she was a pup, we would call them "meatballs"…thankfully she has "outgrown" her taste for them!;)

    Lucky you! - Tilly has just developed her taste for them - we stayed for a week in the New Forest last month, taking in a few dog shows - there are horses roaming everywhere, and since all we did was walk all week, Tilly must have eaten her own bodyweight in the stuff…. I wouldnt mind but she always wants to kiss you after lol...

  • @Elscodobermann:

    …but she always wants to kiss you after lol...

    Yes! That was the worst!! :eek: :D Hopefully she'll "outgrow":) it for you too!!

  • @nobarkus:

    … and he kept going to that mud hole gulping it down like it was chocolate fudge.

    :D:D:D

    You guys are hilarious!! I literally laughed out loud when I read that.
    Miles, my rescue, is the only one who eats mud. And mud specifically- not just dry dirt. And here I thought he was unique (ok, more like weird)! Miles, looks like I found you a support group!!

  • @BDawg:

    :D:D:D

    You guys are hilarious!! I literally laughed out loud when I read that.
    Miles, my rescue, is the only one who eats mud. And mud specifically- not just dry dirt. And here I thought he was unique (ok, more like weird)! Miles, looks like I found you a support group!!

    It was exhausting trying to keep him away from it and just play. People started complaining to the park and they finally stopped over watering so now its decently dry and he's been just playing with the other dogs. It got so bad that there was this 5' diameter wide mud lake and this guy would bring his 5 black Labs and they would take turns laying in it. It was like a spa were people take those mud baths. The funny one is where somebody's white dog would go in it and the person yell "NO,NO,NO, GET OUTTA THERE"!!

  • Love to see the white dog all muddy and more so the face of the owner.

    Rita Jean

  • The only time Gossy ate mud/dirt was at a friend's garden - but they had recently buried carp as fertilizer for the garden so I don't think that really counts.

    On a related note, someone mentioned whipworms etc that could be picked up from other dogs. I've often wondered if they can pick up "stuff" when they just sniff other dog's droppings? We go past a vet hospital on our daily walks and Gossy loves to sniff around the lawn. I watch and make sure she doesn't eat anything but I've often wondered about just sniffing.

  • Wizard,
    I have many times wondered the same thing, I hope somebody has knowledge about it, so I don't have to hover over Otis when he is sniffing around..

Suggested Topics

  • Senior B who is not eating at all

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    12
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    2k Views
    S
    Unfortunately for us Maia has never done well with chicken, she loves it and eats it but it gives her diarrhea and seems to mess up her over all health. We did blood work again and her liver enzymes decreased by 30% which is great! Her actual health though is not so good so that is bad. We can get her to eat which is good, but the food control is not great salmon, ham(boiled a few times to remove the salt), breaded cauliflower, Mac and cheese. Whatever we can get her to eat. It’s crazy! We have her booked with a chiropractor to check her nerve function and we are ready to get prednisone going if it is ibd. We are working closely with our vet daily, she currently is on metronidazole and amoxicillin and gabapentin. Thursday I thought we were going to lose her and she has rallied. I hate optimism as I don’t do well with a broken heart but I am hoping for the best right now. She is on 2 billion probiotic per day as well. Every bite of food I can get into her I think, ok 1 more day at least. If I have to spend all day hand feeding her, I will. She is finally sleeping and twitching a little less! She is going up and down stairs ok, not great but ok and she is no longer falling over. We are far from out of the woods but I have seen some small improvements. Thank you all for your words, encouragement, advice and stories of what you have gone through. It is tremendous to me how kind you are. Thank you for taking some time out of your day and trying to help! We so appreciate it. Mai Mai means the entire world to us and every word, suggestion, or story we take into account and thank you so much for being such a loving wonderful community. With lock down and a sick pup we feel quite overwhelmed, so thank you!
  • No longer eating

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    43
    0 Votes
    43 Posts
    5k Views
    T
    @JENGOSMonkey, @elbrant, @tanza, @Kembe, @eeeefarm, @helle-devi Thank you all for the kind words, it has not been easy but this does help. We actually got his ashes back today and the place did a fantastic job, came back with ceramic paw print and all. It will last bring final closure, he is home. @helle-devi results confirmed what was suspected, IBD, for which we had already started his medications. I think it was just his time.
  • Eating habits have changed

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    3k Views
    tanzaT
    @maureen252 - You can add some wet, I do.... and also add some water with the kibble and wet food... I put in about a small tablespoon of wet. And some Basenjis do drink a fair amount... some of mine did/do some didn't
  • Acorn eating. Poisonous?

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    8k Views
    P
    My Basenjis do eat acorns with no effect at all. I do find that mine seem to know what they can and can't eat. I suppose each generation has learned from the last. Puppies of course have to be watched (like human babies) because they'll chew anything. Incidentally when I was a child (a very,very long time ago) i too used to eat acorns, - again with no ill effects!
  • Eating soil

    Basenji Health Issues & Questions
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    MacPackM
    Topper loves to eat dirt and he gets a good diet and a vitamin/mineral supplement from the vet. I think he likes the taste!
  • 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.