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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Pica/Eating Dirt
| When Darcy's PCV level gets below 20%, I notice that she always wants to eat dirt. I'm wondering if this is a normal reaction in anemic dogs. I believe she must know that her body's lacking something and she instinctively wants to eat dirt. I try to prevent her from doing this, but don't always catch her until it's too late. Has anyone else had the same experience with their dogs? Karen |
| Karen NC |
| yes, when Choe's level dropped he also was frantically trying to lick the ground/eat dirt. I don't know what triggers this response in desiring to eat dirt, but I think it is relatively common for anemic dogs. |
| jan pa |
| Karen, Holly had the same problem before she was diagnosed March 2007, about 2 months prior all she did was lick dirt, lick carpets inside, and even licked holes in our blankets on the bed from all night. When she ended up in the hospital they did an xray and found a clump of something in her stomach, so when they did the bone marrow aspiration and had her asleep they went in through her throat and pulled out this clump (combination of grass like plants, dirt, carpet fibers and blanket fibers) they said it would have never dissolved and passed through her. She still even licks alot now, but not dirt outside, mainly when laying on the leather couch, she licks the couch, even sometimes in bed on the sheets, etc and her numbers are up to 53.4, so go figure. Linda |
| Linda Sapphire |
| Wylie did this, but I thought it was because of her hunger and pred, her lowest was 32, once we started reducng the pred it stopped Laurie |
| Laurie CA |
| This is called Geophagy. It does occur around the world in some areas in human populations who are nutrient deficient in some minerals. Some animals are known to eat dirt in order to eliminate intestinal worms. But possibly the cause is related to an iron deficiency state from the anemia. Testing the ferrite blood levels might be appropriate in some dogs that have anemia that are suddenly eating dirt. This might be treated with iron shots. The problem with dogs is that they begin to start eating other things randomly as they develop this aberrant behavior. It could become very dangerous. We had one member on this list whose dog ate several socks. The family rushed this dog into surgery but the surgery was too much for this very sick dog. They discovered an stomach ulcer during the surgery. I am very sad to say that the dog did not survive. Thus the reasoning to always use stomach protection when giving prednisone. On a related note, on one of the lists I am on we had a discussion about why dogs eat grass. What we discovered was that it is always the same type of grass, usually known as dog grass (or couch grass or quackweed), tall thick blades. This type of grass contains a mineral content that includes silica. Dogs usually eat this grass to throw up and it is thought that the silica is irritating to the intestinal tract and causes nausea and vomiting. Thus a possible way to eliminate worms and other parasites. One fellow said he even keeps "clean dirt" for his dogs to eat when they want it because dirt contains silica as well! Grass also contains other nutrients that dogs can crave. Patrice |
| Patrice NYS |
| Since I've had her (5+ years) Sierra has always been a dirt-eater. Sometimes she tries harder than at other times. Even though for some years now she has not technically been anemic, the behavior continues. |
| Ronda So Cal |
This thread was discussed between 04/10/2008 and 05/10/2008
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