I have a 2 year old ESS who has recently started eating mud.

He is fed on Pro Plan sensitive as he has a sensitive stomach, vet recommended this.

He doesnt get very many treats, as there is not many that are fine with his tummy.
I have the vets this monday for his booster injection ad I am going to mention this to him, I just wondered if anyone else has came across this or has any idea why he would be doing this.
I have had a look on the net, some sites indicate that it could be something missing in his diet!!!!
Any advice most welcomed.
Thank you
Lesley & Olli

Has he ever done this before, is he a poo eater?  Sorry, I should have issued a "yuk" warning :)

The reason I'm asking is that a lot of the farmers round here have been muck spreading for the last few months and the dogs are finding it all very interesting.  Or did his mud eating habits coincide with a new food?

I'd suggest distracting him - try using his normal food as treats or making some of your own if you can.  Alternatively use a toy or play time to attract his attention.

Edited to say: a certain amount of mud will do no harm but it is worth asking the vet too.  I'd be more concerned with it becoming a habit that's hard to break so do distract or keep him on a lead when necessary

Are you sure it's the mud, and not the roots of something that he is eating? Mine are digging up grass roots just now. Normally they would just eat grass at this time of year, but the grass is very slow in growing. My lawn in the back garden is non existant this year ;-)

> My lawn in the back garden is non existant this year <IMG alt=eek src="/images/eek.gif"> <IMG class=sml alt=;-) src="/images/default/sml_wnk.png">

yep mine too....weird hey?

sorry no advise i like to read and catch tips.

Mine eat mud...snow..rabbit poo...grass...cat litter (if they get the chance!). My vet tells me it's because they can and no other underlying reason :) Dogs are scavengers by nature. I wouldn't worry

xxx

> Mine eat mud...snow..rabbit poo...grass...cat litter (if they get the chance!).

Our two will start eating and digging little holes in the lawn if they can't find grass. I've been told it a deficiency in their food but don't know what. They especialy like goose grass can smell it from yards away.

Check the colour of his gums. 
My JRT had a sensitive stomach and used to go through periods of eating mud when he was anemic (sp).
After seeing a specialist he was diagnosed with IBD.
Not saying your dog has IBD but eating mud and anemia(sp) can go hand in hand.

My Flatties have all done this but the labs don't bother. It is the roots of the grass they are after but will eat the mud that comes up as well. it doesn't seem to do them any harm, in fact it keeps them more 'solid' in the toileting department than when they are restricted from grazing.
You will probably notice this happens only in certain areas. I don't let them get too much but our garden is one of their prefered grazing spots so they cannot be left out unattended or I would have no grass left.