Ah, the great outdoors—a playground of exciting scents, sights, and adventures for your four-legged friend. But beneath their paws lies a haven of hidden dangers that few pet owners consider: dirt. This innocent-looking, everyday substrate can harbor a plethora of pet health hazards, including illness and disease. Join our Lytle Veterinary Clinic team as we dig deeper and expose the dirty truth about dirt and pets.

Truth, exposed: Why do pets eat dirt?

While playing, rolling, and digging in the dirt are normal—if undesirable—pet behaviors, intentional consumption of dirt (i.e., pica or the eating of nonfood items) is cause for concern. Pica can signal many underlying conditions ranging from stress and boredom to nutritional deficiency. Persistent dirt-eating can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) problems, including impaction or blockage, and exposure to a host of microorganisms and harmful compounds. If your dog likes to eat dirt, discuss this behavior with our veterinarian.

Ew, bugs: The dirty world of soil-dwelling parasites and pets

Whether they’re in the backyard, the dog park, or on a hiking trail, pets can easily encounter contaminated soil, being exposed to parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and Giardia. These parasites enter the soil through the feces of infected wildlife or other pets, where they can infect your pet via ingestion (e.g., pica, stool eating, or ingesting contaminated debris) or drinking from a puddle.

Dirt-dwelling parasites can cause GI upset as well as more serious problems. Protect your pet by picking up after them, discouraging play where wildlife or unfamiliar pets gather, and staying up-to-date on parasite preventives and fecal testing.

Bacteria and pets

Dirt is teeming with bacteria, some of which can lead to serious illness or disease. Bacterial infections, such as leptospirosis and salmonellosis, can be contracted through contact with contaminated soil or water. These infections can lead to obvious illness signs, including vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea. If left untreated, severe leptospirosis infection can cause kidney or liver failure. Minimize your pet’s risk for bacterial infection by eliminating stagnant water sources from your yard, removing wildlife attractants (e.g., feeding stations), outfitting your dog in booties when outdoors, or using paw wipes to rid their feet of bacteria before coming in the house from outdoors.

Fungal spores and pets

In damp or humid environments, soil can harbor harmful fungal spores that can compromise your pet’s health. Fungal infections, such as ringworm and blastomycosis, can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, and other serious health problems. Avoid letting your pet play, dig, or roll in damp soil, and be vigilant for skin irritation, respiratory distress, fever, depression, or weight loss. While ringworm infection is easily treatable, blastomycosis can be fatal if pets do not respond to antifungal medication. Prompt diagnosis and treatment may help improve your pet’s outcome.

Fertilizer, lawn chemicals, mulch, and pets

Finally, soil is subjected to many pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemical toxins that could harm your pet if ingested or absorbed through the skin. Other lawn items, such as cocoa mulch—a product made from cocoa hulls and containing theobromine, the toxic compound in chocolate—pose a significant risk to pets. Minimize your pet’s toxin ingestion risk by researching lawn products and avoiding areas where you know or suspect that chemical treatments are used.

Keep it clean: Protecting your pet from dirt’s many dangers

Although protecting your pet from something as ubiquitous as dirt may seem impossible, you can prevent them from contracting dirt-borne illnesses. To keep your pet’s paws, coat, and health squeaky clean, follow these tips:

  • Wiping your pet’s paws after being outside
  • Providing adequate mental stimulation and physical activity
  • Building a designated dig pit and teaching your pet to dig in a safe place
  • Regularly bathing and grooming your pet to remove dirt and debris
  • Eliminating chemical lawn treatments and removing hazards
  • Restricting pet access to gardens or neighboring yards where harmful products are used
  • Keeping your pet on a broad-spectrum heartworm preventive containing a dewormer
  • Bringing your pet’s stool sample for testing to every wellness visit

While dirt may seem common, harmless, and, well, boring, it’s home to myriad dangers your four-legged friend can face. By understanding the risks associated with contaminated soil and inappropriate behaviors, such as pica, you can take effective preventive measures and ensure your pet’s health. 

Does your pet have a dirty little secret? Don’t bury your concerns—contact our Lytle Veterinary Clinic team to discuss your pet’s behavior and schedule an appointment.