Dog eating soil

[Eloisedublin123]

Hi guys
My 13/14 year old hound has started eating a little soil in the garden for the past year/ year and a half, on and off (fresh soil). She’s in good health generally and in good form. She was diagnosed with very early renal issues a year ago but on a renal food and managing well. What is she missing in her diet that’s causing her to do this and any suggestions for supplements to help(assuming it’s something dietary that’s causing this?) thanks so much!

Both our beagles do this intermittently - but they are just greedy buggers who will eat anything that's not nailed down! Grass, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes from the garden - they also enjoy a nibble on the compost in the planted pots we have. I never thought of it as them being deficient in anything though? Just something they have always done (our first beagle did it too).

I never thought it could Just be a hound thing! Thank you!

My springer spaniel eats a little earth too. He starts by eating grass and ends up below the roots eating the earth. And plants bought in pots he goes for, presumably because the compost has blood, fish and bonemeal in it. Yum!

I feel a bit better now!

My idiots dogs both do this. Not sure if the newer one has learned it off the other one.

Neither are hounds, just nuts.

My dog has renal failure, she's 12, and she's starting eating soil. I have no idea why but I was interested to see your post @Eloisedublin123.

Is the renal failure bad?

She's been better since she been on Kidney care food. She's still drinking a lot though.

Well I wondered if they have pica? I looked at her gums and they are quite pale. I wondered if the soil eating was an iron deficiency (maybe running away with myself there though!)