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| By federico stevanin, published on 08 November 2008 Stock photo - image ID: 1001821 |
Boredom, Habit or OCD– It has been noted that bored dogs can get into the destructive habit of digging holes and then consuming the unearthed soil or clay as a by-product of the digging behavior. In some dogs, this behavior takes on an obsessive quality, with dogs digging 2-3 new holes per day, leaving yards pock-marked with ankle-bending divots. This behavior is different from that of the dog that returns to the same beloved spot in the yard for his daily dose of dirt, frequently an area of moist clay. Habitual digging is a behavioral issue that should be addressed with training, increased interaction and exercise.
Hunger– Some trainers have suggested that dogs fed a single meal a day are relieving hunger pains by adding a clay snack to their diet. If your dog is on a single meal regimen and eating soil, you may try stepping him up to two meals a day to see if that curbs his clay appetite. If that does not work, read on.
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| By Tina Phillips, published on 10 August 2012 Stock photo - image ID: 10095988 |
Relief for Digestive Upset– For centuries man has used clay minerals to relieve vomiting, diarrhea and stomach upset. In fact, Kaopectate, a remedy for relief of gas, bloat and diarrhea, was originally formulated with Kaolin, a clay mineral. Ironically, clay can also contain parasites, which may create a vicious circle. The dog eats clay to alleviate the discomfort created by the parasites, while ultimately re-infecting himself with greater numbers of parasites. It’s a good idea to get a stool sample to the vet if your dogs is eating a lot of clay to rule out parasitic infestations.
Detoxification– Clay has long been considered a detoxifier, the Mesopotamians and ancient Egyptians used mud as a treatment for wounds and to treat various digestive ailments. Today, spas worldwide offer mud baths as a path to detoxification. As kaolin and other clay minerals have the ability to bind toxins and remove them from the system, this motive for clay eating has now moved to the forefront of scientific research.
Returning to the topic of pregnant clay eaters, women across Sub-Saharan regions and the Southern United States have consumed clay to alleviate morning sickness. It has been proposed that morning sickness is actually the body's attempt to remove toxins from the system. Even pregnant fruit bats increase their daily diet of clay. It is surmised that as they increase their diet of fruit as well as fruit seeds with toxic properties, they are using the clay to remove the additional toxins from their bodies. The binding properties of clay may not only be removing toxins from the system; clay possesses the additional ability to bind food born bacteria and viruses that would be harmful to the mother and developing fetus.
Ranchers too have long used clay when preparing livestock feed to inhibit toxin transmission. And now a few researchers are now proposing exploiting clay’s pathogen-binding talents to purify water.
Dogs eating packaged foods with traces of antibiotics or chamicals remaining in them or grass, weeds and run-off from treated lawns, may be attempting to remove toxins from their systems. It is likely that geophagia is a specific defense that has evolved across a spectrum of species to combat toxins and, possibly, ease mineral deficiencies. But, if you’re feeling that old kaolin craving, we suggest you stick with safe commercial products that have been heated or otherwise sterilized.