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Some dogs will eat just about anything! You may be watching TV, and you notice your dog digging in the corner. All of a sudden, you notice he’s eating dust! What? Why on earth would a dog eat dust? That’s a great question!
Has your dog eaten dust? Are you worried the dust will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be concerning when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve put together information about dust and whether it can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is Dust?
Dust is that stuff that lands on your tabletops, on the floor, in corners of the house, and more. Dust is a normal part of living. But what is dust made of?
Dust is made of very fine particles of solid material. In the house, dust is usually comprised of tangled hair, dirt, dust mites, shed skin cells, plant pollen, dust mite poop, and more. That sounds pretty gross! And it can be. Some people are very allergic to dust and dust mites. And no wonder when you consider what’s in the dust!
Dust is the stuff you clean off surfaces and vacuum off the floor every week (or every few days)! But why would a dog eat dust? Can dust make a dog sick?
Dust & Dogs
Thankfully, most house dust is not toxic to dogs. The only time there would be a problem is if insecticides have been used in the house. These could be sprayed from a can or dispersed by an insecticide “bomb.” In that case, the dust could be poisonous. However, a dog would have to eat a ton of dust to be poisoned.
However, if your dog is eating dust on a regular basis, there may be a reason for this behavior. Some dogs have a condition called pica. Pica is a behavioral condition that causes dogs (as well as humans and other animals) to eat non-food items. A dog might eat dirt, dust, rocks, plastic, wood, paper, and more.
Pica usually has a psychological basis; however, it may also be caused by an underlying health condition. So, if your dog regularly eats dust, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with the vet.
The vet can examine your dog to see if he may have a health condition causing him to eat dust. These conditions can include malnutrition, anxiety (including separation anxiety), stress, diabetes, teething, parasitic infection, anemia, neurological conditions, and more.
If your dog eats dust once in a while, he will be OK! However, if your canine companion eats dust on a regular basis, then it’s time to see the vet for a checkup.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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