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Loves eating mud

Basenji Health Issues & Questions
  • @MacPack:

    Mine all (especially Topper) eat mud and dirt at the dog park, but nowhere else. Funny how his poop will look just like the mud the next day.

    That's funny Ann because I just had Buddy out for a walk and yesterday's mud meal came out and it looked just like the mud he gobbled at the dog park. There were all these dogs to play with and he kept going to that mud hole gulping it down like it was chocolate fudge.

  • Yes, mud and soil conditioner that has mushroom compost in it. I find big chunks of both in the house from time to time.

  • LOL, I have had Basenjis in the 70s, 80's and early 90's with no internet and the things I learn on this forum.

  • Our B Kairoe, has a flavour for ants!! One day at the dog park, I noticed him hunched over a dirt patch eating dirt, so I walked over to inspect the mud and noticed that he was chasing and eating the ants. I read somewhere that many animals including B's, will eat ants if they're in need of water or are hungry. Either way, I had the water and he was a couple hours away from feeding but I think the ants tasted better!

    Some of the other owners of different breeds at the park have the same scenario but we noticed that the dogs were eating the sweet tasting roots…

  • @-Clar|Emm|Kai-:

    Our B Kairoe, has a flavour for ants!! One day at the dog park, I noticed him hunched over a dirt patch eating dirt, so I walked over to inspect the mud and noticed that he was chasing and eating the ants. I read somewhere that many animals including B's, will eat ants if they're in need of water or are hungry. Either way, I had the water and he was a couple hours away from feeding but I think the ants tasted better!

    Some of the other owners of different breeds at the park have the same scenario but we noticed that the dogs were eating the sweet tasting roots…

    LOL, eating ants is new one I have not heard about.

  • @nobarkus:

    Reason I was asking that is because I don't pot any plants in plain dirt. You don't amend the soil?

    Only with our own home made compost, and for the house plants that's only every 4-5 years or so.

  • Aren't you concerned about your dogs eating dirt at a dog park?
    I think dog parks and highway rest stops are the dirtiest places to allow dogs to play - my vet agrees with me and discourages her clients from visiting either. I don't want my dogs in an area where other dogs are peeing and poo'ing - dogs can contact whipworms and Lord knows what else.

  • @nobarkus:

    …I had a RW that loved fresh green horse poop, which I think a lot of dogs like. ...

    When she was a pup, we would call them "meatballs"…thankfully she has "outgrown" her taste for them!;)

  • @nala121498:

    When she was a pup, we would call them "meatballs"…thankfully she has "outgrown" her taste for them!;)

    Lucky you! - Tilly has just developed her taste for them - we stayed for a week in the New Forest last month, taking in a few dog shows - there are horses roaming everywhere, and since all we did was walk all week, Tilly must have eaten her own bodyweight in the stuff…. I wouldnt mind but she always wants to kiss you after lol...

  • @Elscodobermann:

    …but she always wants to kiss you after lol...

    Yes! That was the worst!! :eek: :D Hopefully she'll "outgrow":) it for you too!!

  • @nobarkus:

    … and he kept going to that mud hole gulping it down like it was chocolate fudge.

    :D:D:D

    You guys are hilarious!! I literally laughed out loud when I read that.
    Miles, my rescue, is the only one who eats mud. And mud specifically- not just dry dirt. And here I thought he was unique (ok, more like weird)! Miles, looks like I found you a support group!!

  • @BDawg:

    :D:D:D

    You guys are hilarious!! I literally laughed out loud when I read that.
    Miles, my rescue, is the only one who eats mud. And mud specifically- not just dry dirt. And here I thought he was unique (ok, more like weird)! Miles, looks like I found you a support group!!

    It was exhausting trying to keep him away from it and just play. People started complaining to the park and they finally stopped over watering so now its decently dry and he's been just playing with the other dogs. It got so bad that there was this 5' diameter wide mud lake and this guy would bring his 5 black Labs and they would take turns laying in it. It was like a spa were people take those mud baths. The funny one is where somebody's white dog would go in it and the person yell "NO,NO,NO, GET OUTTA THERE"!!

  • Love to see the white dog all muddy and more so the face of the owner.

    Rita Jean

  • The only time Gossy ate mud/dirt was at a friend's garden - but they had recently buried carp as fertilizer for the garden so I don't think that really counts.

    On a related note, someone mentioned whipworms etc that could be picked up from other dogs. I've often wondered if they can pick up "stuff" when they just sniff other dog's droppings? We go past a vet hospital on our daily walks and Gossy loves to sniff around the lawn. I watch and make sure she doesn't eat anything but I've often wondered about just sniffing.

  • Wizard,
    I have many times wondered the same thing, I hope somebody has knowledge about it, so I don't have to hover over Otis when he is sniffing around..

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    The FDA can only do what the laws allow and if the govt is controlled by lobbyist, well.... But this isn't the place for politics so I'll leave it at that. I am very sorry about your horse. :( With meat.. it's particularly red meat that research is linking to cancer... early research shows amount is a big factor (recommendations from 4 oz a day to max 18 oz a week), but who knows. Processed meat is the worse, and I saw some headline (didn't bother to read since I like my beef shortly after it stops mooing) that well done steaks more carcinogenic. For the world, reducing red meat is good for the environment and health. I was reading a study last week on red meat and joint inflammation. Studies the last 15 years actually only have general connection, but that most do is a pretty good indicator. I had a doctor tell me to stop all red meat and milk when I was a teen and experiencing joint pain. It helped, but back then, no internet and not much access to current research. Here we are 45+ years later, and still no strong proof and some show that reducing carbs with increased LEAN red meat actually decreased inflammation. However, we then get this Science Catch-up. Red Meat And Gut Inflammation: Harvard Study ... https://thehealthsciencesacademy.org/science-catch-up/science-catch-up-28/ Jan 18, 2017 - Red meat and gut inflammation: Harvard study. According this new Harvard study involving 46,500 participants, eating high amounts of red meat daily might be a risk factor for gut inflammation and the development of diverticulitis. << So no one has absolute proof, but my money is on reducing red meat is more likely to be healthier than not. I just don't rule out all meat (ie fish and fowl) as getting enough protein is pretty hard and we don't have enough hard research for ME to go vegetarian. But I'm open to it and glad you are having success.
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    My B's do this sometime as well. Miles will eat grass when he has an upset stomach, however Akeyla will just eat it and it's no big deal. I haven't had a major problem with it. Sorry that's all I got :)
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    @kipper: Thank you to everyone for the great advice! Kipper is our second Basenji and the thought of loosing him at such a young age is horrific to us. Kip is currently taking metronidazole twice a day. I know the med does make him tired, but it's supposed to help get rid of his virus that in turn will bring back his appetite. I have tried all his favorites like cheese, sour cream and even homemade waffles. His diet is meat twice a day and free feeding of high quality kibble. The vet is very knowledgeable about Falconi and says all his levels are were they should be and the bicarb is all he needs. We will take Kip in again in 3 months for another blood test. Thanks again! Anna I don't want to doubt your Vet, But honestly, I find that hard to believe that he only needs Bicarb and not any of the Vitamins that are recommended in the protocol. If it were my dog, I would contact Dr. Gonto who developed the Protocol and run it by him and he is happy to talk to owners with Fanconi (it is Fanconi, not Falconi) about treatment along with conversations with your Vet. Also Thyroid testing is important for a dog with Fanconi. This would be the fill panel not just the one T4 level that are shown on regular blood work. Dr Gonto's contact info can be found at the bottom of the Fanconi Protocol information http://www.basenji.org/ClubDocs/fanconiprotocol2003.pdf Also you might want to consider joining the Fanconi Yahoo group for people with Fanconi affected dogs. They would also be able to give you good ideas since they are all dealing with dogs with Fanconi. It is a closed group for only people with affected dogs. If he was eating before the metronidazole then hopefully when he is done with that he will begin eating again.
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    My Basenjis do eat acorns with no effect at all. I do find that mine seem to know what they can and can't eat. I suppose each generation has learned from the last. Puppies of course have to be watched (like human babies) because they'll chew anything. Incidentally when I was a child (a very,very long time ago) i too used to eat acorns, - again with no ill effects!
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    Yes, mine love chinchilla poop too! lol
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    yeah, I have had the same thing happen. One dose wont get rid of it. I really think it is making him snarfy as well. I will talk to my vet the next time I go in and do the Fenbendezol only from now on.