Vet’s ‘sandpit’ distraction could stop dogs digging up your garden

Dog owners who notice their pet pooch digging up their garden or casually chewing on garden debris may not think much of the behaviour, but while answering some viewer questions on BBC Morning Live, one vet revealed when the habit can be potentially life-threatening for your pets.

One caller, Steve, reported that his dog often eats soil on walks and from his planted tubs in the garden. Dr James Greenwood revealed this can be a condition known as Pica, which can affect humans too, and it can be dangerous depending on the type of plants in your garden.

He said: “The main thing here really is to just be worried about what he might find in that soil. So, one of the things that I’d be quite sort of nervous about is bulbs.

“Lots of the plant bulbs that we have in our gardens can actually be quite toxic to dogs. So just be a little bit aware of that.”

This includes some common springtime plants according to the RSPCA:

• Daffodils
• Tulips
• Bluebells
• Foxglove
• Azaleas and rhododendrons

These can cause a range of symptoms in pets, from stomach upsets to tremors, drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea. RSPCA guidance warns: “In some cases, just licking pollen off their paws or fur can cause a reaction. The bulbs of many plants are particularly toxic.”

Dr James explained that pica occurs when animals eat something inanimate, ranging from concrete to plastic and soil. He noted this can be linked to medical issues and if it’s combined with symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea or weight loss and lethargy then it’s best to get a vet check done.

However, if your pooch isn’t showing these symptoms or digging up toxic plants the vet assured there’s “no real harm” in dogs playing or eating some soil, aside from it destroying your garden. But Dr James had a remedy for that too.

He shared: “If you actually lean into that and give him something to dig, a sand pit, for example.

“You could bury some of his toys or treats and let him go and dig in that that is less likely hopefully to to go for the tubs.”

The vet noted that sometimes dogs may appear to be ‘eating’ soil but are actually just using their muzzle as an extra ‘paw’ in their digging endeavours.