DEAR JEANNE: Our two King Charles Cavaliers have dug two shallow holes in our garden and seem to be eating some of the soil which they are loosening with their front paws. One is a 6 year old spayed female and the other is a 3 year old neutered male. Could there be something missing in their diet?
I was wondering if there is a safe concoction I can make and pour into the holes to discourage this behavior.
—Norman Roush, Sunnyvale
DEAR NORMAN: Dirt should not be on the royal menu.
There are several reasons why your dogs consume soil. If you haven’t already, schedule an exam with the vet to see if there is a medical reason for the dirt diet. It’s always a good idea to start with the veterinarian.
Because they both do it, I strongly suspect it’s a dietary issue. Their diet may be lacking in certain minerals – sodium, iron, calcium – which could cause your dogs to seek out what they need in the soil.
Boredom can also lead to digging and eating dirt. Dogs, as well as other living creatures, can develop a psychological quirk called pica, which is an urge to eat non-food items. Look for other signs of compulsive eating.
Treating the soil is probably not the best solution, as they would probably just dig more holes. But examining their diet, keeping them with you on a leash outside, or using a cage muzzle, which doesn’t restrict their movements but prevents them from eating dirt, are all options.
A little dirt isn’t necessarily bad for your dog, but there is a risk that he will pick up nasty things from the dirt, and dirt can cause blockages in the stomach and intestines. In short, good reasons to stop this behavior.
DEAR JEANNE: We have had hummingbirds at our feeder for over 10 years. In the last six weeks, they have all disappeared. We’ve cleaned the feeder several times, but it’s missing both Anna’s hummingbirds and the big, bad black birds that swoop down on people. Ideas?
Additionally, our yard is surrounded by dense citrus trees: orange trees, lemon trees, Meyer lemon trees, Clementines. We have almost no flowers and almost no fruit. Could this be due to the heavy rains or the density of the bushes?
—Kathleen, Redwood City
DEAR KATHLEEN: It’s spring and in spring the thoughts of birds and other creatures turn to romance. It could be that the hummingbirds are otherwise occupied.
It is also a season of blooming flowers. Hummers may feast on natural sources of nectar, raising their beaks to homemade products. There could also be changes in the neighborhood — the presence of a stray cat or other predator — that would cause hummingbirds to seek out friendlier spots.
They should come back. To remind them that your restaurant is still open, plant flowers with red flowers or add decor with lots of red or purple.
As for your citrus trees, the lack of flowers could be linked to the lack of hummingbirds. The feeders are complementary and the birds depend on the natural flowers for their meals. Since all the trees are performing poorly, I’m guessing it’s a weather issue, but you may want to thin the canopy to let in more light.
Animal Life takes place on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
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