Ever wonder why your cat or dog seem to be eating soil while on a walk outside? You may have even witnessed wildlife like birds eating tiny pebbles or pieces of gravel. Here we will explore why our furry friends feel the need to munch on earth at times.
Geophagy is the ingestion of clay, rock dust, charcoal, earth or soil which is a common behaviour in the animal kingdom. Geophagy is a Greek term which means earth (geo) food (phagy). This act helps them to neutralize toxins, assist in the removal of worms and parasites and is a way to get minerals such as zinc, iron, copper including lime and salt. Providing them with the animal’s nutritional and medicinal needs. From salt licks to access sodium to clays that bind to toxins to be eliminated, animals clearly depend on geophagy for optimal health.
When an animal ingests clay, the poisonous toxins roaming free within the digestive system bind to the ingested clay. Once this occurs, the toxins are then eliminated through the faeces. Not only does clay help expel toxins from the animal’s body but it also coats and soothes the mucus membranes of the digestive tract and clean up extra acid and mucus in the aftermath of poisoning.
There is evidence that charcoal acts as clays as well in neutralizing toxins in the body. In the wild animals will use charcoal from manmade fires and kilns, lightening strikes and natural forest fires and they encourage their young to do the same when necessary.
Geophagy offers animals an effective and safe way to to handle ingested toxins and to get the mineral intake that aids in their detoxification process. Knowing this, we can clearly see why we observe animals utilizing geophagy, it is ingrained in their genetics to practice this form of self-medication from their ancestors. So if you witness your cat or dog ingesting “dirt”, they may be trying to rid their bodies from something they ingested or gain minerals they might be deficient in. If you are concerned, contact you holistic veterinarian.