What should dogs do if they eat hair on the ground

In the days spent with dogs, we are often amused by their unexpected behavior, such as discovering that they are eating hair on the ground. When we see the dog happily swallowing the hair on the ground into its stomach, our hearts are instantly filled with worry. After all, these hairs cannot be properly digested by dogs and may pose a risk to their health. Every dog is a treasure we hold in our hands, and we naturally do not want them to be harmed by such behavior.

Dogs eat hair on the ground for various reasons. The most common may be pica. When a dog's body lacks certain trace elements such as zinc, iron, manganese, etc., it may trigger pica. These trace elements are crucial for the normal functioning of dogs' bodies. Once lacking, dogs' taste and smell may become abnormal, leading to their interest in strange things, and their hair on the ground may become their "target". Imagine a dog losing its way like a small boat due to an imbalance of trace elements in its body. It can only satisfy its body's needs by searching for something special. How heartbreaking it is.

Curiosity is also an important factor for dogs to eat their hair. Dogs are naturally curious about the world around them, and they like to explore everything new with their mouths. The hair on the ground is slender and soft, which may be a novel toy in the eyes of dogs. When they first come into contact with hair, they instinctively use their mouths to bite and try. Especially for puppies, their cognitive abilities are not yet perfect, and they do not have a clear concept of what can and cannot be eaten, so they are more likely to eat their hair. I once saw a little teddy puppy playing at home, attracted by a strand of hair on the ground. It first sniffed curiously with its nose, and then without hesitation, it put its hair into its mouth and chewed it with relish.

In addition to these, an unreasonable diet structure for dogs may also lead to them eating hair. If the nutrition in a dog's food is unbalanced and cannot meet their energy needs, they may seek other things to supplement. For example, if the protein content in food is insufficient, dogs may seek out seemingly "nutritious" things, and hair becomes one of their choices.

When we find that a dog is eating hair on the ground, the first thing we need to do is to stop it in time. Tell the dog in a gentle but firm tone, 'No,' and take the hair away from its mouth. Never beat or scold dogs, as this not only makes them feel scared, but may also create a sense of fear towards their owners, affecting their relationship with each other. While stopping the dog, we can give it a suitable toy to divert its attention and let it know that playing with toys is more fun than eating hair.

To fundamentally solve the problem, we need to adjust the diet of dogs. Ensure that the dog's food is nutritionally balanced and contains sufficient protein, vitamins, and minerals. You can choose high-quality dog food and add some foods rich in trace elements, such as egg yolks, lean meat, animal liver, etc. appropriately. Egg yolks are rich in lecithin, which is beneficial for the health of dogs' hair and can also supplement some trace elements; Lean meat and animal liver contain abundant protein and elements such as iron and zinc. Watching dogs eat healthily and happily, our hearts are also filled with contentment.

Regular deworming of dogs is also very important. Some parasites can affect the nutrient absorption of dogs, causing them to develop pica. Regular deworming can effectively prevent parasitic infections and ensure the physical health of dogs. Generally speaking, puppies need to undergo internal deworming once a month, while adult dogs need to undergo deworming every three months. Every time we feed deworming medication to our dog, we are safeguarding its health.

Keeping the home clean and hygienic, reducing the appearance of hair on the ground, is also the key to solving the problem. Regularly clean the room, use a vacuum cleaner to clean corners such as the floor and sofa, and avoid hair accumulation. In this way, the dog has no chance to come into contact with hair and naturally won't eat it. At the same time, placing dogs' toys and daily necessities in a fixed location allows them to have their own exclusive space and reduces their attention to hair on the ground.

In the process of solving the problem of dogs eating hair, we may encounter some difficulties. Dogs may repeatedly eat their hair, so we need to be patient, continuously guide and correct them. Every dog has its own personality, and changing their behavior takes time and effort. But as long as we persist and treat them with love and care, we can definitely help dogs break this bad habit. When we no longer see dogs eating their hair, but instead see them playing healthy and happy, we will deeply realize that all efforts are worth it. Because dogs are the warmest companions in our lives, we are willing to give everything for them to grow up healthy and spend every beautiful day together.