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Discussion on Horses eating dirt
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Member:
Tonja
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004 - 11:29 am:
Hello!
I have 2 middle aged geldings that used to eat/lick dirt after eating their Nutrena Senior and would also eat dirt after licking the loose mineral supplement I had out for them.
Yesterday, I noticed my 6 week old colt eating some of the mare's grain and about 10 minutes later layed down for his nap and was licking at the dirt. When he got up he was licking and pawing at the dirt again and crunching sand!!!
They have free choice to pasture and legume/grass mix hay and I give them loose salt and also a vit e/selenuim supplement. It seems they only do this when there is molasses in the feeds/supplements. Could they be eating dirt to digest the nutrients or maybe because the molasses upset their tummy??
Thank you
Tonja
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Member:
Quatro
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Posted on Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004 - 9:31 pm:
Hi Tonja, I am curious about this too. Levi just started licking and eating the dirt too. He was feeling bad, being lame from his feet being cut too short, and his eye is scratched. I wondered if this had anything to do with it. But I also just changed his grain to a really yummy looking nutrena 12 % vitality. Curious to see what others think.
sue
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Member:
Tonja
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 16, 2004 - 2:18 pm:
HI SUE:-)
Yes, that is soo weird. I noticed that they usually do it immediately or 5-10 minutes after eating the grain/pellets. I have heard everything from being deficient in selenium, salt, and/or phosphorus. But when I was feeding no grain at all for a while they never ate the dirt so I am thinking maybe it is the too much grain and minerals all in one shot and lack of fiber???? I know the fiber content in Nutrena Senior is high at 16% and they have free choice hay and were only getting 1 lb 2X a day...so now I am really uncertain and confused?? I just wonder if it isn't some flavoring agent in Nutrena or something??
Tonja
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Jun 16, 2004 - 3:26 pm:
After eating his grain, my gelding goes to his salt block, then to the waterer. Religously.
The filly goes straight to the waterer. Interesting to note, because she hasn't touched her salt block since she's been with me...almost two months now.
fwiw
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Member:
jones
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Posted on Saturday, Apr 30, 2011 - 12:39 am:
I see this is an old post but it was the first one that came up when I did the "why is my horse eating dirt?" Google search.
I also found a reference to the study that linked the copper and iron ration issues/deficiencies that seem to be common in horses that have pica. (as mentioned in your most recent article Dr. O)
After reading the study I realized that the supplement I switched to has a way higher copper to iron ratio than the other supplement I was feeding. (shipping cost had me switch) I will switch back and see if it makes the difference.
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Member:
jones
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Posted on Thursday, May 26, 2011 - 8:48 pm:
Instead of throwing away the supplement, I purchased copper sulfate and added it to his feed in the ratio of the previous supplement...almost 2:1 (zinc to copper) and after about 2 weeks no more eating dirt 
I attached the abstract from Pub Med regarding the copper and iron ratios as it relates to Pica in horses....I looked at the copper to zinc ratio since zinc in higher amounts can inhibit copper absorption and this current supplement has about 400mg of zinc per serving.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2011 Mar;139(3):301-7. Epub 2010 Mar 9.
Changes in serum mineral concentrations, biochemical and hematological parameters in horses with pica.
Aytekin I, Onmaz AC, Aypak SU, Gunes V, Kucuk O.
SourceDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mustafa Kemal, Hatay, Turkey.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare hematological, some biochemical parameters, and serum trace element concentrations in horses with or without pica. Fifteen horses with pica (group I) and another 15 healthy horses without pica (group II) were used. The hematological parameters were not changed between the two groups. In group I, hemoglobin values were lower than those of group II. However, the difference in hemoglobin values between the two groups was not significant (P > 0.05). Serum iron and copper concentrations and the copper/zinc ratio were lower in group I than those of group II (P < 0.05).> 0.05). It was concluded that serum iron and copper deficiency may play an important role for the etiology of pica in horses. Prophylactic use of iron and copper supplements in horses may be beneficial to prevent pica.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, May 27, 2011 - 12:37 pm:
Thank you jones,
Do you know currently how many mg of Cu your horse is currently getting?
DrO
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Member:
jones
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Posted on Friday, May 27, 2011 - 6:17 pm:
Hi Dr. O,
I know how much Cu he is getting in his supplement, I cannot account for Cu in the water, hay, and dirt!
Prior supplement was 170 mg Copper
and 397 mg Zinc and 225 mg iron.
current supplement 100 mg Cu
and 400 mg Zinc.
So I just added 70 mg copper sulfate to his feed along with the supplement. I will switch back to the prior supplement when this one is gone.
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