My 16+ yr old Aussie has begun eating grass, dirt, gravel and trying to chew asphalt..what gives?

Question

I have a 16+ yr old Aussie red merle.  Her hips were bad from birth but with caring and exercise she has made it thus far.  Recently she fell part way down a flight of stairs at our home and for the next several days was off her vet recommended food, very passive, and stools were very dark..almost black.  Coincident with this event she started eating grass, dirt, gravel when she got the chance and has even progressed to licking and trying to chew the asphalt in parking lots and concrete in our garage.  Her stools have returned to normal color and she has  reactivated but still this habit....  I know puppies like to eat lots of things..but this is an OLD dog.  Any ideas, thoughts appreciated.

fluffernut · Accepted Answer

Dark stools indicated bleeding internally.  She was miserable and thus the weird food eating.  Dogs will eat strange objects in order to vomit in hopes of feeling better.  She could still have pain and this is her plan to feel better.  

I lost a dog to weird eating, it all backed up where the stomach empties into the small intestine, she bloated, and even a vet med hospital less than 2 miles away couldn't save her.  

I have no suggestions on how to stop this other than keeping her away from gravel, asphalt, anything she can chew and swallow.

Candid Chris · Answer

I believe the dog has lived a long and beautiful life but has gotten to a point that a type of canine dementia has developed.
Sorry.

? · Answer

sounds like a digestion problem that it's trying to fix

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My 16+ yr old Aussie has begun eating grass, dirt, gravel and trying to chew asphalt..what gives?

3 Answers