Why does my dog eat snow?
This is a question that we often get from sitters and owners who work with Rover. Help the community out by answering them in our forum!
2 Answers
Our dogs ancestors have had to survive in far harsher environments than they do today. It is thought that dogs (and wolves) ate snow as a way of staying hydrated during the winter, when fresh water was frozen or unavailable. This instinct to stay hydrated is still with our dogs today. Perhaps your pet is eating snow because they are not getting enough water throughout the day. Make sure your pet always has plenty of water! Another reason dogs may eat snow is because they may be dealing with underlying diseases that cause them to consume greater amounts of water than they normal would. Known as polydipsia, your dog drinking excess water may be an indication of diabetes, kidney failure, thyroid disease, and other ailments. Monitor how much water your dog consumes, whether it be through the water bowl or by eating snow, and consult your vet if it seems abnormal.
More than likely though, your dog is just curious about snow, and is eating it to see what it is all about!
Dogs that do not have access to fresh and clean water may consume large amounts of snow. Canines dehydrate very quickly and will do nearly anything to replenish the fluids that they need.
Everybody has their snacking preferences, and some pooches just love noshing on freshly fallen snow