plaster licking

[gulliver1]

my dog often licks the plaster on the walls of the house also the patio slabs ; stones and any brickwork she also eats grass to make herself sick ..any ideas what vitamins she is searching for ???

[Clanad]

If your dog is well fed it's not "searching" for anything in particular. Firstly, the plaster will have a "salty" taste which could attract the dog, but I'd suspect the dog may just be bored and this may be compounded by lack of exercise.

All dogs crave attention... almost as much as they crave stimulation and excitement. Any dog requires at least one hour per day of exercise... a good, brisk walk or any substitute that gets them working.

It may or may not be an old wives tale as to why dogs eat grass. My Vet (here in the U.S.) suspects (since he readily admits he doesn't know) that dogs just like the taste of it. I, personally, don't think there's any innate understanding by the dog that if it eats a certain item that it will upchuck it later, fulfilling any need the dog has to do so.

[karenmac60]

My mum's cat licks the plaster too - he's always done it and he purrs his head off while he's licking. This has been in 3 different houses and on many different types of food over 15 years. I think he just likes the taste.

[NoMercy]

My dog ate a table cloth today, and spat it all out in thousands of little pieces. I think he was protesting at not being allowed to come out with us.