Sunnyvale dog owner wonders if his pets eating dirt is harmful

DEAR JOAN >> Our two King Charles Cavaliers have dug two holes in our backyard and seem to eat some of the dirt that they loosen with their front paws. One is a spayed 6-year-old female and the other is a neutered 3-yearold male. Could they be missing something in their diet?

I was wondering if there is a safe concoction I can make and pour in the holes to discourage this behavior. — Norman Roush, Sunnyvale

DEAR NORMAN >> Dirt should not be on the royal menu.

There are a few reasons your doggos are consuming dirt. If you haven't already, schedule a checkup with the vet to see if there's a medical reason for the dirt diet. It's always a good idea to start with the vet.

Because both of them are doing it, I strongly suspect it's a food issue. Their diet might lack certain minerals —sodium, iron, calcium — which could lead your dogs to search for what they need in the soil.

Boredom can also lead to digging and dirt eating. Dogs, as well as other living creatures, can develop a psychological quirk called pica, which is an urge to eat non-food items. Look for other signs of compulsive eating.

Treating the soil probably is not the best way to go, as they'd likely just dig more holes. But looking into their nutrition, keeping them with you on leash outside, or using a cage muzzle, which doesn't restrict their movements but prevents them from eating the dirt, are all options.

A little dirt isn't necessarily bad for your dogs, but there is a risk of them picking up some nasty things in the soil, and dirt can cause blockages in the stomach and intestines. All in all, good reasons to stop the behavior.

DEAR JOAN >> We have had hummingbirds at our feeder for over 10 years. In the last six weeks, they have all disappeared. We've cleaned the feeder several times, but both the Anna's hummingbirds and the big nasty dark ones that swoop at people are missing. Any ideas?

Also, our yard is surrounded by dense citrus trees: orange, lemon, Meyer lemon, Clementine. We have almost no blossoms and almost no fruit. Could this be caused by the heavy rains or by the density of the bushes?

DEAR KATHLEEN >> In the spring, birds and other creatures' thoughts turn to romance. It could be that the hummingbirds are otherwise occupied.

It's also a season of blooming flowers. The hummers might be feasting on natural sources of nectar, turning their significant beaks up at the homemade stuff. There could also be changes in the neighborhood — the presence of a roving cat or other predator — that have the hummingbirds looking for friendlier spots.

They should return. To remind them that your diner is always open, plant some flowers with red blooms or add decor that has a lot of red or purple on it.

As for your citrus, the lack of blooms might be related to the lack of hummingbirds. Feeders are supplemental, and the birds rely on natural blooms for their meals. Because all of the trees are performing poorly, I'd surmise it's a weather issue, but you might want to thin the canopies to let more light in.