Eating Snow

Have any of you had a dog that loved to eat snow? Our Springer even gets us up during the night to go outside and eat snow instead of drinking her water! She's also been vomiting on ocassion, lately. We're thinking it may have something to do with the snow eating. She's also not eating as much as she used to. Had her to the vet, but found nothing abnormal. the vet never heard of eating snow either. Other than a little arthritis, seems fine otherwise. Any input?

My mom's newly adopted dog loves to eat snow, too... and when she eats too much of it she vomits it back up:yuck:. They've had to make sure that they are always outside with her, even on quick pee breaks out back, to distract her when she starts doing it.

My almost 4 year old Eskimo is a MAJOR snow eater, which is a big concern to me with the bacteria and salt in the snow. It was really bad in Toronto on Friday - snow was so deep he didn't even have to dip his head - as soon as we went out - he weighs 22 lbs., the snow was right at his mouth level. He just shovels it in as I am pulling him up to stand on his toes (hate doing this, but then he does "dance" on his toes around the house. And as you know, what goes in must come out - and fast when it is so cold. Our guy is never off leash so I see what is happening. I picked him up and brought him back in and then he had to go out again - more snow - to the point that the last time he was really feeling the cold in his throat and was shaking. This has been going on since his first winter with us - 2004 with no signs of stopping. He loves to play in the snow and I feel bad when I see other dogs romping but not eating snow and my guy can't stay out and play with me (even though I hate the snow and cold). I have been threatening to get some sort of a muzzle or something not too harsh that will help prevent this but I know he would go ballistic. We tried the NewTrick harness to help with the pulling and he freaked at that. I hope you find a way to stop it so you can tell me. He also is a major Hoover for any garbage left on the street - and since people are such litter slobs these days, there is a lot on the street - used tissues being the worst.

Our labX has eaten snow since she was a puppy. She is 12 now and shows no sign of slowing down.

watch out for yellow snow!!:laughing:

All eight of ours enjoy scraping up the harder bits of snow and eating them. :shrug: We do have a few occasions of 'snow stomach' where they'll urps up some water from it, but by and large they show no deleterious effects from it...give or take it being a possible source of the lepto they're all being treated for :rolleyes:

Every so often our bichon goes on a water drinking spree, finishes the water in the dish... Instead of letting us know his bowl is empty, he'll bawl at the door til we let him out. Does a face plant in the snow and starts chowing down.

Maybe he knows how to put us on a guilt trip now :frustrated:

I think the vomiting has to do with the extreme cold hitting the stomach, my Dal x Lab used to love eating ice cubes not more than 3 minutes later he was throwing up.

Snow eating is not uncommon especially in colder climates, it's a "fun" alternative to water, tastes different & doesn't appear year round - think how you were as a kid - I loved to eat snow.

Both of mine eat lots of snow and the odd chunk of ice if they can get it. :laughing:Rarely gives them any trouble. My past 2 dogs also loved to eat snow.

Cindy

While it's nice to know our Jazzi isn't the only snow eater, it doesn't eliminate the mess she makes in the house when she vomits it up. She's ruining our carpets one spot at a time! Not to mention my lost sleep putting her out at night to eat snow!

Are you saying that when Jazzi throws the snow back up, it's colored and stains the carpet? That sounds like more than snow to me. Is she on meds for her arthritis?

When she goes out to eat snow at night, does she also have to relieve herself, or does she just eat snow? If she's just eating snow, bite the bullet and don't let her out when she asks. She'll pester you for a few nights but after a while she'll settle down. :thumbs up

My BC loves snow, ice all good. He will just run along and scoops it up. I can't say he has ever thrown it up though.