Why does my dog start licking bird droppings?

I have a rooftop garden and my dog has access to it. However, it licks at bird droppings. Has anyone faced the same problem or know the cause for it. A friend told me it is due to calcium deficiency - is it true or is it just bad habbit. Any soloutions? - Serious answers only.Why does my dog start licking bird droppings?
My dog doesn't lick them but she does like to smell every dropping on the ground! It gets annoying when you're trying to go for a walk and your dog stops at every dropping. Maybe you should just call up your vet and ask them.Why does my dog start licking bird droppings?
put your bird in a cadge so the dog wont lick it.
It is due to lack of some kind of vitamin but also you might want to change it's diet, try something with alot of flavor and hopefully it wil stop.
ewww
she probly does it cause she is curious.But if she likes it and does it alot then i cant help you there. My dog use to do something similar when i first got her.
I don't know if this is going to be a very good answer, but its just like with horse crap, cow crap, dog crap, they eat it because they think it tastes good. EWW I know, but what can I say? The only way to stop this is to say something to him/her when you see them licking bird crap. Good luck.
My dog liked to eat other kinds of poo, and a friend of mine had a dog that liked to eat its own poo. It is a vitamin deficiency, you can get some vitamins at a pet store that you can mix with their food. I don't think it's hurting the dog to lick the poo, but be careful, it might.
dogs LOVE to eat poop. they eat their own poop, horse poop, bird poop, you name it. i would recommend spraying the bird poop with bitter apple (regularly) and eventually the behavior will be detered.
It is just a bad habit, dogs like to eat many kinds of poop including horse, cat and chicken... I would however suggest you stop your dog from eating wild bird droppings as they can contain nasty diseases you don't want your dog to have....





HEALTH HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH BIRD AND BAT DROPPINGS





Health risks from birds and bats are often exaggerated. Nevertheless, large populations of roosting birds may present the risk of disease to people nearby. The most serious health risks arise from disease organisms that can grow in the nutrient-rich accumulations of bird droppings, feathers and debris under a roost 鈥?particularly if roosts have been active for years. External parasites also may become a problem when infested birds or bats leave roosts or nests. The parasites then can invade buildings and bite people.





Histoplasmosis





Histoplasmosis is caused by a fungus (Histoplasma capsulatum) found primarily in the areas drained by the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Both humans and animals can be affected. The disease is transmitted to humans by airborne fungus spores from soil contaminated by pigeon and starling droppings (as well as from the droppings of other birds and bats). The soil under a roost usually has to have been enriched by droppings for two years or more for the disease organism to reach significant levels. Although almost always associated with soil, the fungus has been found in droppings (particularly from bats) alone, such as in an attic.





Infection occurs when spores, carried by the air are inhaled 鈥?especially after a roost has been disturbed. Most infections are mild and produce either no symptoms or a minor influenza- like illness. On occasion, the disease can cause high fever, blood abnormalities, pneumonia and even death. In some areas, including portions of Illinois, up to 80 percent of the population show evidence of previous infection. Outbreaks of histoplasmosis have occurred in Central Illinois.





The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reported a potentially blinding eye condition 鈥?presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS) 鈥?that probably results from the fungus. NIH estimates that 4 percent of those exposed to the disease are at risk of developing OHS.





Cryptococcosis





Pigeon droppings appear to be the most important source of the disease fungus Cryptococcus neoformans in the environment. The fungus is typically found in accumulations of droppings around roosting and nesting sites, for example, attics, cupolas, ledges and water towers. It has been found in as many as 84 percent of samples taken from old roosts. Even when old and dry, bird droppings can be a significant source of infection.





Like histoplasmosis, most cryptococcosis infections are mild and may be without symptoms. Persons with weakened immune systems, however, are more susceptible to infection. The disease is acquired by inhaling the yeast-like cells of the organism. Two forms of cryptococcosis occur in humans. The generalized form begins with a lung infection and spreads to other areas of the body, particularly the central nervous system, and is usually fatal unless treated. The cutaneous (skin) form is characterized by acne-like skin eruptions or ulcers with nodules just under the skin. The cutaneous form is very rare, however, without generalized (systemic) disease. Outbreaks (multiple cases at a location) of cryptococcosis infections have not been documented.(dogs are affected too)





Other diseases





Other diseases carried or transmitted by birds affect man to a lesser degree. Psittacosis is normally mild in man; however, serious illness can occur rarely. Pigeons and sparrows also have been implicated (along with many other species of birds) as reservoirs for encephalitis viruses such as Saint Louis encephalitis virus, which are carried by mosquitoes.