If you or your veterinarian suspect your dog is exhibiting signs of pica, the veterinarian will first perform a complete physical exam to evaluate the dog’s general body condition and look for signs of disease. In some cases, pica might occur as a side effect to a medication, such as steroids, that a dog is taking for an unrelated medical condition. Pica can also occur as a result of anemia, gastrointestinal parasites, and liver disease. In medical cases nutritional imbalances, endocrine diseases (such as diabetes or thyroid disease), or diseases of malabsorption or maldigestion can cause pica, adds Collier. “Stress, boredom, and anxiety (particularly separation anxiety) may cause a dog to be destructive and ingest things such as bedding, items of clothing, or items from the trash,” Collier says. The root cause of pica in dogs can be behavioral or medical.īehavioral pica is sometimes called stress eating. Swallowing non-food items like clothing, plastic, wood, cardboard, dirt or rocks.Sometimes, though, the dog might be consuming non-food items in secret.Ī pet owner might notice that their dog is acting sick, showing signs such as vomiting or diarrhea, but might not realize that their dog is eating objects. Symptoms of pica can be easy to spot if you are around when your dog consumes non-food items. Cases of perforation (where a sharp object pierces the stomach or intestines) can be especially dangerous, requiring immediate surgery. If objects lodge in the stomach or intestinal track and cannot pass through, a veterinarian might have to perform surgery to find and remove the objects. Chewing and swallowing non-food objects can be extremely dangerous for a dog.ĭogs with pica may ingest something toxic or develop gastrointestinal blockages or perforations from swallowed materials. Pica disorder in dogs can cause a lot of frustration for pet owners when dogs chew and eat non-food items. While they are experimenting and learning what is and is not food, many puppies chew and swallow things they shouldn’t. Much like human babies, puppies use their mouths to explore the world. Puppies often ingest non-food items, but this is generally part of normal puppy behavior. Pica in dogs is typically seen in adolescent and adult dogs. Karyn Collier, medical director for wellness medicine at Saint Francis Veterinary Center of South Jersey. “ Pica may have an underlying medical cause or it may be behavioral or psychological,” says Dr. Dogs with pica might be obsessed with eating one type of non-food item or they might eat anything they can get their paws on. Pica in dogs is a health condition characterized by the compulsive ingestion of non-food items like cloth, plastic, wood, paper, or even rocks. Learn more about pica in dogs including the symptoms, causes, and treatment options. If so, your dog might have a condition known as pica. Is your dog eating grass or paper? Is your dog eating wood? Or maybe your dog is eating poop. Most dogs will happily wolf down any food that seems remotely edible.īut sometimes, a dog’s eating habits cross over into a health or behavioral problem. When it comes to eating, dogs don’t always have the most discerning palates.
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