![]() ![]() However, if your dog is an adult and is not nursing, it could be a sign of pica. Eating their puppies’ feces is a natural behavior for a nursing dog. It can also include feces, which is called coprophagy. Common items ingested can be rocks, glass, hair, dirt, paper, drywall, metal, mulch, chalk, cloth, and more. A compulsion to eat non-food items can cause your dog to eat toxic items or items that will severely damage your dog’s internal organs. It tends to be more common in females, but can occur in any dog.Īlthough it may sound like a goofy behavior issue, pica can cause serious health problems. Once or twice could be considered a mistake or a singular instance. It occurs in humans as a psychological disorder and also occurs in other species, including dogs. Pica is a compulsive behavior problem and a medical issue that refers to the craving and eating non-food items. ![]() Here’s what to know about pica in dogs: What is Pica? Pica is something every dog owner should be aware of. Sometimes your dog is just being a goofball and sometimes it can be an underlying medical issue. ![]() ![]() Apply a bitter taste to objects to discourage consumption works in some dogs.Dogs can exhibit some odd behavior at times.Store plastic away so your dog has no access to them.Keep your dog indoors and leash-walk to prevent eating rocks and feces.Administer prescribed psychoactive drugs if your veterinarian if it is feels that pica is related to a behavioral disorder.Ĭomplete avoidance is the most effective prevention and should be instituted if at all possible.Treat the specific disease if an underlying cause can be identified (such as pancreatic enzyme supplementation for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or corticosteroids and dietary changes for inflammatory bowel disease).Avoidance of the offending material is the most effective therapy.Endoscopic examination may facilitate visualizing what has been ingested, removing it if its presence is causing associated clinical signs, or diagnosing an underlying diseases that causes pica (such as inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal lymphosarcoma).Abdominal radiographs (X-rays) may be helpful in dogs to rule out gastrointestinal foreign bodies and blockages secondary to pica.Trypsinogen-like immunoreactivity (TLI) should always be performed to rule out exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (especially in the German shepherd dog).A complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile and urinalysis are performed to assess general organ function and to rule out underlying diseases such as a low red blood cell count seen with iron deficiency anemia, low total proteins seen with malabsorptive disorders, elevated blood sugar seen with diabetes mellitus.The following tests may be recommended in your dog: Ingestion of nonfood items such as rocks, feces and grass.Endocrine disorders(hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus) cause polyphagia (increased appetite).Primary gastrointestinal maldigestive and malabsorptive disorders (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, severe inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal lymphosarcoma).One form of pica is coprophagia, which is the ingestion of feces. Pica is the term used to describe the craving and ingestion of nonfood items by dogs. ![]()
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