In humans, pica can stem from a lack of iron or zinc in the body. Malnutrition Or Changes In Appetite Due To Underlying Disease Here are some possible reasons for pica in dogs:ġ. READ ALSO: Foods that are dangerous to Dogs, number 9 will surprise you Studies show that younger dogs and neutered dogs have higher odds of displaying pica. They should grow out of this behavior as they age. If your vet is concerned they may wish to refer you to a specialist animal behaviourist.It’s normal for puppies to try eating many different items as a part of exploring and learning. If you are worried about any aspect of your dog’s behaviour seek help from your veterinary practice. The more time dogs spend eating inedible items, the more they learn to do it and so the more established becomes the behaviour. In some cases, your veterinary surgeon may also suggest trying some medication to aid progress by reducing the signs displayed by your dog.įinally, remember that the chances of resolving this problem are better with early intervention. This can teach your pet a safe and appropriate alternative to pica. Food toys or chews are also appropriate objects that you can offer to your dog in these situations (before the dog starts eating something else) and at any time that your pet needs to chew, eat, and explore using its mouth. When your dog has left the object that was being eaten, you can leave your pet with some food scattered on the floor, or a chew or another food toy, and remove the inappropriate object while your pet is distracted. This way, you might be able to engage your dog’s attention and get them to choose to leave the inappropriate item to join you, without you drawing attention to the inappropriate action. moving a food container, or playing with a ball). If you see your pet showing unwanted behaviour of any kind they will often be distracted if you move away from them and engage in some interesting activity without obviously communicating with your pet (e.g. calling your pet or asking him/her to stop) is potentially a huge reward for your pet. Whatever is the cause of the behaviour, you should be aware that your attention (e.g. Directly punishing your pet is very often unsuccessful, as in many cases dogs simply learn to perform the behaviour out of your sight, and sensitive or anxious dogs may be more stressed by repeated punishments. If you catch your dog in the act of pica you need to interrupt him or her. You can also make the favoured substance less appealing, by mixing it with harmless but aversive chemicals. You can hide all the items that your dog may try to eat or train your pet to be happy to wear a muzzle, and then muzzle them when at risk. Pica can be prevented by making it physically impossible for your pet to eat inappropriate objects. In addition, you will want to stop the unwanted behaviour, and substitute it with something more appropriate. It is always important to try to address the underlying cause of pica. Your vet will discuss in detail potential causes of pica in your dog and may suggest referral to a behavioural specialist for further treatment. However, it is important that pets are supervised to prevent them from destroying the toy and swallowing pieces. Toys that can be stuffed with food can be particularly useful, as they will keep your dog occupied for a long time redirecting the behaviour onto a more appropriate one. Therefore it is important to exercise your pet enough, and provide it with a range of interesting toys and chews. If they do not find appropriate targets for this need, they may direct it onto less appropriate objects. Dogs need to be mentally and physically stimulated, and exploring (especially with their mouth) is a normal behaviour for them, especially when young. In some cases, pica is not caused by disease or stress. It is important to solve this problem as soon as possible, as the behaviour will become more established with time and repetition. In this case you must help your dog to feel more comfortable with these situations. When your dog does not know what to do, he or she may try to chew and eat things to relax. If there is no medical condition causing the pica, it may be that your dog is using pica to to cope with situations where they feel uncomfortable, or when they feel very excited. Dogs that lick surfaces may have some gastrointestinal upset and if this can be resolved the licking will stop. If you are concerned about any behaviour shown by your pet always consult your vet for advice. Eating grass can be considered a relatively normal behaviour in dogs unless your dog is sick before or after doing it or the behaviour is very frequent or changes suddenly (i.e. It is possible for some medical problems to cause pica so it is important that all dogs with this behaviour are examined by a vet.
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