![]() Pica in dogs is a condition where they crave and compulsively eat items that are not typically edible or considered food. ![]() Chewing and swallowing non-food items is not and should be cause for concern. Chewing non-food items is relatively normal for dogs. When it comes down to it, theres a huge difference between dogs chewing on items and craving and consuming them. But what do you do if you find your dog actually eating items that arent food? Its common for pups (and grown dogs too) to chew on all sorts of things in the absence of appropriate chewing toys. You might have also wondered, “Why is my dog eating dirt?” and “What to do when my dog eats anything?” If youve owned a mischievous puppy, youve probably lost a few shoes, maybe a rug, or your garden may have been totally chewed up. Does the animal get enough exercise? Does he or she get an appropriate amount of attention? Are appropriate chew or play toys made available? Is there competition for resources? That is, could the dog or cat be eating inappropriate things to prevent another pet from getting to it first? Does the animal have a fairly consistent routine? Are there other things that could be causing stress for the animal? PICA SYNDROME IN DOGS: ¿What Causes It and What to Do?ĭogs have a well-earned reputation for chomping down on some rather strange things. When attempting to assess why your dog (or cat) may be engaging in this habit, consider the animal’s environment and lifestyle. Examining an animal’s environment and lifestyle Available without a prescription, dog appeasing pheromones may come as a diffuser to be plugged into the home, a spray, or a collar that the dog wears. This drug should always be used under the supervision of a veterinarian and in conjunction with a behavior-modification program.ĭog-appeasing pheromones (Adaptil): Dog appeasing pheromones (DAP), are a non-drug, natural option designed to help dogs with stress and separation anxiety. Clomicalm is FDA approved to treat separation anxiety in dogs. It should always be used under the supervision of a veterinarian and in conjunction with a behavior-modification program.Ĭlomipramine hydrochloride (Clomicalm): Clomicalm is a type of drug known as a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). Reconcile is FDA approved to treat separation anxiety in dogs. Fluoxetine hydrochloride is type of drug known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Share this Articleįluoxetine hydrochloride (Reconcile): Reconcile is the veterinary brand of fluoxetine hydrochloride, better known as Prozac in humans. Dont hesitate to involve expert dog trainers and behaviorists who can support you and guide you as you navigate this tricky issue. But success is within reach if you keep at it. Its going to be more of a marathon than a sprint, requiring much of your time and patience. Treating your dogs pica is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and you may need to trial a few potential solutions until you find one that works. In the absence of a medical reason for your dogs pica, youll need to identify your dogs stressors, eliminate them where possible and offer mitigating interventions like additional exercise, stimulating playtime, and appropriate chewing toys. Pica can have some really nasty and potentially fatal consequences if left untreated, so the sooner you get help, the better. If you suspect that your dog has pica, your first step is to get your pup to the vet, where the necessary tests can be done to eliminate any medical causes. ![]() Dogs are attempting to satisfy a need when they are eating these items, whether it is due to hunger, a nutritional deficiency, boredom, anxiety, or another cause.Pica in dogs is easy to spot but not as easy to treat. They exist by scavenging from garbage dumps, as well as handouts from strangers, so scavenging is something our dogs were naturally selected to be very good at doing! Even predators like wolves and coyotes will scavenge for food at times, including poop and grass. In other countries around the world, the majority of dogs are free-ranging and not owned by humans. They were comfortable enough to come close to human settlements to scavenge food from their garbage dumps. ![]() Dogs are believed to have been domesticated over 20,000 years ago because they were the less skittish of the wolf-type canids. ![]() There are various reasons for scavenging that include both behavioral and medical causes, but to a certain extent, it is a natural motor pattern that our dogs have been bred to perform. Puppies more commonly eat these items than adult dogs, and the eating of feces (coprophagia) is the most common form of pica. It is called pica when the behavior appears compulsive and the items ingested are non-food items. Yes, this is normal canine behavior (to a certain extent) that falls under scavenging. ![]()
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