8/9/2023 0 Comments Dealing with pica dogs![]() Nutrient imbalances can be linked to hormonal issues which stop your dog from absorbing the nutrients and minerals from the day to day food. Mud eating could be linked to Pica and thus behavioral reconditioning, environmental enrichment, reducing anxiety and stress, and keeping mud away from the dog would be the answer, however please also ask your vet to run some bloodwork to check for Anemia or a Nutrient or mineral imbalance first. However, if the dog is particularly stressed or anxious then pharmacological intervention may be required in the form of SSRI'S or TCA’s. If the behaviour is associated with hypokinesis and compulsive behaviour then this is often brought about by stress or lack of mental stimulation, so it would be necessary to reduce stress. For example with ‘leave it’ and ‘drop it.’ Train an alternative response to refocus attention away from risky objects. Manage the environment to prevent your dog accessing dangerous items. Pica often presents with compulsive and hyperkinetic disorders, therefore: “The appetitive seeking system may be overly active, resulting in hyper arousal and excessive exploratory activity, chewing, and eating of non-nutritive items- signs consistent with hyperkinesis.” (Lindsay, 2005). Dogs with pica often have some type of digestive disturbance as reflected in their abnormal dietary preferences, and improved levels of nutrition can help to reduce that behaviour.’ Three or four small meals daily are physiologically easier for the body to digest, absorb, and assimilate as opposed to one or two larger daily meals. If the problem is to do with parasites say, then that could be treated and if nutrition, then Black (2018) suggests changing diet, taking a supplement, probiotic and some antioxidants may be used alongside looking at a change in frequency of feeding: ![]() The source could be both medical and behavioural and so assessment from a vet should be obtained in the first instance.Īccording to Veterinarian Dr Kelly Black (2018), ‘anything from starvation or nutritional imbalances to hormonal imbalances and diseases such as diabetes and thyroid problems can all contribute to the condition’ and so blood, urine, stool, and other tests to check for improper digestion/malabsorption, the presence of parasites, and more, should be done before approaching the problem from a behavioural perspective. Puppies use their mouths to explore the world, chewing and swallowing things that were never meant to enter a dog’s digestive system.Pica may be defined as scavenging forbidden food and eating non-nutritive objects. Sometimes, however, the urge to eat non-food items can turn into a potentially life-threatening disorder known as pica.įortunately, by around 6 months of age, most pups satisfy their curiosity without ingesting unsuitable things like socks, underwear, and plastic bags. Dogs can learn that eating non-edibles can get them attention.Boredom is a common cause of pica in puppies and young dogs. Pica may be a symptom of a medical condition such as digestive disorder, parasites, a dietary imbalance, or poisoning.Even a firm scolding can encourage bad behavior. Pica is an eating disorder characterized by abnormal and excessive eating of non-nutritive substances, such as gravel, earth, paint, plaster, or plastic. Your dog’s diet may be deficient in some nutrient.Ask your veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical cause for pica. Grass and soil can act as a dietary supplement and help improve a dog’s digestion. If your dog can’t resist eating non-food items and would rather eat the inedible than do anything else, you might be dealing with a compulsion.If your dog only “grazes” occasionally, this type of pica is not worrisome. In that case, find a professional experienced in treating compulsive pica. Treatment is often a combination of behavioral modification and drug therapy.
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