Dogs with separation anxiety commonly chew and ingest items when their owners are not around. Coprophagia is also common in young puppies, but it is a behavior they typical grow out of as they age. In nursing female dogs, pica is common and is considered normal, because the mother will ingest the feces of her puppy when she licks around the anus to stimulate a bowel movement. The most common form of pica in dogs is coprophagia, which is the ingestion of feces. Pica can be the result of an illness, parasites, or a nutritional deficiency, but it is more often due to a mental health condition such as boredom, depression, anxiety, or extreme hunger. Tenesmus (straining to have a bowel movement)īlue/purple mucous membranes in the mouth Common clinical signs associated with pica (besides ingestion of a non-food item) include: This compulsive ingestion can lead to ulcers and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, in addition to the possibly of a serious obstruction of the stomach or intestines. You may catch your dog eating a non-food item, which can be the first sign of pica in dogs. If you see or suspect your dog may have eaten a non-food item, contact your veterinary immediately. Ingesting these items can be very dangerous and it puts your dog at risk for toxicity, choking, stomach upset, or even a life-threatening gastrointestinal blockage.
Pica is typically considered a psychological, obsessive-compulsive habit, but it can be the result of a medical condition or poor nutrition. Some dogs will consume any non-food item they come in contact with, but others will choose the same type of item every time. Due to a dog’s ability to detect their pet parents’ scent, items such as underwear, socks, pantyhose, towels, and wet wipes are particular favorites. Metal, plastic, cloth, garbage, rocks, paper, dirt, and feces are common non-nutritional items that dogs with pica ingest. A dog needs to ingest the item-not just chew on it-for it to be considered pica. Pica is a common condition where a dog consistently eats objects that are not food items.
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