Treatment plans for pica may include behavioral reconditioning, medication, appointments with a veterinary behaviorist, and an at-home care plan. Anxious dogs may be suffering from behavioral Pica, rather than Pica caused by lack of nutrition or other medical reasons.Īfter your vet has diagnosed the type of Pica your dog has and any other medical conditions that were hiding that could be causing the condition, they will go on to create a treatment plan. Pet parents should also tell their vet about any behavioral changes that they’ve witnessed in their dog. ![]() Because a nutritional deficiency is one of the main causes of Pica, knowing what your dog eats may save them from unnecessary tests. It’s crucial that you tell the complete truth here so that your vet can build a nutritional profile of your dog’s diet. Your vet will ask you what your dog eats on a regular basis, including any treats and human food you give them. With these tests and the information you supply, your vet will be able to rule out other conditions and test for common conditions that have Pica as a symptom. Treatment will likely start with a complete physical exam and blood, stool, and urine tests. Thyroid disease and other thyroid problems.Stress (Behavioral Pica is often called stress eating.).The following medical conditions and mental health conditions in dogs can have Pica as a symptom: Pica Caused by An Underlying Medical Condition Eating too much or too little of their dog food.Toys with missing chunks that you can’t find.Going out into your yard to chew rocks.Your vet will be able to run some tests and ask some questions to determine what may be causing Pica in your pup. Pica is defined as the act of a dog eating non-food objects. The quickest way to diagnose Pica is to answer this question: Is your dog licking, chewing, or swallowing non-food items? If the answer is yes, it’s very likely that your dog has Pica. But, because the behavior is hard to kick once it has become a habit, a puppy with the condition has a high chance of bringing it into adulthood with them. Coprophagia is the act of eating feces, which is more common in puppies than in adult dogs. Pica should not be confused with Coprophagia, a similar condition. Any notable behavior modification may be linked to your dog’s Pica disorder, as well as past trauma leading them to develop the condition. There are so many reasons that your dog may have developed Pica that it’s difficult to list them all. Some dog breeds are more prone to developing Pica than others, too. Identifying Pica is a great first step to getting your dog the treatment that they need. We’ll get into this more later on in this guide, but essentially, Pica can be a symptom of other health conditions that your dog may have. The third major cause of Pica is an unknown underlying medical issue. If your vet suspects this is the case, you can work out a treatment plan that will help your dog feel more comfortable, confident, and safer in their current environment. Behavioral Pica can have an underlying cause that requires your dog to be treated for stress and anxiety and may have appeared due to past trauma. Pica may also be caused by your dog’s anxiety or other negative emotions. Proper diet and changes to their current dog food can help combat this cause of Pica very quickly. Most dogs will turn to eat objects to try and gain the nutrition they aren’t getting from their food. ![]() In most cases, Pica will appear because of a lack of nutrition in a dog’s diet. Behavioral Pica exists, too, and can be the result of compulsive eating or your dog’s anxiety levels reaching too-high states. Pica may or may not be caused by other issues with your pet’s health that you’re unaware of. Some dogs will just lick or chew rocks, which can also be a sign of nutritional deficiency. Pica in dogs is not always so severe as to cause other medical problems. This leads to them ingesting non-food items, which can then cause issues with the dog’s health, including injury to their digestive tract. ![]() What is Pica in Dogs?ĭog’s Pica is a medical condition where a canine seems to enjoy eating non-food objects. The information below will help you aid your dog if you find them munching on foreign objects. In this guide, we talk about what Pica is, what causes it, and how it’s treated. The severity and causes of dogs’ Pica can vary, depending on any other possible underlying medical conditions. If you see your dog eating dirt, licking rocks, or chewing on anything other than their own kibble, it’s highly probable that they have Pica disorder. Adolescent and adult dogs can both suffer from a condition that causes them to crave and eat non-food items.
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