For instance, if your dog eats rocks, keep him out of rocky areas of the yard or parks. Next, if possible, limit the animal’s access to the items he constantly tries to eat. Give the pet appropriate toys to play with, make sure he gets plenty of human interaction and, of course, take him for walks. Along with diet, make sure the animal has plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Sometimes this change is all that’s needed. First, make sure the animal is on a good-quality diet. There are some basic things that you can try without working with a behavior specialist, although working with one does allow for the greatest chance of stopping the pica behavior. Your veterinarian should be able to direct you to other professionals with expertise in dog and cat behavior. If one isn’t available in your area or within your budget, consulting with your veterinarian or a trainer may be helpful. If medical reasons have been ruled out, then it’s worth consulting a veterinary behaviorist.
If the problem isn’t medical, but behavioral It can be frustrating not having an answer that allows for specific treatment, but if a medical cause is identified, it usually either carries a poor prognosis or is expensive to fix. The cause of pica in a particular animal can be difficult to identify. If an abnormality is found, the best course is to treat for that abnormality and see if the pica improves. Describing all the diagnostic options could fill a chapter in a textbook. Of course, if abnormalities are noted, further testing may be needed. X-rays may also be warranted if there is concern about a GI obstruction and to rule out other potential causes of pica. Typically, this involves checking folate and cobalamin levels and doing a TLI (trypsin-like immunoreactivity) test to check for pancreatic function. Depending on the signs your animal is showing, more specific blood work, to see if the GI tract is perhaps not absorbing nutrients, may be required. Along with a complete physical exam, this should include a fecal examination to check for gastrointestinal (GI) parasites and blood work to look for conditions such as anemia, liver disease, diabetes or pancreatic disease. If you think your pet has pica, a thorough medical work-up is recommended.
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? Diagnosing pica by visiting a veterinarian 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 Pica can even be a symptom of normal exploratory behavior.
The causes of pica can be hard to determine, but can include gastrointestinal disease, anemia, liver disease, pancreatic disease, diseases causing excess appetite (such as diabetes), neurologic diseases, poor diet, being on medications such as prednisone, behavioral disorders such as anxiety, or a depraved home environment. Pica doesn’t include the ingestion of trash or feces, since the consumption of such things is often driven by different motivations. Anemia during pregnancy.The ingestion of non-food items, such as rocks, dirt or fabric, is called pica disorder and it’s a fairly common occurrence in pets. Clinical Outcomes of Behavioral Treatments for Pica in Children with Developmental Disabilities. Paper eating: An unusual obsessive-compulsive disorder dimension. What is pica.įields VL, Soke GN, Reynolds A, Tian LH, Wiggins L, Maenner M, et al. doi:10.7759/cureus.9330.Īmerican Academy of Family Physicians. Pica/Pagophagia-Associated Hyponatremia: Patient Presenting With Seizure. Bedanie G, Tikue A, Thongtan T, Zitun M, Nugent K.
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