Ask your regular vet for help finding one in your area. Never give any meds without checking with your vet first.ĭogs with behavioral pica may benefit from being evaluated and treated by a board-certified canine behavior specialist. My dogs like when i put some kibble in a soda bottle and screw on the cap. in addition to that, any sort of game you can play with them that involves them finding things you hide, or makes them figure something out is good. Check with your vet if you believe that might be the case for your dog. Theres all kinds of toys that involve stuffing food or treats inside of them that are puzzles for dogs. Some dogs with pica require medications for anxiety. Give the dog praise for doing something other than engaging in pica.

If your vet feels the dog isn't getting enough calories, get the doctor's recommendation for type and amount of food.įor more information on treating separation anxiety, check this article: ' Separation Anxiety in Dogs.'īehavioral modification for dogs with pica can include redirecting their attention to a play session or something else when they move toward chewing the undesirable item.

Be sure your dog has proper enrichment (lots of toys) and provide plenty of exercise and interactive play time each day to decrease boredom and stress.

Provide a safe alternative for chewing or playing with and keep the dog in his crate when you can't supervise him if you believe the cause is puppyhood.

If it's dirt, the dog must be walked on a leash and not left outside alone.

Limit the dog's access to the items he seems to like to ingest.If a dog's pica is determined to have a behavioral cause, the following are some steps to take: When a dog is exhibiting pica, any underlying medical condition that's diagnosed must be treated. If all medical conditions are ruled out, the dog's pica may be diagnosed as behavioral. X-rays may be done of the GI tract to look for obvious tumors or check for any indication of a foreign body obstruction. If there are other signs of illness like weight loss, lab tests might be done to check for anemia, EPI, and portosystemic shunt. When a dog is exhibiting pica, a veterinarian will take a complete history from you and do a thorough physical exam. Young dogs sometimes eat non-food items out of curiosity or as part of their play and exploration. A portosystemic liver shunt is one of the primary conditions in this category. Neurological conditions affecting the brain.

A dog that isn't getting enough calories from food may eat non-food items out of pure hunger. Malabsorption disorders, especially exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).Some dogs can develop OCD-like conditions that manifest as pica. Dogs that are chained outside without anything to do may eat dirt out of boredom and stress. Behavioral disorders, including obsessive-compulsive conditions, boredom, stress, or separation anxiety.In the meantime, you’ll have to keep a close eye on your pup to make sure they don’t have access to any non-edible items. If the pica is caused by a nutritional deficiency, they might need you to give a detailed list of the food your dog eats. If pica is caused by a medical condition, your vet can prescribe medication that treats the condition. Certain medical conditions or nutritional deficiencies can also be responsible for pica If your dog’s mental health does not improve, your veterinarian may recommend putting your pup on some medication to calm their nerves. Offer them enrichment, make sure their walks are long and stimulating, and use reinforcement training to stop your dog from eating everyday items. In the meantime, you should try and keep your dog happy. They can get to the root cause of your dog’s behavioral issues or separation anxiety and write out a detailed training plan to help your pup. If your dog is bored, stressed, and anxious, it will help to enroll a veterinary behaviorist or dog trainer. This type of separation anxiety may indicate undiagnosed disease, and it can be relieved by treating the disease or, at minimum, relieving your dogs pain or.

Pica is most commonly a psychological issue. The treatment of pica depends on the cause, but we’ve added some of the most common so that you know what pica treatment involves.

Dealing with pica dogs