When your dog’s gut health is as it should be, his microbiome connection to the brain (also called the gut-brain axis) can naturally help relieve symptoms that come from anxiety, mental health issues, boredom or depression. Bernie’s Perfect Poop May Lesson Symptoms Of Pica In DogsĮxperts agree that good digestive and gut health are tied to so many other health-related issues in dogs and us, their humans. Contact your vet for more options should these not be sufficient. Teach him the ‘drop it’ or ‘leave it’ command or even consider spraying items he tries to eat with something like Bitter Apple to deter him. Consider giving them things to do to help lessen boredom they may suffer–puzzles and food games or even a dog walker to give them some extra attention and distraction from pica.īasic as it sounds, try to remove the things the dog is eating so they don’t have access to it anymore. If you have an active breed, they crave that exercise and stimulation and if they don’t get it, they may end up with pica. But, if you know their gut health is in great shape and they’re still eating things they shouldn’t, work on behavioral remedies.Įnsure your dog gets a good amount of exercise per day. This alone can reduce their need to seek out other things to eat and satisfy nutritional deficiencies. The most important thing to do for pica in dogs is to be sure they are getting the nutrition they need and their digestive system is working as it should. In many cases, good gut health can make a huge difference because good gut health is tied to good mental health and reduced anxiety. If your dog’s gut health and nutrition are good, and it’s behavioral in nature, you’ll need to work on helping relieve your dog’s compulsion to eat non-food items. It’s important that you ensure your dog’s gut health is as good as it can be, and that he’s getting maximum nutrient absorption when you are trying to treat pica in dogs. Dogs with pica may suffer from malnutrition, liver disease, parasites or anemia. Still, some dogs suffer from pica because they have medical conditions that are associated with poor digestive function. They’re likely bored, stressed or suffering from anxiety or other mental health conditions. What Causes Pica In Dogs?įor the most part, pica in dogs is considered to be a behavioral condition. Call your vet and tell them you’re coming and then get there quickly. If you know your dog has pica and you notice some of the following, you should contact your vet immediately: Unable to poop, drooling, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. This can cause serious issue, and could require immediate and emergent veterinary care. Depending on what they eat, they can even get tangled and cut off oxygen and flow. When dogs eat things they aren’t able to digest, they can get stuck in the digestive tract. The problem of dogs with pica can be serious. The difference between a dog who has a ‘chewing’ problem and a dog with pica is that the dog with pica consistently and persistently chews and consumes the non-nutritional substances, and this can be a problem. According to the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, pica in dogs is when they eat unusual things like wood, plastic, strings, rocks, rubber bands and more. Some dogs even have that nasty habit of eating their poop, also known as coprophagia, and this is the most common form of pica in dogs. At least when we initially become dog pawrents and we teach our dogs what’s good to eat–and what’s not. Most dog pawrents would agree that destroyed shoes, books, underclothes and furniture legs are often part of the price we pay to have our furry best friends. Known as pica in dogs, it can be serious. But if your dog has pica, that’s an eating problem in dogs you need to deal with. For the most part, that ‘puppy-like’ behavior disappears and your dog realizes the good stuff is that yummy food you give. It’s almost a given…most dogs will end up eating something non-food in their lifetime.
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