Pica in Dogs 101
Pica is a condition in which dogs crave and ingest non-food items. Coins, batteries, rocks, dirt, socks, fabric… There are plenty of possibilities, all of them dangerous! Read on as your pet clinic Louisville, KY tells you more about pica in dogs.
What causes pica?
Pica is either behavioral or medical in nature. Behavioral cases have an underlying issue like anxiety at their root. A medical case of pica might mean that a nutritional deficiency or a thyroid problem, for example, is causing the behavior.
How is pica dealt with?
In cases of medical pica, treating the underlying medical problem should cause the behavior to stop. For behavioral cases, professional training or behavioral modification might be needed. Pet owners might also need to remove stress triggers at home or use anxiety medication prescribed by a veterinarian.
What if my dog eats a foreign object?
If your pet eats something they shouldn’t have, rush them to your local veterinary emergency room. Even if your dog isn’t choking, it could experience a dangerous intestinal blockage. The sooner your vet sees them, the better.
Would you like to know more about pica? Contact your animal hospital Louisville, KY today. We’re always happy to help.
