Pica In Dogs - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost

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Pica in DogsWhat is Pica?Pets with pica eat objects that are not considered edible.  Coprophagy is the consumption of feces.  Coprophagy is a natural behavior in nursing dogs, to eat their puppy’s excrement. It is not a natural behavior in adult dogs. Pica is more common in female canines.  In most cases, pica is a compulsive behavior problem. Pica can cause serious problems to your pet’s health. If your pet is eating non-food items, you should take him to a veterinarian. According to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), compulsive behavior will not just go away on its own. The veterinarian will determine if your pet is showing behavior or if there are any underlying medical conditions.Pica refers to a canine craving and ingesting non-food items.  Items being ingested may include dirt, rocks, paper, cloth, mulch and even feces.Youtube PlayPica Average CostFrom 414 quotes ranging from $300 - $5,000Average Cost$2,000Protect yourself and your pet. Compare top pet insurance plans.

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Symptoms of Pica in DogsYou may observe your pet eating non-food objects.  Be aware that depending on what non-food items are being ingested; they can cause serious problems to your pet’s health.  Ingested foreign objects can cause internal ulcerations, gastrointestinal irritation and blockage in the intestines. Your pet may have one or more of the following symptoms, after ingesting a non-food item:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loose Stool
• Chronic bad breath

If there is a blockage in the gastrointestinal tract symptoms may include:

• Straining during bowel movement
• Unable to move bowels
• Dark, tarry stools
• Burping
• Excessive drooling
• Abdominal contractions

Causes of Pica in DogsPica may be caused by behavior disorders such as:

• Anxiety or stress 
• Trying to get attention
• Boredom - lack of stimulation or exercise
• Depression
• Frustration
• Lack of socialization

Pica can be triggered by several medical conditions; which cause increased appetite such as:

• Immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) 
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) 
• Hookworms intestinal parasites
• Stomach tumor
• Hyperthyroidism
• Diabetes mellitus
• Malnutrition 
• Unbalanced diet

Pet prescribed medications that can increase appetite and lead to pica:

• Corticosteroids (for example, prednisone)
• Anti-seizure (such as phenobarbital)

Diagnosis of Pica in DogsThe veterinarian will take a thorough medical history of your pet.  He may ask you about your dog’s diet, appetite, thirst, bowel movements, behavior, and his activity level. The veterinarian will perform a physical examination which may include: 

• Palpation of the stomach and lymph nodes
• Listening to his lungs and heart with a stethoscope
• Dog’s general body condition (weight, skin, coat)
• Taking a look inside his ears and mouth
• Checking eyes for redness or discharge

After the physical exam your veterinarian may recommend a complete blood count (CBC), urinalysis, and a serum biochemistry profile. These tests will help rule-out any underlying diseases such as iron deficiency anemia, thyroid problems or diabetes mellitus. The veterinarian may also recommend x-rays, to check for any blockage in the digestive tract.Treatment of Pica in DogsTreatment of pica in dogs will depend if it is a behavior or an underlying medical condition. If it is determined that pica is due to behavior issues, your veterinarian may recommend increasing physical activities for your pet.  There are natural herb remedies that may help your dog with anxiety issues and have a calming effect on him. It will be necessary to keep your pet away from the non-food objects he has been ingesting. Leash walking your pet will help prevent him from eating rocks and feces. Using bitter tasting spray on the objects he is attracted to may deter him. Provide your pet with plenty of chew toys. The veterinarian may also suggest and recommend a dog behaviorist for pets that may not have been not been properly socialized or have extreme behavior disorders. If the veterinarian team diagnosed an underlying disease or condition; a treatment plan appropriate for your pet will be discussed with you.  Additionally, a new dietary plan may be recommended. If your pet has a gastrointestinal blockage, he will have to be hospitalized and undergo surgery. X-rays or an ultrasound will help identify the location of the obstruction. Sometimes, an endoscope can be used to remove small foreign objects that are lodged in the stomach. Your pet will be giving general anesthesia in both procedures. Curious about which health plan is right for your dog? Head over to Forbes' breakdown of pet insurance.

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Recovery of Pica in DogsFollow-up visits will be necessary for your pet.  In the case of blockage of the intestinal tract, post-surgery visits will be needed to check on the incision and the removal of sutures. If an underlying disease was diagnosed, follow- ups visits will be needed to check on your pet’s progress and response to the treatment plan.Pica Average CostFrom 414 quotes ranging from $300 - $5,000Average Cost$2,000Protect yourself and your pet. Compare top pet insurance plans.TopPica Questions and Advice from Veterinary ProfessionalsHuskySierra1 Year

19 found this helpful

19 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:Complusive EatingMy husky Sierra will not stop eating anything she can get ahold of, she has been like this since she was a puppy and had to have surgery because she swallowed a towel and socks. We watch her 24/7 but she eats fur and anything else that touches the floor before we can get it. She is even trying to eat the couch! We don't want to muzzle her 24/7 and even when I try to play with her to assure she is not bored, she gets distracted and will try to eat something.Aug. 11, 201819 RecommendationsIt can be difficult to determine whether there is just a behavioural issue in consuming everything or if Sierra is trying to compensate for a nutritional deficiency or something else; you should think about going over training repetitively to try and curb this behaviour, I’ve place two training guides linked below for you to go through, the first is more useful and you should have a look through it and try the principles. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM https://wagwalking.com/training/not-eat-everything https://wagwalking.com/training/not-eat-garbageAug. 11, 2018Was this question and answer helpful?

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American Staffordshire TerrierMyla2 Years

10 found this helpful

10 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:Eats CoinsEats RocksEats Paper TowelsEats DustEats Toy FillingEats BugsMy American Stafforshire Terrier mix, who I've had for over a year and a half now, and just turned two in early July, seems to have many symptoms of PICA. She doesn't have much of an appetite for her regular dry food (we've tried switching it up, she refuses to eat any brand/flavor, she eats wet food without protest), however she does seem to have an appetite for coins (seeing as within two weeks of my family having her she needed an endoscopy to remove 3 from her stomach), rocks, sticks, the metal part of her leash, and even dust and bugs inside the house. We have been told by many vets and pet store owners/employees that she may have an iron deficiency, which makes sense, however the supplement we tried for a month seemed not to work. We have also been told it may be because she is bored. We are hesitant to give her any toys including the ones advertised as unbreakable because she will chew on them long enough to break them and then continue to eat the filling or pieces. She gets plenty of exercise and is outside for the majority of most days. When she's inside, my family and I keep her in a small area of our house gated off from the rest, because she will eat anything on the floor. She also has habits of growling at people when they try to stop her from doing any of these actions, although she's never hurt anyone. Anything you may suggest is greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading this.July 23, 2018Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM10 RecommendationsThat is a strange problem for Myla, and some dogs are very prone to dietary indiscretion, or eating things that they shouldn't. There are basket type muzzles that might help - they aren't actual muzzles, they just prevent them from eating things they shouldn't, that you can talk to your veterinarian about to see if it might help her. They aren't very much fun, but can prevent life threatening problems. If she will eat wet food, you may be able to mix that with dry food and make her less hungry so that she isn't eating so many strange things.July 23, 2018Was this question and answer helpful?

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See moreSee moreMost popular symptom guidesIdiopathic Sterile Granuloma and PyogranulomaOverproduction of EstrogenNose Cancer (Chondrasarcoma)Infertility (Male)Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Lymphocytes and Plasma)Amoeba InfectionExcess Thyroid HormoneAggressionIris BombeItchy SkinJawbone EnlargementLong-Term Stomach InflammationIdiopathic Sterile Granuloma and PyogranulomaOverproduction of EstrogenNose Cancer (Chondrasarcoma)Infertility (Male)Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Lymphocytes and Plasma)Amoeba InfectionExcess Thyroid HormoneAggressionIris BombeItchy SkinJawbone EnlargementLong-Term Stomach InflammationIdiopathic Sterile Granuloma and PyogranulomaOverproduction of EstrogenNose Cancer (Chondrasarcoma)Infertility (Male)Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Lymphocytes and Plasma)Amoeba InfectionExcess Thyroid HormoneAggressionIris BombeItchy SkinJawbone EnlargementLong-Term Stomach InflammationPica Average CostFrom 414 quotes ranging from $300 - $5,000Average Cost$2,000Protect yourself and your pet. Compare top pet insurance plans.

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