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. Check with your vet if you believe that might be the case for your dog. 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.
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