While certain breeds like Labradors are more naturally prone to pica, dogs that have high energy but do not get enough exercise or stimulation often choose to ingest non-food items. Dogs with separation anxiety commonly chew and ingest items when their owners are not around. Coprophagia is also common in young puppies, but it is a behavior they typical grow out of as they age. In nursing female dogs, pica is common and is considered normal, because the mother will ingest the feces of her puppy when she licks around the anus to stimulate a bowel movement. The most common form of pica in dogs is coprophagia, which is the ingestion of feces. Pica can be the result of an illness, parasites, or a nutritional deficiency, but it is more often due to a mental health condition such as boredom, depression, anxiety, or extreme hunger.
Tenesmus (straining to have a bowel movement)īlue/purple mucous membranes in the mouth Common clinical signs associated with pica (besides ingestion of a non-food item) include: This compulsive ingestion can lead to ulcers and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, in addition to the possibly of a serious obstruction of the stomach or intestines. You may catch your dog eating a non-food item, which can be the first sign of pica in dogs.
Check your pet’s symptom Symptoms of Pica in Dogs
