Serious Causes of Pica in Dogs
Sometimes, dogs eat strange things and many of us wonder why this happens. Pica is the craving to consume substances other than food. For example, pica in dogs can manifest into a desire to eat rocks, puffs of hair on the ground, dirt or even clothes. The majority of issues pertaining to pica in dogs are behavioral issues, such as a puppy chewing and accidentally swallowing socks. However, this isn’t necessarily always the case. Let’s chat about the other causes of pica in dogs—those that involve medical issues.
Focal Seizures
When dogs have recurring problems of ingesting odd objects and behavioral solutions haven’t solved the issue, it’s time to dig deeper for the exact cause of pica in dogs. Several years ago, a client’s dog had multiple surgeries to remove ingested objects. Despite this, her dog continued to eat strange items. When behavioral solutions didn’t work, I asked the client several questions:
- Does this dog behavior only happen outdoors or indoors?
- Does this behavior happen all the time, some days, at night or during the day?
- Is there a change in dog behavior before your dog ingests objects?
- What happens after your dog eats these objects?
- When was your last veterinary exam, including blood work?
It seemed this dog would suddenly become startled (jump up and walk around), lick her lips continuously, gulp air, and then swallow anything and everything around her. After a few minutes, the behavior stopped and she would either sleep for hours or cling to her owner. This cluster of strange dog behaviors happened at different times of the day and night. The dog would also be conscious, yet non-responsive when she heard her name.
Together, my client and I spoke with her veterinarian about these odd and unpredictable behaviors. The vet referred them to a veterinary neurologist who confirmed that these behaviors were indeed a type of focal seizure. The dog responded well to anti-seizure medications and the odd pica-type behaviors quickly stopped.
Digestive Issues
Dogs are unable to verbally tell us they have a tummy ache, but their behavior is a giveaway that there is an issue. Some dogs will eat grass, consume dirt, lick themselves or ingest odd objects (pica) when their stomach hurts. This is because they’re trying to stop the pain.
Usually, this dog behavior is accompanied by:
- Gurgling stomach sounds
- Licking of lips
- Moving into or staying in a praying stance
- Whining
- Drinking excess amounts of water
Most of us notice when a dog is acting oddly. However, we typically don’t notice a dog’s tummy hurts until he or she vomits or has diarrhea.
Personal Story
About 15 years ago, one of my dogs displayed these behaviors repeatedly and I assumed it was a behavioral problem. We worked on our “trade” cue whenever Armond would pick up and try to consume small rocks. I would also redirect him when he stretched into a praying position for several minutes.
After a week or so, Armond threw up vomit that resembled black coffee grounds. I immediately knew that it was an ulcer. I rushed him to our vet’s office where Armond had to be hospitalized for several days. His ulcer had been caused by taking non-steroidal pain medication (NSAID) for several months to reduce chronic pain from an ACL repair.
Fast forward to the present when my little Bull Terrier started licking her lips and randomly eating odd things. I immediately feared that she might be having a seizure. Our vet placed her on Pepcid (over-the-counter antacid) and these clutters of behavior went away immediately. Whew!
You may also be interested in: Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome in Dogs
Summary of Pica in Dogs
Don’t panic. It’s very common for puppies and young dogs to chew and swallow odd objects. If this behavior doesn’t resolve itself when certain behavior protocols have already been used, then I would certainly speak with your veterinarian. I would recommend the same course of action if your dog is exhibiting a series of odd behaviors and is taking medications that can cause stomach distress.
