PICA EATING DISORDER DOGS MANUAL

The ingestion of non-nutritive substances inappropriate to a person’s developmental level.

The ingestion of a substance which is not a part of culturally supported or socially normative practice- there are some strange cultural eating practices around the world.

Persistent eating of substances that are not food and do not provide nutritional value.

Speak confidentially with a counselor right now by calling (888) 837-6577. If you suspect you or someone you love has Pica, we can help. Although it is most frequently observed in children, Pica can occur in adults. Depending on the substances ingested, pica can be fatal.

PICA EATING DISORDER DOGS MANUAL

Apply a bitter taste to objects to discourage consumption works in some dogs.Pica is an eating disorder that involves a person eating items not typically thought of as food and which contain no significant nutritional value-things such as hair, dirt, and paint chips.Ī newer condition, only recently recognized as an eating disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM), Pica sufferers at an increased risk of poisoning, infections, injuries and nutrition deficiencies.Store plastic away so your dog has no access to them.Keep your dog indoors and leash-walk to prevent eating rocks and feces.Administer prescribed psychoactive drugs if your veterinarian if it is feels that pica is related to a behavioral disorder.Ĭomplete avoidance is the most effective prevention and should be instituted if at all possible.Treat the specific disease if an underlying cause can be identified (such as pancreatic enzyme supplementation for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or corticosteroids and dietary changes for inflammatory bowel disease).Avoidance of the offending material is the most effective therapy.Endoscopic examination may facilitate visualizing what has been ingested, removing it if its presence is causing associated clinical signs, or diagnosing an underlying diseases that causes pica (such as inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal lymphosarcoma).Abdominal radiographs (X-rays) may be helpful in dogs to rule out gastrointestinal foreign bodies and blockages secondary to pica.Trypsinogen-like immunoreactivity (TLI) should always be performed to rule out exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (especially in the German shepherd dog).A complete blood count (CBC), biochemical profile and urinalysis are performed to assess general organ function and to rule out underlying diseases such as a low red blood cell count seen with iron deficiency anemia, low total proteins seen with malabsorptive disorders, elevated blood sugar seen with diabetes mellitus.The following tests may be recommended in your dog:

Ingestion of nonfood items such as rocks, feces and grass.Endocrine disorders(hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus) cause polyphagia (increased appetite).Primary gastrointestinal maldigestive and malabsorptive disorders (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, severe inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal lymphosarcoma).One form of pica is coprophagia, which is the ingestion of feces.

Pica is the term used to describe the craving and ingestion of nonfood items by dogs.

Pica eating disorder dogs