A 2000 study published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis suggested that a simple multivitamin supplement may be an effective treatment in some cases. Until recently, research hasn’t focused on medications to help people with pica. Depending on your diagnosis, they may prescribe medications, therapy, or both. Your doctor may also order a psychological evaluation to determine if you have OCD or another mental health condition. For example, they’ll recommend taking regular iron supplements if you’re diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. If your doctor thinks your pica is caused by nutrient imbalances, they may prescribe vitamin or mineral supplements. Rock-eating is a classic example of pica, which is characterized by the ingestion of non-food objects. This medication may be taken by mouth, or your doctor may prescribe intravenous chelation medications for lead poisoning, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). This will allow you to excrete the lead in your urine. An underlying deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals your dog needs could be causing her to eat dirt or rocks. In humans, pica can stem from a lack of iron or zinc in the body. Malnutrition Or Changes In Appetite Due To Underlying Disease. Greater physical and mental stimulus with activity can reduce boredom, anxiety, and stress for these problems. Here are some possible reasons for pica in dogs: 1. If your Frenchie has stress in their life, they might also try pica. They might let out their pent-up frustration by choosing to eat rocks. In this procedure, you’ll be given medication that binds with lead. Anxiety is a significant source of obsessive and odd behavior in dogs. For example, if you have severe lead poisoning from eating paint chips, your doctor may prescribe chelation therapy. Coger says, “both because of possible serious underlying causes and before it becomes a habit.Your doctor will probably begin by treating any complications you’ve acquired from eating nonfood items. “I would add that any new, unnatural behavior, such as dirt eating, should be acted upon quickly,” Dr. This reduces the chance of them encountering rocks and eliminates the temptation to chew or eat them. It’s also possible that your dog could ingest a parasite along with the dirt, which can cause a range of additional health issues. 1.When allowing your dog to roam freely, choose grassy areas without stones. Sharp sticks could puncture the linings of your dog’s mouth, throat, intestine, or stomach. “Depending on the dirt, dental damage or wear could also be a concern.” If the dirt has rocks in it, for example, it could cause damage to your dog’s teeth and cause obstruction in the throat or any point along the digestive tract. The dirt could also contain pesticides, fertilizers, or other toxins that could reach toxic levels if enough dirt was ingested,” Dr. The main risk is impaction of the intestine (hardened stool that gets stuck in the body due to long-term constipation) if your dog eats a lot at once.

Bloodwork to look for underlying abnormalities may be helpful in pinpointing a cause.”Īs you may expect, there are risks to letting your dog continually eat dirt. “Changes in stool would be another sign that a vet visit is in order. “If is frequent, intense/manic in nature, or large quantities are consumed, then it’s time to go to the vet,” she says. Coger notes that while stomach and gastrointestinal issues could be to blame for your dog’s interest in dirt, canines are more likely to seek out grass in these cases. Nutritional imbalances or deficiencies, especially in mineralsĭr.

It could be a sign of a bigger issue, such as: If your dog is continually eating dirt, you shouldn’t discount this behavior. Coprophagy, the technical term for the eating of. What is pica in a dog Pica is the consumption of non-food substances. Stress or boredom can also lead to eating all sorts of things, including dirt.” If your dog is licking on rocks, boulders, or other stones, it could be trying to get some sodium, and if it is licking tile, bathtubs, or other surfaces, it could be looking for calcium, potassium, or some other mineral. There are many causes, including nutritional, behavioral, and physical. Pica is a condition where dogs, usually adolescents or adults in age, indulge in unordinary items like paper, sand, dirt, garbage, and you guessed it rocks. Coger, DVM, explains, “Dirt eating is a form of what is termed ‘pica,’ the ingestion of nonfood materials. But have you ever observed your pet snacking on straight-up dirt? Why Do Dogs Eat Dirt? Finally, if your pet doesn’t have Pica or a behavioral issue, they may be eating rocks due to a nutritional deficiency or a parasite. Your dog might be seeking your attention when he puts rocks in his mouth or he could be anxious or bored. As a pet owner, you may have caught your dog eating (or attempting to eat) some pretty weird stuff. Stress or anxiety in your dog may manifest into your dog eating rocks.

Pica dogs rocks