Pica questions

[DoWeDance]

I have already searched the forums for this, so please don't yell at me for asking! My year-and-3-month-old female Doberman has displayed symptoms of pica. The first time, I had no idea what pica was, and was very surprised when she threw up a 1*1 inch piece of gravel late one night. Three weeks passed, and she did it again, except this time, it was 3 rocks! (in the same vomiting episode - OMG!) I decided this was no accident and after doing a little research found out pica is a condition in which dogs eat non-food objects. Hence, the rocks. I know how dangerous this is, so I have taken to monitoring her outside time. She is of a healthy weight, and gets plenty of exercize - my husband and I walk our dogs every night. My question is, who here has dealt with pica? Could this be a young dog thing? Is there hope for her to quit eating rocks, or am I constantly going to have to watch her? I am terrified she will get one in her intestine.

[fairlight]

Some dogs will automatically pick up rocks and other things they should not have and ingest them. Most pups will do this not to eat the rocks, but to roll them around in ther mouth because it soothes the gums for teething. Since your dog is well over a year old I would consider a basket muzzle for her face along with a crash course of the words "leave it."

[BabyElephant]

A friend of mine has just had to have his puppy operated on because she ate a stone and it got stuck... she ended up having an overnight stay in the vets, has also got KC at the same time so is in a pretty rough state right now

I also know somebody else who's dobie ate part of a kong and that story didn't end so well...

Lots of puppies will eat non-food objects including rocks - because they are puppies and that is a way of them exploring things by putting them in their mouths. It's up to us to teach them what is acceptable and what isn't otherwise we could end up with some very poorly dogs.

[shadowfacedanes]

There is (was) a member here who had a dog with a very serious case of pica. I can't remember the username though (terrible with names!).

True pica is a very serious disorder. Training, muzzling etc are all great, but for a true pica dog, 100 percent supervision is an absolute because they will literally ingest anything they can get their mouths on.

There are many thoughts about what causes pica, though I don't think anyone has pinpointed a definitive cause.

I knew someone who had a pica dog. It was very frustrating for them and the dog went through multiple surgeries over it's life. I'm suprised it lived a full life, actually, as some of his exploits were very dangerous.

I would recommend consulting a vet as well as a behavorist, and monitoring her closely. I would avoid exercising her where there are rocks since those seem to be particularly "attractive" to her.

[Bellabianca]

Be sure to have your dog checked for general health. One of my malteses was doing this with out my knowing. She was unspayed and died from uterine cancer. When the vet was performing the necropsy he found a whole bunch of little pieces of asphalt from the side of our road. He said that sometimes dogs will eat things like this in a mistaken belief that it will relieve the pain they are feeling.

[EmmaGirl]

I found this site...hope it helps:

Pica Behaviour in the Adult Dog

[FairyDogMother]

At only 3 months of age, I wouldn't jump to a pica conclusion just yet. All puppies, like babies mouth everything.
She's just finishing up getting her puppy teeth in and will start to lose them for adult teeth over the next few months.
Do you give her appropriate teething items? If not, I would suggest the switch game with her. NO to the rocks; YES and good girl to the Kong, Raw Hide, Natural Bone or whatever you chose to use.
Good luck, just really sounds like mouthy teething type stuff that ends up swallowed.

[Aurezalia]

Originally Posted by FairyDogMother

At only 3 months of age, I wouldn't jump to a pica conclusion just yet. All puppies, like babies mouth everything.
She's just finishing up getting her puppy teeth in and will start to lose them for adult teeth over the next few months.
Do you give her appropriate teething items? If not, I would suggest the switch game with her. NO to the rocks; YES and good girl to the Kong, Raw Hide, Natural Bone or whatever you chose to use.
Good luck, just really sounds like mouthy teething type stuff that ends up swallowed.

Oops... She wrote 1 year and 3 months.

[DoWeDance]

Thanks - you guys have been very helpful. I will definitely mention this to her vet. I just want a happy and healthy dog

[EmmaGirl]

Good luck and please keep us posted.