Pica in Dogs: What to Know

If you accidentally drop food on the floor, it’s no surprise if your dog tries to gobble it up. But what if your dog eats things that aren’t food at all? From dirt in the backyard or an elastic band from the garbage, some dogs repeatedly consume items that have no nutritional value. This behavior, known as pica, can have serious health consequences. Understanding why it happens and how to address it can help keep your dog safe and healthy.

What Is Pica in Dogs?

Pica is the repeated consumption of non-food items. Although chewing sticks, shoes, furniture, and other household objects is normal canine behavior, most dogs don’t actually swallow what they’re gnawing on. Dogs with pica consistently eat substances that provide no nutrition or physical benefit.

Common examples include rocks, wood, plastic, string, fabric, or other household objects. Some dogs may even consume socks, dirty underwear, or used wet wipes.

Because these items aren’t meant to be eaten, pica can put a dog’s health at significant risk.

What Are the Risks of Pica?

The dangers associated with pica depend on what the dog consumes, but the consequences can be severe. Here are some of the issues your dog could face if they have pica:

• Choking or getting a piece of the item caught in their windpipe.
• Intestinal blockage. The foreign object can prevent food and water from passing through the intestines and limit blood flow to the intestinal walls. Strands of string or ribbon can bunch and tangle the intestines together as well.
• Perforation of the stomach or intestines. Sharp objects, like a shard of wood, can pierce a hole in an organ.
• Broken teeth. Your dog can fracture a tooth or suffer other oral trauma when chewing hard or sharp objects prior to consuming them.
• Poisoning. Your dog could eat something that simply upsets their stomach, or the item could be toxic.

Because some of these complications can become life-threatening, dogs that repeatedly eat non-food items should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

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What Causes Pica in Dogs?

Pica can develop for a variety of reasons, and the cause isn’t always obvious. In some cases, a medical condition may be involved, such as:

• Nutritional deficiency. The dog may be eating an item like dirt in an effort to compensate for missing minerals.
• Underlying medical issues, such as anemia or a parasitic infection.
• Pain. A 2020 study on pain and problem behavior in cats and dogs included a case study of a Labrador Retriever with pica. The dog was consistently eating stones until they received treatment to manage hip pain; once the pain was under control, their pica disappeared.

Behavioral causes are even more common, including:

• Boredom and lack of enrichment. A lack of mentally stimulating activities can lead dogs to eat unusual things. The problem can intensify once a dog learns that eating something they shouldn’t results in getting attention.
• Anxiety can also contribute to pica in dogs.
• Compulsive disorder, where a dog does something in an extreme and repetitive way until it interferes with their ability to function.

Is Poop Eating in Dogs Considered Pica?

Many dog owners assume that eating feces should be classified as pica, but that may not be entirely accurate.

Whether it’s eating cat poop, dog poop, or rabbit poop, many dogs consider it a delicacy. Poop eating, or coprophagia, is disgusting to us humans, but dogs evolved as scavengers and may have consumed poop as a survival strategy. Therefore, their opinion of feces is the opposite of our own.

Dr. Sagi Denenberg, a veterinary behaviorist at North Toronto Veterinary Behaviour Specialty Clinic, says not to automatically group the two behaviors together. “The problem/issue is semantics. The word ‘pica’ refers to eating non-food items. We humans consider stools as non-food. Dogs will disagree. We tend to group it, but it should not be included,” he says.

Which Dogs Are Most Likely to Develop Pica?

Some believe that breeds in the Sporting Group, particularly Retrievers, are more likely to develop pica, perhaps because they have such a strong instinct to carry things in their mouths. However, Dr. Denenberg doesn’t believe that there is strong evidence that breed alone significantly influences the condition.

Puppies appear to be at greater risk, potentially as a result of all the exploring they do with their mouths or all the chewing to relieve teething pain.

According to Dr. Denenberg, environment may play a larger role than breed. He warns, “Dogs with a lack of enrichment are more likely to suffer from pica than those with optimal environments and routines.”

How Do Veterinarians Diagnose Pica?

Because pica can stem from many different causes, diagnosis often requires a thorough investigation.

Dr. Denenberg explains, “The first step is a complete physical examination, including blood and urine and, in some cases, abdominal radiographs. It may be challenging, but ruling out pain is essential.”

Once medical causes have been ruled out, attention shifts to the dog’s daily routine, environment, and behavior patterns.

“I want to ensure all their needs are met and that there are no indications of boredom and anxiety. I would then look at the items the dog is eating, the frequency, and any associated behaviors, including responses when the owners approach or try stopping the pica,” says Dr. Denenberg. “I want to ensure the pica is not part of an attention-seeking complex, meaning the dog learns that if they chew/eat an item, the owners will react to them.”

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How Is Pica Treated?

The treatment and management of pica will depend on the reason behind the condition.

If the problem is physiological, such as a disease or the dog being in pain, resolving that condition may significantly reduce or eliminate the pica behavior. However, some dogs, particularly those where anxiety or compulsive disorder is a factor, may require medication as part of treatment.

You’ll also need to address your dog’s behavior. Preventing access to non-food items they like to eat and ensuring all of their physical and emotional needs are met can reduce opportunities for inappropriate eating.

Dr. Denenberg suggests owners try to prevent the problem by supervising their dogs and keeping them on a leash to allow greater control. In situations where direct supervision isn’t possible and pica is likely to occur. you can consider using a basket muzzle. For example, a rock-eating dog out in the yard on their own. a dog that eats rocks while alone in the yard may benefit from wearing one.

Unlike a nylon muzzle, basket muzzle allows a dog to drink and pant while wearing it, making it a safer management option. If you choose to use a muzzle, be sure to introduce it gradually and teach your dog to feel comfortable wearing one.

Meeting a dog’s physical and mental needs is also essential. That includes physical exercise, mental stimulation, attention, and time for rest.

Dr. Denenberg suggests, “Using feeding toys instead of a bowl is helpful. Feeding multiple small meals, especially when the owner cannot supervise the dog or the dog is more likely to eat non-food items, is helpful, too.”

How Can You Manage Pica Long Term?

You won’t always be able to prevent pica from occurring. Therefore, you also need to manage the problem. Dr. Denenberg recommends using a technique known as response substitution. That’s where you give your dog an alternative behavior to perform instead of pica:

1. When your dog starts to eat a non-food item, ask them to look at you using a “watch me” cue.
2. When the dog looks, give them a tasty treat. They’ll have to drop the non-food item to take the treat.
3. Once your dog is consistently looking at you and taking the treat, they may start picking up more items to bring to you for rewards. That’s okay.
4. Start shaping the behavior by asking the dog to look at you for longer and longer before providing the treat.
5. At this point, only reward your dog when you’ve asked them to look at you, rather than when they offer the behavior voluntarily.
6. Finally, move to rewarding your dog every couple of repetitions instead of every single one.

Following all the treatment options and management techniques above will reduce the likelihood of your dog continuing to eat non-food items. But don’t be afraid to consult a professional dog trainer or animal behaviorist for extra support with enrichment or response substitution. Treating pica takes time, patience, and potentially lifelong management, but your dog will be safer and healthier for your efforts.