Beware of pica in your pet dog

WASHINGTON – Pica is a potentially life-threatening condition that involves the craving, eating and digestion of nonfood items. Young dogs – up to 2 years old – are just as curious as human toddlers and may experiment by chewing and eating things they shouldn’t.

In most cases, puppies grow out of pica behavior, said veterinarian Daniel Aja, president of the American Animal Hospital Association. Older dogs that suddenly begin eating strange objects should be promptly evaluated by a veterinarian for health problems, such as diabetes and intestinal cancer, which can cause pica.

Stopping pica may require the aid of an animal behavior specialist, as about 90 percent of pica episodes result from behavioral issues and not from underlying health problems, said Aja. Pica may result from a pet’s need for attention, frustration or anxiety. Experts suspect it can also be a way animals attempt to make up for nutrients lacking in their diet.

The following tips – from Aja and a fact sheet from the Humane Society of the United States and the Dumb Friends League, a Denver-based animal welfare organization – may help you and your pet deal with pica:

•Make it bitter. Give objects an unpleasant taste by spraying them with solutions that contain ingredients such as cayenne pepper or Bitter Apple.

•Puppy-proof. Owners should regularly check that nonfood items aren’t where a pet with pica could reach them.

•Switch diets. Talk to your vet about changing to low-calorie, high-fiber meals, which may decrease the urge for pica by making your pet feel more full. Aja suggests asking whether you can give your pet snacks such as green beans and carrots.

•Find time. Plan 10 to 15 minutes per day to spend with your pet to prevent attention-seeking pica episodes, and provide lots of toys for him to play with.

•Startle him. Distract your dog from unwanted behavior with a clap of your hands, a spray of water or loud noise, but try not to let him know the sound, noise or spray came from you.