What to do if your dog has pica? ——Causes, symptoms and scientific response guide
Recently, "dog pica" has become a hot topic in the pet circle, with many pet owners reporting that their furry children suddenly love to eat dirt, gnaw on wall coverings, and even swallow plastic bags. This abnormal behavior is not only harmful to health, but may also cause serious problems such as intestinal obstruction. This article will provide you with structured solutions based on hot discussions across the Internet in the past 10 days.
1. What is pica in dogs?
Refers to the dog's persistent behavior of chewing or swallowing non-food items, which is common in puppies and adult dogs. According to pet hospital statistics, the incidence rate in summer is 30% higher than usual, which may be related to accelerated metabolism.
| Commonly swallowed foods | Hazard level | High incidence age group |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic/rubber products | ★★★★★ | 3-12 months old |
| fabric/hair | ★★★☆☆ | 1-3 years old |
| dirt/gravel | ★★☆☆☆ | All ages |
| metal items | ★★★★★ | 2 years old and above |
2. Five core causes of pica
1.nutritional imbalance: Imbalance of calcium and phosphorus ratio, trace element deficiency (the latest research shows that zinc deficiency accounts for 41%)
2.psychological factors: Separation anxiety, environmental stress (symptoms aggravated by recent high temperature weather)
3.parasitic infection: Hookworms and tapeworms cause nutrient absorption disorders
4.Digestive system diseases: Pancreatic insufficiency or intestinal flora disorder
5.behavioral habits: The biting behavior is not correctly guided during the puppy stage
3. Emergency treatment plan
| symptom | home emergency measures | Indications requiring medical treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Within 24 hours of swallowing plastic | Feed 5ml olive oil + observe defecation | Not discharged in 36 hours |
| Chew the wall/soil | Supplement vitamin B complex | Lasts more than 3 days |
| Vomiting with abdominal pain | Fast for 6 hours | Vomit with blood |
4. Long-term preventive measures
1.diet modification: Choose dog food containing zinc and iron (the latest AAFCO standard recommended amount in 2024)
2.environmental management: Use bitter spray to deal with hazardous items such as electrical wires
3.behavioral training: When biting behavior occurs, immediately replace it with a teething toy
4.Regular deworming: Monthly external deworming + internal deworming every 3 months (parasites are active in the recent rainy season)
5.psychological counseling: Interactive games for at least 30 minutes a day to relieve anxiety
5. Inventory of the latest treatment technologies
According to the pet medical industry report in the past 10 days, the following methods have significant effects:
•Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT): Improve intestinal microbiota (success rate 82%)
•laser acupuncture therapy: Regulate nervous system abnormalities (already carried out in 15 domestic pet hospitals)
•Behavior Modification APP: Establishing conditioned reflexes through sound training (the number of downloads of the popular application "PawTalk" increased by 200% every week)
Kind tips:If a dog is found to have pica behavior, it is recommended to take a video immediately to record the symptoms to facilitate accurate diagnosis by the veterinarian. High temperatures have been continuing in many places recently. Please pay special attention to storing hazardous items in sealed containers.
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