Il tuo cane sta mangiando terra, rocce o qualcosa che non dovrebbe? Forse a loro piace indulgere nella spazzatura, nell'erba o persino nella cacca? Quando si tratta di mangiare, i nostri compagni canini possono avere abitudini alquanto strane, persino disgustose e ingoieranno felicemente cibi che sembrano immangiabili. Se il tuo cane è uno di loro, potrebbe avere una condizione chiamata pica.
Ma cos'è esattamente il disturbo da pica? Dovresti essere preoccupato se il tuo cane ha la pica e ci sono modi per impedirgli di mangiare cose che non dovrebbero?
Continua a leggere per saperne di più sulla pica nei cani, comprese le cause, i sintomi, le opzioni di trattamento e altro ancora.
Sommario
Suggerimento professionale: Non puoi mai eliminare il rischio di ingestione di corpi estranei, ma stipulando un'assicurazione per animali domestici prima che si verifichi un problema, puoi proteggere te stesso e il tuo cane se dovesse accadere l'inimmaginabile.
La pica è un disturbo alimentare caratterizzato dalla voglia di mangiare oggetti che non sono cibo. Alcuni cuccioli potrebbero mangiare solo un tipo di oggetto, mentre altri mangeranno una varietà di oggetti diversi, come terra, rocce, libri, palline, salviettine umidificate e altro ancora. In generale, i cani con pica tendono a preferire gli oggetti che portano l'odore del loro proprietario, come biancheria intima, calzini, asciugamani e collant.
La pica può essere pericolosa per la salute del tuo cane perché gli oggetti che ingeriscono possono essere tossici o rimanere incastrati nella gola e nel tratto intestinale.
La pica è diversa dalla coprofagia o dall'ingestione di feci. Questa abitudine è più comune nei cani da allattamento che tendono a mangiare gli escrementi dei loro cuccioli, ma spesso si trasferisce nei cani adulti ed è particolarmente difficile da spezzare.
Alcune razze di cani sono più inclini alla pica , come i Labrador Retriever. Il disturbo è inoltre più comune nelle cagne .
La causa del disturbo da pica può essere fisiologica (a causa di una condizione medica di base) o psicologica (puramente comportamentale).
Le condizioni mediche più comuni che scatenano la pica nei cani includono:
La pica può anche essere il risultato di anemia, malattie del fegato, malattie infiammatorie intestinali, tumori dello stomaco, problemi neurologici e dentizione (nei cuccioli). In some cases, pica can be a side effect of medications, such as anti-seizure drugs and steroids.
Behavioral pica, also called stress eating, is most often caused by boredom, anxiety (especially separation anxiety), and stress. Other common reasons include depression, lack of physical or mental stimulation, and attention-seeking.
The classic sign of pica in dogs is eating non-food objects. However, there’s a number of secondary symptoms that may be caused by the disorder, which can vary depending on the item consumed.
Ingestion of a foreign object can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) irritation with symptoms such as:
More serious health complications include a blockage of the intestines and internal ulcerations , which symtpoms can include:
If the object is blocking the respiratory tract, your pet might cough or sneeze frequently. In severe cases, pica can result in infection — especially if the ingested items are dirty or contaminated (such as feces) — or poisoning if they were to consume something toxic.
In general, pica is diagnosed through the behavior itself. Although it may be easy to confirm that your dog has pica, determining the disorder's underlying cause is more challenging.
To figure out if the condition is caused by a medical issue, your veterinarian may need to perform bloodwork, urinalysis, and test samples of your dog’s stool in order to check for liver disease, and the presence of parasites. These tests will also help rule out diseases like anemia, diabetes, and thyroid problems.
Depending on the symptoms your pet displays, more specific bloodwork might be required to test nutrient absorption in the digestive tract. This typically involves checking cobalamin and folate levels and doing a TLI test to check for pancreatic function. Your vet might also perform X-rays to check for a GI obstruction.
The treatment for dog pica will mainly depend on what’s causing the condition.
If it’s being caused by an underlying medical issue, treatment for that specific health condition may be enough for your dog to stop eating non-food objects. However, sometimes pica could develop into a bad habit, especially if the pup has been eating non-food objects for a long time. In that case, treating the underlying health issue won’t solve the problem and the pet parent will need to limit the dog’s access to the items they like to eat.
If a nutritional deficiency is a cause, your vet may recommend dietary changes, nutritional supplements, or changes in your dog’s feeding schedule.
Dogs with intestinal blockage will require hospitalization to undergo surgery.
Suggerimento professionale: The cost of surgery for an intestinal blockage is expensive. Foreign bodies lodged in the GI tract are considered medical emergencies, and most pet insurance plans will cover treatment and surgery.
Pica caused by psychological issues is usually more difficult to treat. This often requires a combination of behavioral reconditioning, training, reducing stress and anxiety, and keeping the items your dog likes to eat out of their reach.
For dogs suffering from separation anxiety and stress, exercise and training are recommended. Providing toys and chewable items might also be helpful.
Pet parents are also advised to examine their pet’s environment for possible stressors, such as kids that might not be interacting properly with the dog, other pets in the household, and so forth.
Work with your vet to develop a suitable treatment plan for your dog. They can also refer you to a veterinary behaviorist, who will be able to address both medical and behavioral issues and recommend anti-anxiety medications if necessary.
Pica treatment costs will depend on what’s causing the condition. For underlying medical issues, expenses can vary widely. In cases of behavioral pica, the fees for behavioral training can reach around $200 or more, and may require ongoing prescription medications.
Dogs that experience an intestinal blockage may require surgery, which can cost up to a few thousand dollars .
Prevention is always better than a cure. The best way to prevent the development of pica is to keep your dog from eating non-food objects by putting them away. If your pet is eating wood, rocks, or grass, be sure to keep them on a leash while outdoors.
Some other ways to prevent pica in dogs include ensuring that your pup is getting enough mental and physical stimulation, making sure they eat a diet that meets their nutritional needs, and eliminating any anxiety triggers from their environment.
