

Simply chewing on non-food items isn’t necessarily pica. So, while coprophagia is a form of pica in dogs, it cannot be strictly classified as pica. It is thought that some puppies find fecal matter appealing or simply like the flavor of feces, which makes it a hard habit to break once a puppy gets started. Speaking of feces, you shouldn’t confuse pica with coprophagia, which is a technical term for the tendency to eat feces.Ĭoprophagia is common in puppies but may be carried into adulthood.

What is Pica?Īs hinted above, pica is an eating disorder that’s often characterized by the urge to consume objects that are non-food items like rocks, plastic, dirt, cloths, metal, paper, garbage, or even feces. If we know these basics, we will be in a position to understand better how each of the remedies that we’ll discuss herein can help our canine companions. To help you out, I will explore simple, natural steps that you can leverage to stop your dog from eating non-food items.īefore then, it is important to have a clear understanding of what is considered pica in dogs and what causes it. Well, if you are a new dog parent or if it is your first time to witness such behavior in your dog, you may find it a bit challenging to make him/her stop. So, what can you do to stop the behavior?

If you catch your pup constantly chewing on rocks, dirt or non-food items, you need to take action and address the issue as soon as possible. Your pup could be suffering from canine pica, a compulsive eating disorder where a dog eats non-food items regularly.Ĭanines with this problem often chew on rocks, paper, dirt, flaking paint, grass, and even feces.Ĭanine pica is best dealt with as it can lead to choking, poisoning, gut blockages, and other issues. Learn more.Įver stumbled upon your pretty pup eating dirt, rocks, and other odd things one too many times? As an Amazon Associate, we may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases but at no extra cost to you.
