Causes of Canine Pica

The main causes of canine pica include behavioral habits, trace element deficiency, and internal parasite infection. In addition, some dogs may exhibit symptoms of pica due to poor mood and irritability caused by bad weather or environmental conditions. Canine pica is mainly characterized by random chewing and consuming unusual substances, such as feces, stones, soil, and nails. If your dog shows these symptoms, you should promptly stop them from doing so, as random eating can easily lead to gastrointestinal discomfort. It's also essential to supplement trace elements and other nutrients in a timely manner.

Behavioral Habits

Dogs are naturally playful, active, and curious, which means they may like to chew and even eat various items, such as pee pads, toilet paper, and wood. If this behavior is not corrected promptly, it can gradually develop into pica.

Trace Element Deficiency

Dogs may develop pica due to an imbalanced diet that leads to trace element deficiency or poor digestion. For example, deficiencies in calcium, iron, copper, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, and other minerals can cause pica, especially when sodium is insufficient. If you suspect this as the cause of your dog's pica, you can administer trace elements to your dog and observe the subsequent effects.

Internal Parasite Infection

Internal parasites can produce toxins that stimulate dogs and trigger pica. Therefore, if there are parasites in a dog's intestine, it can lead to decreased digestion and absorption functions, resulting in insufficient nutrient absorption and the development of pica.