Add Stimulation to Your Dogâs Life
Some dogs develop a habit of swallowing strange things (also known as pica in dogs) out of boredom; a dog looking for something to do often explores with their mouth, and for some, ingestion of the treasure is their next logical step. Adding stimulation to Lilyâs life can help with this, so try to add more fun and activity to her days. Consider new activities such as agility, obstacle courses, nosework, more walks or outings, short training sessions throughout the day, play sessions, or car rides.
Another option is to feed her via sturdy enrichment toys: Dogs need to be able to chew on things that they canât swallow or that are digestible if they do eat them. Kong toys in the largest size are a good choice for many dogs. Stuff one with wet food, freeze it, and then give it to her. If she is a voracious eater, talk to your veterinarian first and supervise her whenever she has such an item.Related article
What to do when your dog has questionable tastes.
While itâs not a quick fix, positive reinforcement training can also help. Improving Lilyâs response to âdrop itâ and âleave itâ is important so that any possessive behavior (you canât take it away if itâs in my belly!) doesnât lead to harm. Start using these cues with items that she is not very excited about and that are too big to be swallowed. Use the tastiest treats you can find so itâs worth it to her to do the right thing. Trading up (âgive me that mediocre item and I will give you this far better oneâ) is a great way to improve this behavior.
Another training strategy: If seeing you head toward them prompts Lily to swallow things she shouldnât, instead of chasing her down, encourage her to move away from items that pose a risk. To do this, toss a handful of treats to another spot in the room so she has to get up to get them. Then retrieve the sock while she munches away.
Though itâs not the cure all it is sometimes made out to be, exercise can certainly help. Dogs who are tired and content from a hard effort, preferably off leash (in your yard or other fenced-in area), are less likely to get into whatever trouble they are prone to find, and they are more likely to sleep.
Why Is My Dog Eating Socks?
Why is my dog so interested in eating socks? Its not like socks are that flavorful and they are definitively not part of a dogs diet, so what gives? In order to understand a dogs fetish for socks, one must put himself in the paws of a dog and see things from a canine perspective.
While socks appear to be quite uninteresting items that are found laying around the home, many dogs are savvy enough to discover that, at least from the point of view of their beloved dog owners, socks seem to have some special meaning.
If Rover is the type of dog who enjoys attention and interaction with his owners, or perhaps is a tad bit bored, he may casually or, perhaps more intently, notice how holding a sock and taking off with it will immediately grab the owners attention. Soon, a game of “keep away” takes place and oh, the game is so rewarding! At some point, as the owner gets closer and is within an arms reach of gathering the sock, Rover decides to swallow the sock to safely store it in his stomach.
While many dogs may swallow socks because of boredom, or as part of a game, on a more serious note, some dogs may do so as a form of resource guarding. In this case, the dog perceives the sock as a valuable item, perhaps as valuable as bones, toys and other items they are particularly eager of having. Dogs who guard socks may engage in distance-increasing behaviors (behaviors meant to discourage other dogs or people from coming near) so that they dont feel threatened about losing their “resource.” Growling, keeping the head lowered towards the sock, and snapping are just a few behaviors of dogs who guard items like socks.
Swallowing the sock may be part of the display, as the culminating effect once a person or animal gets too close. However, not all dogs follow this pattern; some dogs may decide to just swallow socks straight off the bat upon finding them just to store them out of reach from others.
On the other hand, sometimes swallowing socks may be a sign that a dog is experiencing a condition thats known as pica. Pica is the propensity to eat non-consumable objects. The list may include rocks, socks, leaves, dirt and so forth. The underlying cause for this behavior may not be identified at times, but its believed that pica may stem from a behavior disorder, perhaps a digestive or metabolic issue, or some other underlying medical condition.
And then there are dogs who eat socks just because it feels rewarding. Perhaps, they like them because they retain the smell of their owners, despite several wash cycles.
Obviously, eating socks is a big no-no as cloth has no nutritional value and on top of that, socks may cause a blockage which may end with the dog on the surgical table.
How to Stop Dogs From Eating Socks
Preventing a dog from swallowing socks is vital so to keep a dog from becoming ill or undergoing surgery. Owners of die-hard “sock-a-holic dogs” must be aware that too many surgeries may cause complications such as the intestines becoming more narrow each time. So what can be done for dogs who cant stop eating socks?
How to stop your pup from eating socks
Q: Our lab Quincy has a bad habit of eating the kids’ dirty socks. He has done this more than once and luckily has thrown them up without a problem. I am so afraid this could cause a serious problem and I am wondering if you have any suggestions to help stop him from doing this.
A: Why a dog would eat socks is anybody’s guess. The truth is that only dogs know for sure. For some reason the problem is more common than you would think. I believe dirty socks have lots of what dogs consider good smelling scents. Dogs explore the world with their mouths, similar to toddlers and sometimes swallow things in the process.
The first thing you need to do is diligently pick up all socks and put them in a hamper that has a tight lid or is stored in a closet where you can shut the door. I know this can be a hard task to get children to do, but it is important to instill in them the necessity of doing this so Quincy can’t get at them.
I don’t know how old your children are, but if they are old enough, explaining how sick their dog could get if he eats one of their socks may get them in the habit of making sure their clothes are put away. But with children it is always a very good idea to double check and make sure things are picked up.
Also make sure Quincy is getting enough exercise. Take him for long walks daily. Having him fetch a ball or doing some obedience training are good ways to burn up some energy. Teach your canine the command “drop it” or “leave it” in case you catch him in the act of getting ahold of something he shouldn’t have. When your dog obeys, be sure to give him a worthwhile reward. This will also help with problems of possessiveness by exchanging what you don’t want him to have for something he will really want, like a tasty treat of chicken or a favorite toy. There are also many creative toys such as a Buster Cube or Kong to keep a dog entertained and help fight boredom and hopefully this will divert his attention from seeking out socks to eat.
You may want to try using a spray like bitter apple on the socks before putting them in the hamper, just in case Quincy figures how to get at them. The smell and taste may be enough to deter him.
I too have a dog who has eaten socks. I did not see her do it and had no idea she would do such a thing. I knew there was a problem when she would eat a meal and hours later vomit the food back up undigested. Luckily she threw up a sock, to my surprise. Some dogs aren’t this lucky and get an intestinal blockage, which requires surgery.
If you suspect your dog has eaten something inappropriate be sure to call your veterinarian for advice. If your dog is vomiting, has a painful abdomen, problems defecating or any other signs of illness it’s time for a trip to the doctor.
If Quincy is young, he may outgrow this habit, but it is still important to try and resolve this issue by dog proofing your home and keeping an eye on him before he has a serious problem. Hope this helps.
Sally Salopek is the owner and operator of Attend-A-Pet pet sitting services in northern Door County. She has also worked professionally with animals in health care, pet grooming, training, wildlife rehab and rescue. Send your pet-related questions to her at [email protected].