If your doggies concrete-eating has a medical cause, a veterinarian may be able to guide him out of pica — think dietary supplementation if malnourishment is the culprit. If, however, the pica is unrelated to a health disorder, eliminating the problem may be up to you. Some ways you may be able to curb the habit include promoting frequent brain and body exercises in your little one, introducing a variety of interactive and entertaining toys, and minimizing access to concrete. If you take your dog for a walk and the route involves concrete, pay close attention to him and firmly give the “No” or “Leave It” command when he approaches the substance. In the event of an especially persistent or severe pica situation, you may want to get the help of a qualified pet behaviorist. Ask your veterinarian for suitable recommendations near you.
Concrete by no means is a healthy component of a canine diet. Not only can ingesting concrete possibly block your dogs intestines, it can potentially bring upon a bevy of other very dangerous worries, such as bacterial infection and insecticide poisoning — anything could be covering that dirty outdoor concrete. It isnt safe in your poochs mouth.
“Pica” refers to a compulsive medical condition that entails the consumption of items that are not generally considered edible under any circumstances. Concrete is certainly in this category. Other things dogs with pica ingest include sand, chalk, cosmetics, rocks, coats, plastic bags and socks — all things that dont seem very appetizing at all.
The root causes behind pica are not 100 percent clear, the Humane Society of the United States says. However, the consumption of concrete or other bizarre items may be related to a variety of things, such as separation anxiety, frustration, lack of attention, boredom, lack of socialization, and past trauma or neglect. For puppies, concrete-eating may just be a passing exploratory phase that fades out as quickly as it begins. Think deeply into your pets daily life — and his past, if you have the knowledge — and explore what may be causing him to act out by eating concrete, if anything.
“Pica” refers to a compulsive medical condition that entails the consumption of items that are not generally considered edible under any circumstances. Concrete is certainly in this category. Other things dogs with pica ingest include sand, chalk, cosmetics, rocks, coats, plastic bags and socks — all things that dont seem very appetizing at all.
The root causes behind pica are not 100 percent clear, the Humane Society of the United States says. However, the consumption of concrete or other bizarre items may be related to a variety of things, such as separation anxiety, frustration, lack of attention, boredom, lack of socialization, and past trauma or neglect. For puppies, concrete-eating may just be a passing exploratory phase that fades out as quickly as it begins. Think deeply into your pets daily life — and his past, if you have the knowledge — and explore what may be causing him to act out by eating concrete, if anything.
Concrete by no means is a healthy component of a canine diet. Not only can ingesting concrete possibly block your dogs intestines, it can potentially bring upon a bevy of other very dangerous worries, such as bacterial infection and insecticide poisoning — anything could be covering that dirty outdoor concrete. It isnt safe in your poochs mouth.
If your doggies concrete-eating has a medical cause, a veterinarian may be able to guide him out of pica — think dietary supplementation if malnourishment is the culprit. If, however, the pica is unrelated to a health disorder, eliminating the problem may be up to you. Some ways you may be able to curb the habit include promoting frequent brain and body exercises in your little one, introducing a variety of interactive and entertaining toys, and minimizing access to concrete. If you take your dog for a walk and the route involves concrete, pay close attention to him and firmly give the “No” or “Leave It” command when he approaches the substance. In the event of an especially persistent or severe pica situation, you may want to get the help of a qualified pet behaviorist. Ask your veterinarian for suitable recommendations near you.
But when Dukes vomiting appeared to be getting worse, the couple took him to their vet, Dr Dan Capps, who felt something hard in the dogs stomach.
Forget toys, sticks or your favourite pair of leather boots — Duke the miniature American shepherd has upped the ante when it comes to weird doggy snacks.
And while the cement may have been a soft, powdery substance when Duke licked it up off the ground, that changed once water was added.
Initially the couple thought it was one of his toys, but when Dr Capps did an emergency operation, he found hard and gritty sand.
Ms Thornton thought she might be overreacting because he is still a young dog — he just turned one — and she knows “puppies eat spew and things that upset the stomach”.