Pica
The word pica, pronounced “pie kuh,” originates, from the Latin “picave,” meaning magpie. The magpie, a member of the corvidae family, which includes crows, ravens, rooks and jays, has a diverse and fascinating reputation. According to Rupert Taylor, magpies get mixed reviews. In British myth they are “harbingers of ill fortune,” while in China they “are associated with happiness” and “in the northeast (of China) are regarded as sacred.” The notoriety of the magpie as a compulsive thief of shiny objects has been debunked but a number of these feathered brigands were recorded entering the tents of Lewis and Clark to pilfer food. The hearsay that magpies are fond of ingesting non food items is also questionable but this perplexing and potentially dangerous condition, known as pica, is not uncommon in dogs.
According to Best Friends Animal Society, potential medical causes of pica include “gastrointestinal disease, anemia, liver disease, pancreatic disease..., diabetes, neurological diseases..., being on medications.” Quite a lot to rule out! Many sources cite a nutritional deficiency or poor absorption of nutrients as a cause. However, Dr Cailin Heinze of Tufts University states, “eating non food items has never been clearly linked to a nutritional deficiency in dogs. I have never been able to say that when we fed a dog x nutrient, the eating of non-food items went away.” Determining the cause of pica can be daunting.
Psychological causes include boredom, separation anxiety, stress, attention seeking, lack of stimulation, lack of socialization. Puppies use their mouths to explore the world and pica may result if there is a lack of appropriate objects to mouth. What starts out as a game of keepaway occasionally evolves into a snarling confrontation of resource guarding resulting in a bitten owner and a possible trip to the emergency vet to remove a swallowed item. And why dogs ingest what they do is bewildering. Rocks, “small clothes”, socks and scrunchies are common items on the menu. A cringe inducing internet search of Veterinary Practice News reveals imagery for dogs having eaten five rubber duckies, nine pins, forty three and a half socks, a fish hook, knives and much more.
Families in California have been crated at home due to the Covid virus, evacuated and confined indoors for weeks on end due to dangerous air quality levels of the wildfires. According to the Insurance Information Institute, 70,000 people were evacuated in Napa and Sonoma Counties in 2020. These conditions have resulted in an enormous amount of stress for people and their dogs. In fact, all the psychological causes for pica have long been present. Hopefully, it is but happenstance that recently an unusually greater number of puppies have shown a freakish appetite for non food items.
A dog who has a dangerous or valuable object in its mouth poses a dilemma for owners. With pica, it is not only that the dog may damage or destroy the object, there is a very real threat of a medical emergency and a sizable vet bill. Attention seeking behavior can be a big element with these pups. Keepaway is a fun game for dogs. They learn at a young age that they are faster than their humans and dogs like to make up the rules for the game. Some dogs don’t like to share and they guard or hastily swallow an object rather than cede it. One puppy consumed rocks in his backyard and compulsively grabbed for everything he could on walks. A second less obsessed pup learned to nosh a rock and wait patiently for her owner to rush into the house to fetch a treat for exchange. A third puppy has bitten four people trying to pry something from his mouth. Confrontation and force were the catalysts for aggression in this case. This little guy has eaten rocks, one half of a face mask and has swallowed a 1 1/2” hooked piece of thick gauge wire among other delicacies. Interestingly, his eating disorder is mostly confined to home and backyard.
Living with a dog with pica can reroute a family’s promising relationship with their dog to an exasperating fallout. Constant vigilance and stress may lead to a strained connection between human family members as well as a rankled relationship between humans and canine. The puppy believes his name is ?/!w5#t$@h&!? Everyone is continuously on edge as a dog can be preternaturally swift at locating and gobbling a desired object. Is there an exit ramp from the neural pathway that leads to pica?
Avoiding access to environments containing forbidden objects is the first order of business. This is not as simple as it sounds. Not letting the dog into the backyard unsupervised is a start, along with stowing all possible temptations out of harm’s way indoors. One forgetful moment and in half a blink the dog has snatched, run off with or swallowed an object. If you wish to allow your puppy outdoors on its own, a basket muzzle or perhaps an Outfox® Field Guard will prevent the ingestion of weird thingamabobs. Outfitting your canine gourmand with a Gentle Leader® provides another management tool. This accessory will aid in keeping the dog’s head up and prevent foraging as you walk him. Many dogs aren’t easily convinced that head gear is de rigueur and will require time and patience to acclimate to their new fashion statement.*
In addition, other management tools could include a crate, baby gates, tethers (supervised), exercise pens, a small puppy proof room, a kennel run or having your dog on leash. The idea being that you do not want the dog rehearsing illicit behavior when you are not able to supervise. If you think about it, every time you tell a dog No, he has already practiced a behavior you don’t want. The goal is to break the pattern of behavior you do not want and replace it with patterns you do want. Occasionally, this can be as simple as turning your back on the dog and walking away. This canceled the reward of being chased for one attention seeking pup who would drop a rock and follow his owner back to the house. Once the environment is battened down and all situations managed, what is the next step?
There is always some place to start. If you are so frustrated it seems your dog can do nothing right and there is absolutely naught to praise him for, take the sage advice of Dr Karen Overall. “Watch for and reward the behaviors that you like and find acceptable: this often means telling the… dog that he is wonderful when he is asleep.” At this point of the relationship, the name of your dog may be laced with expletives. It is time to restore the pup’s good name by saying it, praising and treating him as he looks at you. We want him getting whiplash as he happily and quickly gives you eye contact. Practice with treats or kibble placed on the ground two or three feet distant. When adept, say his name, back up and tell him Come, and then reward him. Now you are calling him away from a distraction to get what he wants.. At this point do not release him to get the treat off the ground. Good things come from you, up above, not scarfing the ground.
Establish a daily training regimen of at least 15 or 20 minutes. Build up a repertoire of basic behaviors (Name Recognition, Sit, Leave It/Take It, Down, Come, Walking On Leash), using positive training methods that will define life for your dog. For practical examples- have your pup Sit before ihe eats, Sit before he goes through a door for a walk, Sit before greeting people or other dogs, Sit before jumping into or out of the car and so on. Specifically, this means Sit until released with a release word like Release, Free, OK. etc. Delivering a treat does not mean the dog is done with the Sit, nor does opening a door or placing a food bowl on the ground end the Sit. Eventually, he should remain calmly in position until liberated with your release word. Ideally, build Duration, Distance and Distraction. This will begin to instill some impulse control. We do want a dog to be a dog, have fun doing doggie things but we also want to install an off and on switch where he checks in with his humans before getting what he wants.
A solid “Leave It/Take It” will help a dog control his mouth. One method to teach this is to place a kibble or treat a few inches from your dog’s nose and tell him “Leave It.” When he is calm, not twitching for the treat, tell him Take It” and deliver it to him. This way he does not have to reach or jump to get his reward. You may have to hold his collar or a short leash at the outstart. When he is adept, add more time between your Leave It and Take It. Next task is to get him to look away from treats and toys placed on the ground with your “Leave It.” Restraining your dog with a very short leash, place a treat or kibble on the ground a couple feet away. Quickly cover it with your foot as your dog pounces. Wait for him to look away from your foot and eventually give you eye contact, our target behavior. Your leash should be loose. Do not use any words at this point. If you are telling him Leave It while he is excavating under your foot, that rooting about is what Leave It will mean. Give him fifteen seconds or so to offer looking up or away from your foot. If he needs help after some time, make a clicking sound or say his name. Ideally, we want him to offer the eye contact on his own. Apply your Leave It command when you are willing to bet $50 he will look up and give you eye contact on cue.
If you play tug with your dog (not necessary if you are uncomfortable with the game) and he is not overly possessive of the tug toy, install your rules for the game. First, you start the game by placing the tug toy in front of his mouth. As in the Leave It and Take It, he should wait until you give him permission to Tug. Second, he is required to relinquish the toy immediately when told Give. Exchange something of equal or better value, if he will not give the toy up in the beginning. Eventually fade out the exchange and the game of Tug becomes the reward. Third, after getting the toy back, have him Sit, even though he is excited. Some dogs get so revved you could swing them around your head, latched onto the tug toy. You want to have control of the situation so keep the excitement level in check. Finally, the game ends if he puts a tooth on you. La Fin!
Install the Give with inedible objects other than the tug toy. If your dog snatches things and runs off with them, begin with him on leash to prevent his getaway. Toss an item, such as an old slipper, that he will pick up and bolt with but not consume. He can elude you only as far as the length of the leash.Trade with him, as above. Encourage him to Drop It by placing your enticement directly in front of his nose, without your hand on the object. Later, as your exchange student progresses, you gradually fade the bribe of treat/toy.. Picking up objects and trading or dropping them can be a fun segue to a retrieve and a cooperative relationship.
The use of Bitter Apple® or another taste deterrent can be useful to discourage a number of dogs from consuming or running off with a perceived prize. Bitter Apple® works well for many dogs but not all. Be aware that some dogs consider it a piquant sauce. Set up stings by spraying objects and offering a taste to your dog. If it works, this can be a useful tool. Once your pup is no longer lunging for sprayed objects on the ground, reward him for walking by and ignoring them. Lure him past a wide variety of objects and food on the ground and fade the lure as he becomes proficient.
Enriching your dog’s environment with interactive toys, puzzles and chewables can engage him for periods of time and provide a respite for owners. A Kong® stuffed with frozen, toothsome goodies is a standard favorite for many pups. For the DIY enthusiast, search the internet for projects. There are a multitude of ideas for homemade toys for your dog to nudge, knock, gnaw and paw to enhance and while away her time. This can be as simple as a muffin tin into whose cups are put kibble or treats and covered with tennis balls. You can get fancy and run a dowel through a plastic bottle, attached to a base, containing treats or kibble. Make sure the toys are safe for your pup. If you are a well-heeled owner into higher tech, you might consider a food/treat dispenser such as a Pet Tutor® or a Pup Pod®.
Exercise is a critical component of any successful dog’s life. Exercise gets the good brain chemistry flowing, which can lead to a calmer dog and home environment. A brief cruise through the neighborhood will not be enough exercise for most young dogs, so what can we do to supplement walking? Retrieving, calling your dog back and forth, find it games, nosework and a homemade agility course can all provide physical and mental exercise. Playing with other dogs can be a great energy outlet. If the local dog park is not for you, check out a good doggie day care or dog walker. If possible, structure play dates with appropriate dogs. Balance the session, alternating between play and training, followed by down time. The down time is for your dog to learn to chill with another dog present while you and the other owner enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of tea.
All of these puppies lack confidence around new people and unfamiliar dogs. Socializing a puppy during these trying times either hasn’t happened or has been inconsistent. On their first ventures outside their homes, many of these pups constantly scan the environment and often freeze to listen or stare in novel situations. Some have not been introduced to a single dog. Be patient. Allow the pup to explore and interact at his own pace. Train people to ignore a nervous pup from a distance at first meeting. Keep in mind that a well intentioned person can overwhelm a puppy by not reading his signals and invading his space. Treats may change a pup’s opinion to perceiving that a new person can be a really a good thing. Enlist a good day care or other dog owners, as mentioned above, to methodically introduce your pup to other dogs, at a comfortable pace.
Take your dog everywhere you can, you will both appreciate time spent together. If you are going to the store with another family member, one person goes into the store while the other hangs out with the dog, his paws on the ground. Expanding your dog’s world view beyond the backyard will provide appreciated mental stimulation and will help relax him at home. When exploring the Big New World outside the home turf, be vigilant to keep the new environments devoid of dangerous objects. Later, as the pup’s courage develops, add structure with your trove of basic behaviors. For example, having your dog Sit and then releasing him to sniff, as a reward. You may have to return to the same environment (or person) a number of times. If you proceed gradually, keeping the pup “below threshold,” he will develop a “been here, done that, attitude.” Socializing is not just showing up in new environments or simply being present with people and dogs. It also entails becoming focused and relaxed in these circumstances.
So, how do the puppies mentioned above fare at present? The owner of the first pup, a devourer of stones and a scrunchie, gave his backyard a makeover. The yard was cordoned off with a number of exercise pens and gleaned of any comestibles. Once out the door, in his neighborhood, the pup had reacted to every person and moving object with uncontrolled barking. He dove for any unsecured thingie that he could fit in his mouth. Once outfitted with a Gentle Leader®, and with a bit of training under his collar, his behavior improved rapidly. After a rough first field trip outside a grocery store, he started to learn to quietly accept people, interact appropriately with his environment and began to respond to his name and a ”Sit” cue. He tolerated the head collar, which kept his head up and mouth out of trouble. Shortly after returning home from his second expedition, he headed back to the door, eager to seek more adventure. A resilient pup, indeed! The owner of the second dog, who has progressed to bringing her precious rocks indoors to barter, was pleased to let it go at that. She no longer has to race, panicked, into the house to get a treat and race back out before her lounging dog swallows the rock. This commerce, in which the pup delivers the stone into the house to exchange, was a suitable arrangement for both parties. This wheeler-dealer of a dog is now happy to retrieve an occasional stone from the yard and finds the traded treat more palatable, much to her owner’s delight.
And what of the third puppy? A number of calls and emergency visits to the vet were coupled with sleepless nights, praying he would discharge an item, either fore or aft, to avoid an expensive surgery. Perpetual stress brought this little guy precipitously close to losing his home. He somehow managed to elude surgery and his owners learned to better manage his surroundings. Over time, as his humans modified their behavior, he followed suit. There was no more force or confrontation. If he did pick up something outside, his person ignored him and walked away. No fun in that! He would drop his rock and follow. Inside the house, he learned to drop a stolen object in trade for a treat. On his first outings he lunged and barked at all dogs. He was taken to doggie day care and with supervision soon was playing well with others. He established a number of good buddies. And he came home tired! His owners redefined his duties. Demoted from the rank of Official Greeter, he is now required to Sit until being released to greet people, eat, enter and exit the van and so on. The husband had been at odds with the dog, having been bloodied several times over the possession of an object. They are now enjoying each other's company. He takes the pup out for long walks and enjoys showing off their skills on an agility course in the yard. Like a workplace sign depicting the number of accidents in a time period, this household has had No Incidents For 30 Days.
The magpie has been exonerated from the bad rap of eating non food items. The term bird-brain is not a pejorative in the case of these highly intelligent creatures. In fact, magpies are known to have a brain-to-body-mass equivalent to dolphins and apes, they mate for life, recognize themselves in mirrors, eat ticks from the back of a cow or a moose, use tools, they conduct funerals for a fallen comrade, mimic the human voice and congregate in “parliaments,” squawking like human “congress critters”. In spite of the exciting advances in studies of canine cognition, the marvelous evolution of canine and human bonding, the humbling recognition of the power of canine scent and the many critical occupations dog breeds have served over the centuries; the fact that pica exists, that some dogs eat non food items, does seem featherbrained. This bizarre, addlepated condition presents more like an entry for the Darwin Awards than an adaptive behavior. And yet...
* See Youtube videos by Chirag Patel and Jean Donaldson on how to accustom a dog to a
basket muzzle and a Gentle Leader®, respectively.