There are three main causes of pica in dogs: behavioral habits, trace element deficiency, and internal parasite infection. In addition, some dogs may develop pica symptoms due to bad mood, depression and irritability when the weather and environment are bad. Pica in dogs is mainly manifested by their tendency to eat indiscriminately and eat strange things, such as feces, stones, soil, nails, etc. If you find this happens to dogs, you must stop them in time, otherwise eating food indiscriminately can easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort, and you must promptly supplement them with trace elements and other nutrients.

1. Behavioral habits

Dogs are naturally playful, active, and curious. They like to nibble or even eat some items, such as changing pads, toilet paper, wood, etc. If this behavior is not corrected in time, pica will gradually develop.

2. Lack of trace elements

Pica can also be caused when dogs are deficient in trace elements due to unreasonable diet, or when their gastrointestinal problems are not good. For example, deficiencies of calcium, iron, copper, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, etc., especially sodium deficiency, can cause pica in dogs. If you suspect that this is the reason why your dog has pica, you can buy some trace elements and give them to your dog to observe the subsequent effects.

3. Internal parasite infection

Internal parasites can produce toxins that irritate dogs and can also cause pica. Therefore, if there are parasites in the intestines of dogs, it will lead to a decrease in the digestion and absorption function of the intestines, leading to insufficient absorption of nutrients and the development of pica.