PICA

Copyright Wm. E. Campbel 1980

If your dog swallows things that have no nutritional value, it has a condition called pica. Pica is sometimes seen in pregnant women, people infested with intestinal parasites or with a certain iron deficiency in anemia. These are also causes in dogs and your veterinarian is the only person qualified to diagnose them. If your pet is on a program of medication, follow the doctor's directions to the letter or the behavioral phase of your program will suffer.

SOME REASONS
Certain factors seem to be common in cases of pica. You may find one or more of these in your pet background as well.
—The dogs have been extremely oral from puppyhood.
—Many will chew on themselves when they are deprived of other articles.
—From the start of the problem, people tended to pull things from their mouthes.
—The dogs enjoy a game of tug-o-war.
Although these elements are also common to dogs that do not suffer from pica in some cases, they appear with consistency in those that do have problems.

HABIT IS HARMFUL
Once pica becomes a habit, major problems can result. If your pet has not required surgery, consider yourself lucky because it is not uncommon. Some of the psychological forces at work in the condition need consideration in order to understand why certain correction methods are necessary. Puppies, just like human offspring, seem to want to put everything new in their mouthes. Pups usually decide the article is good to chew or they reject it. Swallowing it is probably the last thing in their plan at this stage. When people pull the article out of the pup's mouth before a decision can be made, some animals seem to develop a strong desire for it thereafter. Also, the puppy may learn that taking such things in its mouth brings attention, even if negative, and so carry on the practice.

FOOD REINFORCES
When a pup finally swallows something that may be harmful it is often fed either bread or cake in order to ease the thing through its intestines. Another positively reinforcing agent has then been given; food. Actually, the best step to take in this situation is a call for the veterinarian, immediately. Feeding only once a day leaves a dog with an empty stomach up to nineteen hours out of each twenty-four. This invites pica, so it is a requirement of this program to feed at least twice daily.

SYMBOL SWALLOWING
A most common element in pica is the eating of articles that belong to or symbolize the owner. This usually occurs when the dog is left alone or when the owner merely takes his or her attention off the pet while at home. It is as if the dog were using pica to gain the attention or the owner's return, no matter the consequences of scolding or punishment. From all these causes for pica, you may recognize an element or two common to your situation. Even if not, the following program has solved hundreds of cases and should benefit you, if followed strictly.

EARNING PETS
Most dogs with pica miss their owners too much when left alone ignored. They strive for all the attention they can get when they want it. To make your pet more contented you will now have to ask that it earn its petting and praise. So, each time your dog begs, or you want to give it attention, ask it to 'sit' for you. If it is sitting already, ask it to lie down! In other words, get it to function for you. It is amazing to see dogs settle down and become more relaxed after a few days of his little routine. Avoid prolonged petting . . . make it only about five seconds. Fondling dogs tends to make them introverted and pica is an introverted problem.

TONE DOWN EMOTIONS
To help your dog stop missing you too much, it will be necessary to de fuse the emotions involved in your comings and goings from the house. Before leaving home, take just five minutes and sit down in the area the dog will occupy in your absence. Ignore the dog, read a paper or just gather your thoughts about the day's activities. This sets a calm, unconcerned prelude to the departure. Do not even make eye contact with the dog. Then, get up and leave without any words or ceremony.
At homecoming say 'Hi' and then go about doing some other business for five minutes. Then you may ask the dog to sit and give it a nice hello. However, do this in an area away from the door you entered. This avoids too much emotion on the area of your homecoming.

LESS TENSION
All of these steps help eliminate the causes for the tensions that result in pica. When we get rid of the causes by getting the pet to function for praise and pets, relieve the emotional uproar about homecomings and goings, the dog should become noticeably more relaxed within a few days or weeks at the longest.

AFTER THE FACT
What should you do if you come home and the dog has swallowed something? It is too late to take remedial action. The dog long before forgot the act of swallowing the article. However, if you think something harmful has been swallowed, call your veterinarian with no delay. When you are home and the dog shows interest in something it may swallow or if it even mouths or chews, distract it instantly. Clap your hands, slap a wall with your hand or a newspaper. Do not slap or speak to the dog because we want to de-personalize the correction so it will be effective even when you are not at home. Then, toss a ball or some acceptable chewy toy. This will help to provide a substitute for the forbidden article.

DON'T HANDLE THINGS
Never pick up things you do not want your pet to have while the dog is with you. You can actually heighten the desire for it. Dogs seem to enjoy 'handling' with their mouths the things we handle.

PLAY RELAXES
Another, final element to the program is play. This is especially important if your pet is alone a great deal. Toss a ball, run around and let the dog chase you, etc, at least once a day. Do it in the morning if you can. This helps give proper exercise and also provides an intense, happy emotional interaction that relaxes the dog. Continue the program at least six weeks. You will not be spending any 'extra' time, only changing the way you are spending time with your pet. If your dog is on medical treatment during the program, follow your veterinarian's advice strictly. Total correction of any behavior problem depends on the physical well-being of the dog as well as its emotional health. The largest sacrifice you will make is emotional . . . giving up those joyous homecoming celebrations and fondling. However, pica is a serious problem so it is worth the ultimate good for you and your pet.

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