Eating Inappropriate Items
Eating Feces
Coprophagia is ingestion of feces. It is normal for a mother cat
or dog to ingest her newborn offsprings' waste products. This
prevents disease and keeps the den odor-free to prevent discovery
by predators. Puppies occasionally begin eating feces when their
mother ceases to perform this task, and they may continue this
behavior until they are weaned. Some individuals persist beyond
weaning and separation from their littermates and mother. If stool
is available, a puppy prone to coprophagia may be tempted. Some
dogs appear to enjoy this activity, which makes it all the more
repugnant to their owners. This behavior does not occur in kittens
or cats, perhaps because of their instinct to cover or bury waste
and their more selective eating habits. A number of solutions
have been proposed to discourage coprophagia in dogs. Intentionally
baiting fecal material with foul-tasting substances may render
the experience unpleasant, but this method is not always successful.
The best way to correct coprophagia is to prevent access to feces.
If your dog is in the habit of eliminating in your yard, routinely
remove deposits. Supervise yard access to monitor progress. Diligently
leash walk your pet, moving quickly away from the sample as soon
as possible. You may wish to reward your pet for good behavior
with a tasty treat. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to muzzle
a very determined dog. Provide a wide variety of appropriate objects
for your dog to chew and increase the time you spend playing with
or exercising your pet. Some dogs learn that coprophagia is a
way to get your attention, even though the attention often consists
of scolding. As difficult as it may be, ignore your pet if you
catch it "in the act" and concentrate instead on preventing
future episodes. Some dogs develop a taste for the stool of other
pets, such as cat feces. The same approach applies to these variations
of coprophagia. Prevent access to the feces of other animals by
being vigilant during leash walks. Make your cat's litter box
inaccessible by using a covered box, placing the box on an elevated
surface, installing a cat door, or closing the room door just
enough to allow the cat in or out.
Eating Grass and Other Plants
Ingestion of inappropriate items (pica) is seen in diseased and
apparently healthy individuals. Plants may be an occasional and
normal part of a pet's diet. Pets may be attracted to both indoor
and outdoor plants. Oral investigation (tasting, chewing and possibly
swallowing) is common in young cats and dogs. While it usually
subsides in mature animals, taste preferences may persist. Cats
are primarily carnivores (meat eaters) but occasionally eat plants,
even in the wild. A pet may also eat plant material if it feels
nauseated. This is not a specific sign of intestinal parasitism.
Though a pet with internal parasites may feel ill enough to eat
lawn grass, pets with worms do not necessarily eat grass or anything
strange. Similarly, pets with other unrelated medical problems
may eat grass. While eating lawn grass is not usually harmful,
report this to your veterinarian if it becomes excessive or is
accompanied by other changes in your pet. If the grass has been
treated with chemicals, such as organophosphate or carbamate pesticides,
poisoning is possible. Ingestion of nontoxic plants, such as grass,
can produce mild gastrointestinal upset by mechanical irritation
of the digestive tract. The fact that vomiting follows ingestion
does not mean the plant is poisonous. Contact your veterinarian
to be sure of your pet's safety. House pets can destroy ornamental
plants, often creating quite a mess in the process. Carefully
remove plants to an elevated surface or to another location to
prevent access. For example, hang plants out of reach, keep branches
well trimmed, or replace houseplants with cacti. If cats seem
particularly attracted to specific plants or foliage types, replace
these plants with others that are less tempting. Many plants are
poisonous to both cats and dogs. Household and outdoor plants
and trees may cause signs ranging from mild gastrointestinal upset
to respiratory arrest and death. Some vegetation is so toxic that
even small quantities may be very dangerous. A partial listing
of non-toxic ornamental houseplants follows for your convenience.
Contact your veterinarian for details.
SOME NON-POISONOUS HOUSEPLANTS
African Violet Jade plant
Baby's breath Mother-in-law tongue
Begonia Norfolk Island pine
Boston fern Palms (all indoor varieties)
Christmas cactus Rubber plant
Dahlia Peperomia Ferns (all indoor varieties) Purple passion Ficus
Sansevieria Geranium Spider plant Grape ivy Swedish ivy
Hibiscus Wandering Jew
Stone Chewing
Stone chewing by dogs is probably a form of play, but it can be harmful to a pet's health. Teeth may be broken or worn, exposing the sensitive pulp and leading to pain or infection. Stones may be accidentally eaten. Small stones may pass through the length of the bowel without consequence. Larger stones may lacerate the intestinal wall or obstruct passage of food, resulting in severe illness and possibly death. While your dog may enjoy this activity, it is wise to discourage it by redirecting attention to safer toys (balls, rawhide chew toys). Keep the dog on a leash or closely supervise it in rocky areas.