It’s best to book an appointment with your vet to figure that out and plan a treatment accordingly. The first step towards solving any problem for your pets is figuring out the cause and for this you will need a vet’s help. Here are some major medical problems in cats and dogs that could result in Pica: In many cases of Pica, vets have observed how infected dogs and cats suffer from deeper issues that form the root of this disorder. Lastly, not exercising enough is another reason why your pet (especially dogs) might develop Pica.

When pet parents are unable to dedicate quality time to their pets they become bored, lazy, lonely, and stressed which fosters a habit of chewing on non-edible things. While Pica might seem like a purely physical problem on the surface, when you dig deeper, you might find a few psychological driving factors. If you’re not feeding your pets a balanced diet that meets their nutritional requirements, they tend to gain these nutrients from elsewhere and end up suffering from Pica. Whether your pet is a canine or a feline, the causes of Pica are more or less the same. Pica disorder in Dogs: What are the symptoms? Here are some other Pica symptoms you might notice in your cat:ĭistracted, appearing wound up, and relaxing only when they have something non-edible in their mouth. When they start chewing and swallowing these objects you should know it’s getting serious. In the initial stages of Pica, cats will only lick and suck on non-edible items. However, if they’re older than six months and still cling to those tendencies, it’s cause for concern. If your little kitty is younger than 3-4 months, you can consider this normal, as many kittens outgrow these tendencies as they grow older. If your cat is an Oriental breed, they might go for things made of fabric. The first and most obvious symptom of Pica is a tendency to eat non-edible items like cat litter, plants, rubber bands, shoelaces, electrical cords, and other objects made of paper, plastic, and wool. Among cats, this disorder is most commonly known to affect the Tonkinese cats, Burmese cats, Siamese cats, and other Oriental breeds.

Dog pica causes