Natural Pet Health

Report: Pica A Deadly Disease & How You Can Prevent It

If you’ve never heard of Pica before then consider yourself lucky, as most dog owners familiar with this deadly disease more than likely learned about it from personal experience, as they watched their lovable pet get rushed to the veterinary hospital to go through major surgery, with the hopes that the dog can be trained not to fall back into the Pica lifestyle.

Meet Felix: A Real Life Disaster Story

Whatever you are doing right now, put it aside and pay special attention to the following story about a dog named Felix, who fell prey to Pica and almost did not survive. This may or may not be your dog, but you can bet that you will learn enough from Felix to ensure that you keep your pet from the same pain and misery.

It Started From Simple Vomiting

The owner gave her Irish Setter Felix more medicine, but he continued to vomit. He had vomited several times during the last four days and now he was becoming worse. He refused all food and water. He refused to move from his bed at his owner’s coaxing. The owner’s concern mounted.

Felix was prone to chew on unusual objects as food substitutes. Occasionally he swallowed smaller items: rings and shredded bits of clothing. Because of this vice it was common for him to have frequent spells of vomiting.

It was different this time: the vomiting continued unabated in spite of the often successful home remedies the owner had given her dog.

Felix stood patiently on the examination table while the veterinarian examined him. The animal felt awful and he showed it in many ways. His eyes were dull, his feet heavy from weakness; it was an effort for him to simply lift them up. His expression was sad, his forehead wrinkled, and his eyes dull and glassy.

He held his head low and his tail was between his legs. His abdomen was tucked-up, tight and tense, and he cried in pain when the doctor tried to palpate it. His heart and respiratory rate were rapid, his gums pale. Signs of dehydration could be seen: sunken eyes and a loss of skin elasticity.

Again, the the doctor tried to palpate Felix’s abdomen and again the dog cried in pain. But in a few minutes, with gentle pressure, the abdomen muscles began to relax, at least enough that a large abdominal mass could be felt in the region of the dog’s stomach.

The veterinarian asked Felix’s owner several questions in an effort to formulate a medical history:

1) How long has Felix been vomiting?

2) Does he vomit frequently, night and day, or just after meals?

3) What is he vomiting?

4) Is he having any bowel movements?

5) Is he playful or his he depressed?

6) Has he had spells of vomiting in the past?

7) Is he prone to eating unusual objects?

The Report Revealed

It was discovered that for the last four days Felix had been vomiting frequently both night and day; that initially he had vomited food, but now, since he was not eating, he was vomiting only bile.

It was also learned that Felix had had his last bowel movement four days ago. This was a strong indication of a foreign body. This information, along with the fact that Felix’s condition had deteriorated rapidly over the last twelve hours, called for action.

The dog was actually suffering from two problems. First of all, he ate something he shouldn’t have, something which was now lodged in his stomach and intestines, something which he was able to pass. Why did he eat it?

Introducing The Pica Problem

The data indicated that he had a chronic history of chewing on (or eating) rings and pins and shredded items of clothing. This typical history indicates a condition called Pica. Pica is defined as a craving for unusual objects as food substitutes.

Often, it is a neurotic response brought on by excessive tensions in a pet’s experience with its owners. The underlying tensions result from either too much attention or from a lack of it. It is seen occasionally in nervous animals which as puppies are oriented to mouth games such as tug-of-war or ball playing.

As a result of Pica, Felix had ingested a foreign object. Now he was very ill, near death. The doctor spoke to the dog’s owner:

I suspect Felix has eaten some foreign object that his body cannot handle. Whatever it is, it seems to be lodged in his stomach or in the first part of his intestinal tract.

He continued to explain the serious nature of the illness. He described the need for surgery. He explained that a foreign body in the stomach or intestine often results in serious damage which, if not quickly corrected, can result in the absorption of toxic products from the gut into the bloodstream.

He explained shock, a circulatory failure which results from the absorption of these toxic substances. He explained that the processes of shock are often irreversible and often end in death.

Felix was given an antibiotic to help prevent infections, along a with massive dose of cortisone, an anti-inflammatory drug frequently used to counteract the processes of shock. He was then hospitalized.

First, scout X-rays were taken. These are plain films, so-called because they do not employ barium or other contrast substances which leave images on a finished X-ray film. Often, when scout films are not diagnostic (when they do not demonstrate the source of a problem), contrast substances leave images on a finished X-ray film, they are frequently used to outline a foreign body which would otherwise go unnoticed.

What Exactly Was In Felix’s Stomach?

When the hospital veterinarians looked at the scout films they were amazed. The films looked more like a department in a hardware store than an X-ray of a dog’s abdomen. Buckles and hooks, snaps and eyelets stood out clearly and in abundance.

What had Felix eaten? The hospital staff speculated about the savory items surgery would reveal. The cloth he had ingested was not visible on the scout films.

The doctor phoned Felix’s owner:

No doubt about it, Felix has really done it this time; there’s some strange hardware in his stomach and intestine which will have to be removed surgically.

The dog was given a pre-anesthetic sedative in preparation for surgery. The nurse restrained him gently as the doctor gave the intravenous anesthetic. The rest of the hospital staff gathered in curious anticipation.

In a matter of seconds Felix fell into a deep sleep. A tube was inserted into his trachea to ensure an open airway and he was placed on a mixture of oxygen and gas anesthetic. The hair was shaved from his abdomen and the surgical area was thoroughly scrubbed and disinfected.

The hospital staff waited anxiously as the suspense mounted. Felix was draped in sterile shrouds; only the surgical area was exposed. The incision was made along the mid-line of the abdomen through the skin and its underlying attachments, then through the peritoneum, the interior lining of the abdomen.

The doctor placed his glove hand into the incision and brought the enlarged stomach into view. There was an air of excitement; the staff members watched attentively. An incision was made into the stomach itself. The doctor removed something from Felix’s stomach.

What is it? asked the doctor.

It’s a brassiere! said the nurse.

The doctor sutured the stomach incision shut. The stomach was then placed back in its proper position and the duodenum the first part of the intestine was brought into view. The incision was made. Slowly and tediously the doctor removed a bolt of material from the duodenum.

What is it? asked the doctor.

It’s a pair of pantyhose! said the nurse, and there’s a garter stuck to it too!

The incision was sutured shut. A thorough check was made to be certain no more hardware or underwear remained. This was done by palpation and by counting eyelets, hooks and buckles, and comparing the count with that of the X-ray films.

Assured that nothing was being left behind, the doctor closed the abdominal incision.

Felix was placed in a recovery room and he was observed closely during his recovery from anesthesia. It was apparent from the examination of the stomach and intestine that they had not suffered extensive or irreparable damage.

The prognosis for recovery was good. The next day Felix wagged his tail and begged to play. He ate a good meal and he did not vomit. He continued to do well. On the third post-surgical day he was discharged.

Causes Of Pica

Felix had come close to death. Without surgery he would have died. The underlying cause, Pica, remains a serious threat. Again the doctor spoke with Felix’s owner. He explained the urgent need to correct the underlying causes of the problem.

He explained that if Felix were allowed to continue the same lifestyle which stressed him before, he would soon be back in the hospital, having ingested other unmentionables, and again he would have to undergo surgery.

How had Felix become a victim of such a terrible disease? The case history revealed the causes:

1) An orientation to mouth games.

2) Ball playing and tug-of-war (As a puppy he derived a lot of pleasure from these games).

3) No direct basic training, such as sit, stay, or come. Instead, the dog was acquainted with nothing but mouth-play with old socks and rags.

As a puppy, and during his early adult life, Felix was accustomed to more companionship from the family members than he would later receive as the family activities changed. The changes were brought on by a number of events:

- Divorce.
- Change of homes and routine.
- Left alone a great deal of time.

The result tension. Suddenly, because of his loneliness and his sense of abandonment he sought self entertainment. He sought the pleasures he had so often known in his past experiences with his owner.

Perhaps he also sought a way to strike out at the one closest to him, the one who in his mind had abandoned him: He was there too. Why didn’t he get recognition, like he used to?

He started with jewelry and old rags. At first he mutilated them and tore them to shreds. He was scolded for it, but the scolding did no good; he knew no other way. The old games from which he derived such pleasure as a puppy were now a source of punishment.

His tensions increased. He started to shred and destroy intimate articles of clothing. The frustration reached its peak when he ate and swallowed whole a bra and a pair of pantyhose.

Are Dogs Like Felix Hopelessly Misdirected?

How would you proceed to change him? To begin with, Felix needs to learn a few new tricks. He needs to learn a new way to interact with his owner a new way that will give both of them the pleasure and enjoyment from each other that they once knew.

But how can this be done? First, the owner must be reoriented. She must understand clearly the underlying causes of Pica in her dog. She must then be willing to spend the time to teach her dog a few new tricks. Success will not necessarily come simply because the owner wants to save her clothing or other possessions.

The reasons for correction of the problem must stem genuinely from her love for her pet. The owner must like the pet enough to make an effort to find a new way to interact with it, which will bring them both joy. If the owner lacks the patience, understanding, love and determination necessary to change the dog, perhaps a new home should be found for it.

Second, the dog must be reoriented as well. It should be remembered that the domestic dog of the 21st century evolved from the pack. Pack dogs are happy and at ease when they have a leader, one who keeps them in line; one whom they find simple satisfaction in pleasing.

Domestic dogs need a leader to guide them and understand them just as the pack dog needs his leader. Since Felix was free of guidance and leadership, it’s conceivable that his habit is so well established that change is impossible.

How To Retrain Your Dog

If Felix can be retrained then how would you go about it? Animal behaviorists recommend a training program through which the animal will be taught a new way of interacting with his owner.

Often, a sound obedience program is a good start a program which teaches the animal to sit, stay, heel, and come. If this program is carried out with patience, the animal will see that his owner enjoys the new game and he will enjoy it too.

Most dogs want to please and be pleased; it is the law of the pack. The owner is rarely able to quit his job to stay home with the family pet; however, during the early stages of his retraining, the pet may feel rejection and again relieve his frustrations with socks.

An attempt should be made to redirect his chewing vice toward a more acceptable object rawhide or nylon bones, for instance. In fact, any toy with a food shape can be used for this purpose. Do not use nylon or rawhide toys shaped like shoes or other non-food objects.

Preventing Pica: Always The Best Strategy

Now you know the methods used in correcting Pica but how should you go about preventing it from ever happening in the first place? The answer is amazingly simply, and easy to implement.

A good start would be a sound obedience training program for your new puppy, a program from which you and your pet can experience pleasure and from which the dog can fulfill his primitive need to satisfy you, his leader.

This is not to say you should never play tug-of-war with your pet, only that this game should not become the basic activity through which you and your dog receive pleasure from each other.

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