Special training is required to curb this potentially dangerous behavior. Fortunately, with a little discouragement from their caretakers, puppies grow out of this behavior by the time they’re one year old.Īccording to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), compulsive behavior won’t go away on its own.
This is called “compulsive pica.” The most common things dogs with compulsive pica eat are rocks, plastic bags and containers, clothing, and wooden objects.Ĭompulsive pica does not apply to puppies, who are naturally curious and explore the world through their mouths. The behavioral reasons are usually because when a dog is bored, he or she will seek out non-food items to consume. If your dog is eating inedible things, see your veterinarian first to rule out any physical causes for pica.
The physical reasons consist of the dog’s diet lacking certain nutrients or diseases such as digestive disorders and parasitic infections also poisoning. There are two main reasons why grown dogs eat items that aren’t food: physical and behavioral.
