I wrote about Titus a few weeks ago.
He had been eating rocks and sure enough one got stuck in his gut..the sequela to his dilemma? He had to go under the knife.
I recieved quite a few comments about how prevalent pica is in Dobies.
Pica is the consumption of non food items. It is found in pets and people (primarily children). ASPCA article on Pica.
Whenever I am met with a client and their pet with some odd ball problem I always give credit to the pet. Always. I never dismiss it. If they think that they should be eating rocks I want to know why? Why would they think they need to?
My job is to keep that pet healthy. Mind, body, and soul.
What I find so interesting is that so many of the human diseases, mental AND physical seem to be crossing over into our pets.
Do I believe that Titus is trying to tell us something, ABSOLUTELY!. He is a very energetic, bossy, alpha puppy. He is living with an older retired couple facing many health problems. He is too much for them and he is displaying his anxiety and frustration in many ways. One of them is by eating rocks.
I read an article in Trends magazine August 2013 about how "OCD is similar in dogs and humans." How fitting that the rock eater is also OCD.
In Doberman pinschers it is called canine compulsive disorder (CCD). The report comes form the Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry where a joint study was done between Tufts Vet school and the McLean Imaging Center in Belmont, Mass. 16 Dobermans were scanned and they found that in comparing the MRI scans between the Dobes with CCD witht he control group the CCD group had findings consistent with what is seen in humans with OCD.
"Canines that misbehave are often labeled as 'bad dogs,' but it is important to detect and show the biological basis for certain behaviors," says Niwako Ogata, BVSc PhD who led the research team. "Evidence-based science is a much better approach to understanding a dog's behavior."
Well said, and I couldn't agree more!
As for Titus. He went to a new home last week. His new dad is a young, active, avid Dobie guy, who specializes in training and is well qualified to help Titus figure out what's bugging him to the point of thinking that he needs to eat rocks.
The blog on Titus.
Are they getting enough exercise?
Are you talking to your vet about the issue(s)?
Is your household stressful?
Is it stressful to your pet?
There is a reason.
Dig, dig like a determined, caring, compassionate advocate for your pets health and well-being. And if there isn't a quick easy answer, keep digging.
I'm out here, and there are armies of people that can help you. Reach out and don't expect quick and easy. It's all about the challenges that life presents you, and the way you face them.
If you have questions you can ask me at Pawbly.com. On twitter @pawbly, and on google +Krista Magnifico.