Pica — Eating Non-Food Objects

Let's talk about pica — eating non-food objects. First, see your vet, because pica can signal anemia, nutritional deficiencies, or gastrointestinal disease. A sock in the intestine is a five-figure surgery.

Your dog's going to simply die from a blockage if you do not treat this seriously. That is not a scare line. That is a surgery table.

Step one: the dog is not unsupervised in a room with socks, rocks, or hair ties. Ever. Step two: trade the dog for safe chews — frozen Kongs, bully sticks, Yak cheese.

Step three: teach a leave-it so solid the dog will spit out a steak on command. Step four: crate when you leave the house. Match the dog to the family.

If your family leaves socks on the floor, you do not yet match this dog. Now, the deeper fix: pica is a management problem in a fur coat. Remove the objects, supervise the dog, and the surgery table never enters the conversation.

Now here's Steve's notes.