It can happen that your dog eats something off the floor, leaving you to guess what that something was. That’s not a place pet parents like to find themselves; however, this is a very common problem with dogs.
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This can be a problem if food fell on the floor when there are small toys lying around from young kids, and more.
In this article, we’ll take a look at this problem and what you should do if your dog eats something off the floor. Let’s get started!
Why Do Dogs Eat Just About Everything?
One of the main reasons dogs seem to eat everything is that they use their mouths to explore the world. Whether they’re inside or out, dogs will use their mouths to explore the environment. This means they’re likely to chew, mouth, and even swallow just about anything. But why?
Well, it could be the objects are scented and somehow smell attractive to the dog. Or maybe a piece of paper towel in the trash had the remnants of raw chicken juice on it. The smell and/or the flavor of an object or food can make a dog want to eat it.
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We have to remember that in our dogs’ wild ancestors were scavengers. They ate what they found, such as dead animals and more. These instincts are still in our fur babies today. The problem is that scavenging can be extremely dangerous for dogs, especially when they eat something bad.
Other reasons dogs choose to eat such weird things could be caused by pica. This is a psychological issue that can lead dogs (and humans) to eat non-food items. It can be caused by:
- Boredom
- Depression
- Stress/anxiety (including separation anxiety)
- Lack of exercise & attention
- And more
Pica can lead to other health issues such as an intestinal blockage or cause the dog to eat something toxic. This is a very serious problem for some dogs.
My Dog Ate Something Off the Floor—What Should I Do?
If you’re not sure what your fur baby has eaten, then the best thing to do is call the vet. In most cases, they may ask to see your dog to check him over.
When you reach the vet’s, they’ll do a full physical exam, along with lab work and x-rays. The x-rays will let the vet see what your dog ate, as well as where it’s located in the digestive tract.
If your dog has a blockage, then he may need emergency surgery. And if your dog has eaten something toxic, the vet will use the appropriate treatments to remove the toxins from your dog’s system.
The best way to avoid this type of issue is prevention. This could mean training your dog to “drop it” while treating other aspects of pica. In most cases, your dog will make a full recovery, but it can take time and effort to resolve pica.
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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