1/17/2024 0 Comments Pica definition horses![]() ![]() Some develop a fondness for one particular item, while others will swallow a wide variety of objects. Pets with pica develop an appetite for some pretty bizarre things, including rocks, dirt, clothing, cat litter, plastic bags, rubber bands, hair ties, even electrical cords and drywall! Pica is a surprisingly common type of eating disorder that causes pets to compulsively crave and eat non-food items, and it can affect both dogs and cats. But what if that “anything” included things that didn’t actually qualify as food? We all seem to have that one friend who can eat anything. only shares products that we strongly believe in and feel would be beneficial for our readers. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)ĭisclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and if you click on them and purchase a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window).Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window).Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window).Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window).Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window).Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window).Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window).However, if anything seems “off” when your horse starts odd eating behavior it’s best to involve your veterinarian. Small net hay feeders, toys, plenty of exercise and a quality diet may help prevent pica. Pica as an outlet for anxiety, boredom or not having food available is likely an issue in many scenarios, as is dirt eating related to GI upset.įortunately, most of the possible causes are benign. Horses may also eat dirt or lick metal when seeking salt. No solid connection with mineral deficiencies has been documented although by observation dirt eating may increase in ill horses and could be an instinctive but nonspecific drive for minerals. So, what do we actually know about aberrant feeding behaviors in horses? Two studies in horses from the late 1970s identified low protein intake as a trigger for coprophagia which fits with data from other species. hairballs) or to attempt to recover nutrients. It’s unclear if they are eating feces to induce vomiting (e.g. Cats will eat their own feces out of hunger or boredom (reduces or stops if they are allowed free choice access to food) or when vomiting. Dogs are notorious for eating the fecal matter/manure of a variety of other species. It is also a perfect prebiotic that is not only rich in live organisms but also precisely the types the animal needs.Ĭoprophagia is also normal in foals, piglets and even young ruminants like calves and sheep. In fact, deficiencies can develop if they are prevented from eating feces. It is so common in rats and rabbits that the practice is considered a normal behavior used to obtain protein and minerals that are not well absorbed from the large bowel and would otherwise be wasted. Horses are certainly no strangers to GI upset in many forms.Įating feces (coprophagia) should be in a special category because it does have some nutritional value. Clay binds many fungal and bacterial toxins and is a major ingredient in Kaopectate. Clay is the obvious choice for relief of any GI upset and is a common ingredient in both human and animal products for both gastric upset and issues with diarrhea and gut toxins. One problem is that dirt eating often focuses on clay (same is true of animals) and clay can bind nutritionally beneficial minerals and/or be a source of toxic ones like lead or aluminum.Īnother interesting association with pica reported by humans that we really can’t confirm or rule out in animals is that it can be caused by nausea. For example, dirt eating during pregnancy is a cultural practice in some developing countries where dirt is actually sold by street vendors.ĭetailed analysis of many studies has been unable to settle the chicken or egg question regarding a connection between mineral deficiencies and pica. However, this has been difficult to tease out from other associated factors. In people, an association has been noted between pica and pregnancy and/or anemia. It is also commonly associated with anxiety, which may fit well with the equine picture. Pica is seen in a number of developmental or psychiatric disorders. Most formal research has been done in humans and may not be directly relevant to the horse but at least they can provide feedback. Horses rarely fit the description of chronic consumption except for devoted wood chewers but sporadic eating of dirt or manure is fairly common.īark stripping yields negligible nutritional benefits and could be considered a form of pica. ![]() This is actually normal in the young of all species. Pica is defined as ingestion of items with no food value over a period of at least one month. ![]()
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