Mill Creek Animal Clinic

Mill Creek Animal Clinic

Mill Creek Animal Clinic is a fully equipped veterinary facility with a small practice personal approach.

(708) 361-6002
Email: mcac@millcreekanimal.com

Mill Creek Animal Clinic
12944 South LaGrange Road,<br />Palos Park, IL 60464

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Eating Inappropriate Items

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Friday, August 17, 2018 / Published in Helpful Articles

Eating Inappropriate Items

Eating Feces (Coprophagia)

Definition: Coprophagia is the ingestion of feces. It is normal for a mother cat or dog to ingest her newborn offspring’s’ waste products. This prevents disease and keeps the den odor free, thus preventing discovery by predators. Puppies occasionally begin eating feces when their mother ceases to perform this task, and they may continue this behavior until they are weaned. Some persist beyond weaning and separation from their littermates and mother.

If stool is available, a puppy prone to Coprophagia may be tempted. Some dogs appear to enjoy this activity, which makes it all the more repugnant to their owners. This behavior does not occur in kittens or cats, perhaps because of their instinct to cover or bury waste and their more selective eating habits.

Solutions

A number of solutions have been proposed to discourage Coprophagia in dogs.

  • Intentionally baiting fecal material with foul-tasting substances may render the experience unpleasant, but this method is not always successful
  • The best way to correct Coprophagia is to prevent access to fecal material. If your dog is in the habit of eliminating in your yard, routinely remove deposits. Supervise yard access to monitor progress. Diligently leash walk your pet, moving quickly away from the sample as soon as possible.
  • You may wish to reward your pet for good behavior with a tasty treat. In extreme cases, it maybe necessary to place a “basket” muzzle on a very determined dog. This type of muzzle forms a cage around the dog’s muzzle so that it can pant and vocalize but is unable to put anything in its mouth.
  • Provide a wide variety of appropriate objects for your dog to chew and increase the time you spend playing with or exercising your pet.
  • Some dogs learn the Coprophagia is a way to get your attention, even though the attention often consists of scolding. As difficult as it may be, ignore your pet if you catch it “in the act” and concentrate instead on preventing future episodes.

Expanding Taste

Some dogs develop a taste for the stool of other pets, such as cat feces. The same approach applies to these variations of Coprophagia.

  • Prevent access to the feces of other animals by being vigilant during leash walks.
  • Make your cat’s litter box, placing the box on an elevated surface, installing a cat door, or opening the room door just enough to allow the cat in or out.

Eating Grass and Other Plants

Ingestion of inappropriate items (pica) is seen in diseased and apparently healthy individuals. Plants may be an occasional and normal part of a pet’s diet. Pets may be attracted to both indoor and outdoor plants.

Oral investigation (tasting, chewing, and possibly swallowing) is common in young cats and dogs. Although, it usually subsides in mature animals, taste preferences may persist. Cats are primarily carnivores (meat eaters) but occasionally eat plants, even in the wild. A pet may also eat plant material if it feels nauseated. This is not specific sign of intestinal parasitism. Though a pet with internal parasites may feel ill enough to eat lawn grass, pets with worms do not necessarily eat grass or anything strange. Similarly, pets with other unrelated medical problems may eat grass.

Although eating lawn grass is not usually harmful, report this to your veterinarian if it becomes excessive or is accompanied by other changes in your pet. If the grass has been treated with chemicals, such as organophosphate or carbamate pesticides, poisoning is possible. Ingestion of nontoxic plants, such as grass, can produce mild gastrointestinal upset by mechanical irritation of the digestive tract. The fact that vomiting follows ingestion does not mean the plant is poisonous. Contact your veterinarian to be sure of your pet’s safety.

House pets can destroy ornamental plants, often creating quite a mess in the process. Carefully remove plants to an elevated surface or to another location to prevent access. For example, hang plants out of reach, keep branches well trimmed, or replace houseplants with cacti. If cats seem particularly attracted to specific plants or foliage types, replace these plants with others that are less tempting. You may also decide to leave nontoxic plant as an intentional lure away from your favorite foliage. You might plant a small box of catnip with seeds available from most pet stores.

Many plants are poisonous to both cats and dogs. Household and outdoor plants and trees may cause signs ranging from mild gastrointestinal upset to respiratory arrest and death. Some vegetation is so toxic that even small quantities may be very dangerous.

A partial listing of nontoxic ornamental houseplant is included for your convenience. Contact your veterinarian for details.

African violet Jade plant
Baby’s breath Mother-in-law tongue
Begonia Norfolk Island pine
Boston fern Palms (all indoor varieties)
Christmas cactus; Peperomia
Dahila Purple passion
Ferns (all indoor varieties) Rubber plant
Ficus Sanseveria
Geranium Spider plant
Grape ivy Swedish ivy
Hibiscus Wandering Jew

Stone Chewing

Stone chewing by dogs is probably a form of play, but it can be harmful to a pet’s health. Teeth may be broken or worn, exposing the sensitive pulp and leading to pain or infection.

Stones may be accidentally eaten. Small stones may pass through the length of the bowel without consequence. Larger stones may lacerate the intestinal wall or obstruct passage of food, resulting in severe illness, the need for abdominal surgery, and possibly death.

Although your dog may enjoy this activity, it is wise to discourage it by redirecting attention to safer toys (balls, rawhide chew toys). Keep the dog on a leash or closely supervise it in rocky areas.

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ATTENTION

COVID 19 UPDATE- 11-3-2020

ALL CLIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS WHEN BRINGING YOUR PET TO THE DOOR OR PICKING YOUR PET UP.

MILL CREEK ANIMAL CLINIC WILL CONTINUE CONCIERGE CURBSIDE SERVICE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE THIS AN EFFICIENT STRESS FREE PROCESS.  WE WILL EMAIL YOU BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT FOR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PETS VISIT.  WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT MILL CREEK ANIMAL CLINIC, PARK IN FRONT OF THE CLINIC OR ONE OF OUR DESIGNATED SPOTS IN THE REAR OF THE BUILDING AND CALL 708-361-6002.  ONE OF OUR TECHNICIANS WILL CHECK YOU IN AND GET ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NEEDED.  WE WILL THEN ASK YOU TO MEET US AT THE DOOR WITH YOUR PET . WE WILL BRING YOUR PET INTO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THE DOCTOR WILL  ASSESS AND PROVIDE TREATMENTS, THEN CONTACT YOU TO DISCUSS EXAM FINDINGS.  PLEASE WAIT IN YOUR CAR AND DO NOT LEAVE THE PARKING LOT!  ONCE ALL SERVICES ARE COMPLETE, THE TECHNICIAN WILL AGAIN ASK YOU TO MEET AT THE CURB AND RETURN YOUR PET TO YOU.

WE ARE ALL FEAR FREE CERTIFIED DOCTORS, SO REST ASSURED WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE THE MOST STRESS FREE VISIT POSSIBLE FOR YOU AND YOUR PET!

ALL FEES ARE DUE AT THE TIME OF SERVICE.  OUR RECEPTIONIST WILL STORE YOUR CREDIT CARD IN OUR ENCRYPTED COMPLIANT CREDIT CARD SERVER AND CHARGES WILL BE APPLIED AT THE COMPLETION OF THE VISIT.  RECEIPTS AND INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE EMAILED THE SAME DAY.

TELEMEDICINE, PHONE CONSULTATIONS AND PROGRESS CALLS, AS WELL AS EMAIL CONSULTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EXISTING CLIENTS ONLY.  FEES WILL APPLY.

FOOD AND MEDICATION REFILLS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP, OR USE OUR ONLINE PHARMACY (ON THE MENU BAR) FOR MEDICATIONS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.

PATIENCE PLEASE!  AS THE COVID CRISIS DRAGS ON, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN SHORT TEMPERS.  WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU, AND WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE THE PROCESS SWIFT AND EFFICIENT.  BUT THIS IS MEDICINE, AND EMERGENCIES HAPPEN.  RUDE BEHAVIOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ANYWHERE,  AND ANYONE WHO DOES NOT CONDUCT THEMSELVES ACCORDINGLY WILL BE ASKED TO SEEK CARE ELSEWHERE .

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FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION, PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE MILL CREEK ANIMAL CLINIC APP IN APPLE STORE AND GOOGLE PLAY.

—
Jay Whittle, DVM
Mill Creek Animal Clinic

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