Abstract
Licking, chewing or ingesting non-nutritive substances is defined as pica. Although pica is generally reported to be due to trace element deficiencies, both medical and behavioral causes for pica must be considered. In the current case, it was aimed to report the clinical reflections of lithophagia associated with behavioral disorder in a dog and the haematobiochemical and some radiographic findings. The research material was consisted of a German shepherd dog with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The result of blood hematobiochemistry was not indicative of alterations that could be associated with the pica, while diagnostic imaging revealed the presence of pebbles in the rectum. Blood samples were also examined to determine possible trace element deficiencies, but no significant changes were observed in these parameters. Given that pica, the ingestion of non-edible materials, is a recognized sign of behavioral problems, this aspect must be appropriately investigated, diagnosed and treated.
Keywords
References
- Amundson, L. A., Kirn, B. N., Swensson, E. J., Millican, A. A., & Fahey, G. C. (2024). Copper metabolism and its implications for canine nutrition. Translational Animal Science, 8, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txad147
- Craven, M. D., & Washabau, R. J. (2019). Comparative pathophysiology and management of protein‐losing enteropathy. Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 33(2), 383-402. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15406
- Dittmer, K., & Thompson, K. (2011). Vitamin D metabolism and rickets in domestic animals: a review. Veterinary pathology, 48(2), 389-407. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985810375240
- Eyarefe, O. (2016). Pica in Dogs: overview, owners perception and intestinal perforative obstructive cases in Ibadan, Nigeria. Global Veterinaria, 17(3), 204-213. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.gv.2016.17.03.10538
- Firyal, S. (2007). Pica (depraved appetite; allotrophagia) in domestic animals and man. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 27(4), 208-210.
- Kochan, A., Simsek, A., & Arica, E. (2023). Serum mineral levels and haematobiochemical parameters in buffalo calves with allotriophagy (pica syndrome). Medycyna Weterynaryjna, 79(4), 186-190. https://doi.org/10.21521/mw.6753
- Kumar, R., Yadav, K., Jeevan, K., Hemanth, I., Rao, S., & Satyanarayana, M. L. (2020). Case report on trichophagia in dog: A rare condition. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 8(2), 1293-1294.
- Masson, S., Guitaut, N., Medam, T., & Béata, C. (2021). Link between foreign body ingestion and behavioural disorder in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 45(3-4), 25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2021.04.001
- Merola, I., & Giussani, S. (2010). Foreign body ingestion in dogs and cats: Preliminary studies. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 5(1), 43-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2009.09.037
- Mert, H., Mert, N., Dogan, I., Cellat, M., & Yasar, S. (2008). Element status in different breeds of dogs. Biological Trace Element Research, 125(2), 154-159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-008-8160-5
- Pereira, A. M., Maia, M. R. G., Fonseca, A. J. M., & Cabrita, A. R. J. (2021). Zinc in Dog Nutrition, Health and Disease: A Review. Animals, 11(4), 978-1004. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11040978
- Rajendra, A., Koshy, M., Mishra, A. K., & Hansdak, S. G. (2016). Lithophagia: Presenting as spurious diarrhea. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 5(2), 499-500. https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.192328
- Silvestrini, P., Zoia, A., Planellas, M., Roura, X., Pastor, J., Cerón, J., & Caldin, M. (2014). Iron status and C‐reactive protein in canine leishmaniasis. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 55(2), 95-101. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12172
- Tamura, Y. (2025). Chronic Enteropathy and Vitamins in Dogs. Animals, 15(5), 649-665. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050649
- Tomza-Marciniak, A., Pilarczyk, B., Bąkowska, M., Ligocki, M., & Gaik, M. (2012). Lead, cadmium and other metals in serum of pet dogs from an urban area of NW Poland. Biological Trace Element Research, 149(3), 345-351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9433-6
- Turgut, K. (2000). Veteriner klinik laboratuvar teşhis. Selçuk Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi, Konya. Zentrichová, V., Pechová, A., & Kovaříková, S. (2023). Zinc concentration in blood serum of healthy dogs. Biological Trace Element Research, 201(7), 3356-3366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03441-x
Abstract
Besin niteliğinde olmayan maddelerin yalanması, çiğnenmesi veya yutulması pika olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Pikanın genellikle iz element eksikliklerine bağlı olarak şekillendiği bildirilse de hem medikal hem de davranışsal nedenler göz önünde bulundurulmalıdır. Mevcut olguda bir köpekte davranış bozukluğuna eşlik eden litofajinin klinik yansımaları ile hematobiyokimyasal ve bazı radyografik bulguların bildirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırma materyalini kusma ve diyare semptomları olan bir Alman çoban köpeği oluşturdu. Kan hematobiyokimyasının sonucu pika ile ilişkili olabilecek değişiklikleri göstermezken, tanısal görüntüleme rektumda çakıl taşlarının varlığını ortaya çıkardı. Olası iz element eksikliklerini belirlemek için kan örnekleri de incelenmiş, ancak bu parametrelerde önemli bir değişiklik gözlenmemiştir. Yenilebilir olmayan maddelerin yenmesi olarak tanımlanan pika davranışsal sorunların bilinen bir işareti olduğundan uygun şekilde araştırılmalı, teşhis edilmeli ve tedavi edilmelidir.
Keywords
References
- Amundson, L. A., Kirn, B. N., Swensson, E. J., Millican, A. A., & Fahey, G. C. (2024). Copper metabolism and its implications for canine nutrition. Translational Animal Science, 8, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txad147
- Craven, M. D., & Washabau, R. J. (2019). Comparative pathophysiology and management of protein‐losing enteropathy. Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 33(2), 383-402. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15406
- Dittmer, K., & Thompson, K. (2011). Vitamin D metabolism and rickets in domestic animals: a review. Veterinary pathology, 48(2), 389-407. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985810375240
- Eyarefe, O. (2016). Pica in Dogs: overview, owners perception and intestinal perforative obstructive cases in Ibadan, Nigeria. Global Veterinaria, 17(3), 204-213. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.gv.2016.17.03.10538
- Firyal, S. (2007). Pica (depraved appetite; allotrophagia) in domestic animals and man. Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 27(4), 208-210.
- Kochan, A., Simsek, A., & Arica, E. (2023). Serum mineral levels and haematobiochemical parameters in buffalo calves with allotriophagy (pica syndrome). Medycyna Weterynaryjna, 79(4), 186-190. https://doi.org/10.21521/mw.6753
- Kumar, R., Yadav, K., Jeevan, K., Hemanth, I., Rao, S., & Satyanarayana, M. L. (2020). Case report on trichophagia in dog: A rare condition. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 8(2), 1293-1294.
- Masson, S., Guitaut, N., Medam, T., & Béata, C. (2021). Link between foreign body ingestion and behavioural disorder in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 45(3-4), 25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2021.04.001
- Merola, I., & Giussani, S. (2010). Foreign body ingestion in dogs and cats: Preliminary studies. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 5(1), 43-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2009.09.037
- Mert, H., Mert, N., Dogan, I., Cellat, M., & Yasar, S. (2008). Element status in different breeds of dogs. Biological Trace Element Research, 125(2), 154-159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-008-8160-5
- Pereira, A. M., Maia, M. R. G., Fonseca, A. J. M., & Cabrita, A. R. J. (2021). Zinc in Dog Nutrition, Health and Disease: A Review. Animals, 11(4), 978-1004. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11040978
- Rajendra, A., Koshy, M., Mishra, A. K., & Hansdak, S. G. (2016). Lithophagia: Presenting as spurious diarrhea. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 5(2), 499-500. https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.192328
- Silvestrini, P., Zoia, A., Planellas, M., Roura, X., Pastor, J., Cerón, J., & Caldin, M. (2014). Iron status and C‐reactive protein in canine leishmaniasis. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 55(2), 95-101. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12172
- Tamura, Y. (2025). Chronic Enteropathy and Vitamins in Dogs. Animals, 15(5), 649-665. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050649
- Tomza-Marciniak, A., Pilarczyk, B., Bąkowska, M., Ligocki, M., & Gaik, M. (2012). Lead, cadmium and other metals in serum of pet dogs from an urban area of NW Poland. Biological Trace Element Research, 149(3), 345-351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9433-6
- Turgut, K. (2000). Veteriner klinik laboratuvar teşhis. Selçuk Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi, Konya. Zentrichová, V., Pechová, A., & Kovaříková, S. (2023). Zinc concentration in blood serum of healthy dogs. Biological Trace Element Research, 201(7), 3356-3366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03441-x
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Veterinary Internal Medicine |
| Journal Section | CASE REPORT |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | June 12, 2025 |
| Publication Date | |
| Submission Date | December 11, 2024 |
| Acceptance Date | May 27, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 18 Issue: 2 |
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