Animal expert Karen Wild discusses the appetites of pets
Animal expert Karen Wild writes in her latest column:
'Don't eat that!'
No, I am not referring to the latest government advice to help reduce obesity (at least, not the human variety).
This week one of my children came running to tell me that the cat had decided to get into their craft kit and had started chewing the yarn within.
Luckily they got it away from him swiftly, but it reminded me that even when a pet is older (he is seven) and a child is older (not even a teenager anymore) then normal household items can become a serious risk.
We are all used to the comical images of a dog hot-footing it away with a string of sausages, or when your cat starts to leave mouse heads on the stairs for you to step on, barefoot, first thing in the morning.
However, what happens if your pet seems to have an insatiable appetite for everything, including the most unspeakable items you can imagine?
Dogs are natural scavengers, and they and cats will sometimes eat things that aren’t actually food. They, like some of us, do not simply stop eating when their appetite dictates they are full.
Your vet can, no doubt, report many instances where they have removed items from pets’ internal workings.
In my book ‘Being a Dog’, my TV vet colleague Emma Milne helped me by sending a very clear X-ray of a door key inside a dog’s stomach.
Eating non-food items is known as pica, and eating excrement is known as coprophagia. Why, when food is freely available, do dogs and cats still do this?
It sounds revolting, but dogs eat poo, sometimes their own, possibly because it is poorly digested or still smells like food! Get a vet to check over your dog to make sure they are getting the nutrients needed in their everyday diet.
Puppies will often eat items as part of exploring their environment, rather like young children will put things into their mouths. With mild discouragement and a tidy floor, this should pass after about 10 months of age.
Some cats are always attracted to wool and string, plastic bags, and some even seem to love the smell of bleach which are all extremely dangerous. Why would nature make this possible? It’s hard to tell, but it’s important to take precautions. Keep these things safely behind a cupboard door.
Teach your greedy pooch to bring all things to you, and swap items readily for a tastier treat, without getting upset. The more stressed you are, the more your dog will fear their prize being taken away.
A true scavenger can risk their own health, so if your dog is particularly keen to gulp things on walks, consider a cage muzzle to prevent harmful items being eaten.