The term pica indicates the ingestion of non-nutritive and inedible substances, such as tissue, plastic, sticks and stones. Pica is most common in puppies, but can be also found in adult dogs. The behaviour of pica should be carefully evaluated for various reasons. First, because it may indicate the existence of an organic problem such as dental and/or oral disease, central nervous system disorders such as tumours or hydrocephalus, electrolyte imbalances, metabolic diseases, toxins, brain aging, cognitive dysfunction or gastrointestinal disorders and secondly, because it can have dangerous effects on the health of dogs and may cause intestinal obstructions or transmit parasitic diseases (1). Pica can be a disorder linked to learning and/or sometimes be a manifestation of an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) (2).

A female neutered, 12 year old, mixed breed dog had been housed in a shelter for 11 years. The dog presented with behavioural changes of one month duration, consisting of destruction and ingestion of the plastic and metal coating of the kennel, and vomitus consisting of food plastic and metal. The dog shared the kennel with another male neutered dog, 8 years old. The kennel was an area of 20 m² which was partially covered. The kennels had an automatic watering bowl and the dogs were fed once a day, in the morning with fish and rice dog kibble. The dogs were exercised in a run area for an hour twice a week. During the clinical examination the dog showed on abdominal palpation, pain in the left hypochondric area. The examination of the oral cavity excluded dental and/or oral disease and the neurological examination was normal. A faecal examination was negative for parasites. A gastric foreign body was suspected due to the history of pica and vomiting. The diagnostic plan was to do a complete blood count, blood biochemistry, urinalysis, Leishmania testing (IFI), radiography and ultrasonography. A lateral and ventro-dorsal abdominal radiograph showed the presence of small radiopaque foreign bodies within the stomach. Symptomatic treatment was initiated consisting of pantoprazole (Nycomed SpA, Milano, Italy) (1 mg/kg PO, SID for 5 days) and metoclopramide (Eurovet Animal Health, Ozzano dell’Emilia, Bologna, Italy) (0.2 mg/kg SC, BID for 5 days), in order to protect the stomach and facilitate gastric emptying. During the treatment, the dog did not vomit and appetite was preserved. However, the dog continued to show pica accompanied with destruction of the kennel. Repeat radiological examination and ultrasonography were carried out, but no abnormalities were found. The dog was referred for a behavioural examination. The behavioural consultation excluded behaviours relating to cognitive dysfunction, typical of aging, and diagnosed an oral Compulsive Disorder (CD). The treatment was aimed to decrease stress, which may develop due to life in kennels (3, 4, 5) and to enrich the environment where the dog lived. First, the dog and its dog kennel companion were moved to another kennel, where the surfaces were perfectly intact. The dog was also given the Kong^® (Kong Company, LTD), a game dog food dispenser for mental stimulation at specific times of the day (periods during which there were no visitors and staff in kennels) and chewing bones for dogs were always available. The dog was given a daily routine which included an increase in exercise, which provided a daily output of at least one hour. During the following four months, the patient vomited with a frequency of 1-2 times per month but showed no more destructive behaviours or ingestion of inedible material, making extensive use of bones. The dog was presented to the clinic staff after six months with a decreased appetite and weight loss. A full blood count, biochemistry and urinalysis were performed. No abnormalities were detected in the complete blood count. Serum creatinine levels were increased (2.54 mg/dl; range 0.5-1.25mg/dl) and urea was increased (166 mg/dl; range 15-45 mg/dl). Urinalysis showed a specific gravity of 1.010 (range 1.025-1.035) and a protein:creatinine ration of 0:23. The patient was placed alone in a kennel, and 1 day later started vomiting and had a mild gastric dilatation. Ultrasound examination showed the presence of a hypo-echoic mass (3:52 cm) at the antrum of the pylorus blocking the gastric outflow. An ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirate was taken of the mass. Cytological examination was non diagnostic due to significant blood contamination. Two days later the dog showed an evident gastric dilatation and an emergency decompression and gastric lavage was performed. Later the mass was surgically excised and sent for histological examination. The histology report indicated a leiomyoma of the pyloric wall (Fig. 1) with large areas of necrosis and haemorrhage of an ischemic regressive character. The dog was followed up for a period of one year after the surgery. During this period there was no recurrence of the vomiting or pica and no abnormalities were detected in the serum creatinine levels, urea and urine specific gravity in the following biochemistry and urinalysis performed.

Pica and the biting and/or licking of surfaces such as floors, carpets and finishes with a frequency, duration and intensity excessive compared to a normal exploratory behaviour, are often classified as compulsive disorders (6, 7, 8). According to authors these repetitive and exaggerated behaviours can be caused by situations of conflict, stress and anxiety, and can be generalized out of this context and interfere with the daily activities (7, 8). Life in kennels can have significant negative effects on the welfare of dogs causing physiological (9) and behavioural changes (10, 11, 12) contributing to the development of potential CD (13) conditions. Pica should be considered primarily as a nonspecific sign that may be the consequence of several clinical conditions, including behavioural disorders (14).

In the submitted clinical case, though the CD disappeared because the dog was redirected to appropriate targets following the behavioural therapy, the persistence of the vomiting, the time lived in kennels, the sudden evolution and the age of the subject are factors that suggest the possible presence of an organic disease. In presentations of pica, in an adult or geriatric dog population, according with the existing literature, it is therefore necessary first to rule out differential diagnoses that take into account the presence of possible organic diseases (especially gastrointestinal) (15); only after having excluded the latter, will it be possible to direct the suspected diagnosis towards a compulsive behaviour.

In conclusion, the case report highlights the difficulty of a correct diagnosis and the importance of gastrointestinal disease in the differential diagnosis of pica in dogs. However, more investigations should still be done around pica in an adult or geriatric dog population, by finding a more significant sample data that can highlights further possible causes.