Get your dog to the vet right away even if he doesn’t exhibit any symptoms of gastrointestinal distress after ingesting concrete. She is able to look for any indications of intestinal blockages. He can also receive a comprehensive examination from the veterinarian to rule out any underlying illnesses or nutritional deficiencies as potential causes of his pica. Remember that several minerals, including calcium and iron, are present in concrete. Your dog may be eating concrete if these elements aren’t included in his diet. He may be eating non-food materials like concrete due to medical issues like thyroid disease, diabetes, and anemia. A healthy diet or the treatment of any such ailments should make this condition better.
What draws dogs to cement?
LOVE, DR. FOX: With the exception of a few cataracts, our 15-year-old lhasa apso is in fantastic health.
Our kitchen floor was rebuilt with Mexican tile four years ago, and around a year ago, he started licking the tile floor compulsively. He is unstoppable! He only seems interested in the two locations in the kitchen, despite the fact that the foyer is similarly tiled with Mexican patterns.
Cleaning is done on the kitchen floor. Originally, we cleaned it with white vinegar, but after experimenting with a variety of chemicals, we’ve settled on simply using clear water. Nothing falls to the ground. Cleaning teams have been here, and we’ve examined each product they use. All of us are puzzled.
We do not want to isolate him because we spend a lot of time in the kitchen. He is a friendly dog who prefers to be in the thick of things most of the time. What do you recommend?
Dear M.F., I wish that all pet households would clean their tile and linoleum floors with hot water, a little white vinegar, some borax, or baking soda, and organic cleaners like organic Orange TKO rather than more commonly used cleaners that are laden with potentially toxic ingredients, particularly endocrine-disrupting volatile organic compounds.
Your dog may become fixated on licking the tiles because of their mineral- and clay-like-smell. He can be nutritionally deficient or in need of a specific nutrient. Canines with cancer and other crippling diseases, as well as anemic dogs, frequently lick brick and concrete surfaces. This so-called pica can get worse when you’re uncomfortable.
Every day, my dogs, my wife, and I all eat a little clay. Vitality Herbs and Clay, 729 Walker Ave., Ashland, OR, 97520; phone: (888) 325-1475, is one vendor of Sacred Clay, a brand of pyrophyllite clay rich in several trace minerals. Due to their extensive and safe variety of important and useful nutrients, these supplements may be beneficial to your dog as well as many older dogs and cats.
LOVE, DR. FOX: Our German shepherd/husky mix has difficulty standing up from the hips. When he was around 2 years old, I first saw it; he is now 3.
He enjoys running, but it takes a toll on him; he occasionally limps on his right hip for a while and appears stiff. The results of the veterinarian’s X-ray for hip dysplasia were unfavorable. His anal glands might have been stuffed, but that wasn’t the issue. He received two rounds of anti-inflammatory medication, which was helpful while he was on it. Phenobarbital is used to treat his epileptic episodes. Have you have any recommendations? Despite being a large dog that weighs 115 pounds, he is not obese.
DARLING D.D. Aside from the fact that your unfortunate young dog is a member of the German shepherd breed, which has the highest prevalence of inherited disorders, he could also be suffering from impaired immune, inflammatory, skeletal, neurological, or other functions. With prolonged use, the anti-seizure and anti-inflammatory drugs could harm his liver.
Numerous shepherds experience epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplasia, severe allergies, colitis, inflammatory bowel illness, and other ailments that are mentioned on my website from a report by the now-defunct American Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights.
Above all, stay away from immunizing your dog without first determining their blood titer and real-need (exposure-risk) status. Give your dog wholesome food that you have prepared yourself or one of the higher-quality dog food brands on my website’s list, which includes Natura’s Evo and Karma, PetGuard, Evanger’s, and other businesses that produce organically approved goods without the use of genetically modified corn or soybeans.
As a precaution, Procter & Gamble (P&G) is recalling particular lots of its Iams canned cat food marketed throughout North America. According to diagnostic testing, the product may not have enough thiamine, a vitamin B1 that is crucial for cats. Cats that have exclusively eaten from these canned foods are more likely to experience the symptoms of thiamine deficiency, which include vomiting, salivation, weight loss, aberrant gait, and seizures. Included are the following Iams products: tinned cat and kitten food from Iams ProActive Health all 3- and 5.5-ounce can variants. Check the date range stated on the bottom of your can: from 09/2011 to 06/2012, to see if it is affected. Customers should throw away any canned cat food they may have purchased with these codes. Call P&G toll-free at (877) 340-8826 for information or a product return.
LOVE, DR. FOX: A 15-year-old Jack Russell terrier lives in our household (long legs). She is a rescued dog who spent the majority of her life being heavily used for breeding.
We have observed a developing tremor in her hindquarters over the past few years, along with an increase in the weakening and unsteadiness of her back legs. We’ve had her evaluated by a number of veterinarians, all of whom came to the conclusion that her problem was caused by advancing age and made no recommendations for special care or treatment.
The fact that she had a bladder stone removed four years ago is maybe of some relevance, leading us to hypothesize that she might have experienced nerve injury during the treatment. We also consider the possibility that she may have formed a new bladder stone, which may be the source of her apparent discomfort and the reason why she seems compelled to keep pacing the floor. We believe she may need medication because of the way she is moving on the floor, but we also don’t want to cause any more problems.
LOVE, D.E.J. Have radiographs taken first to rule out the presence of another bladder stone. Anxiety and compulsive behaviors like pacing or floor walking are brought on by chronic pain. Regular massage treatments for your dog could be advantageous. Along with some super-antioxidants and herbal medicines that reduce inflammation, acupuncture may also be beneficial. My website has information about healthy supplements, like fish oil, turmeric, ginger, and ginger. Zyflamend, a product from the human dietary supplement firm New Chapter that I would recommend using in conjunction with brewer’s yeast, is one of their great forms (up to 1 teaspoon a day).
Additionally, she could be suffering from spinal arthritis and spinal nerve compression. In addition to hereditary predisposition, this is brought on by a lifetime diet that is insufficient in some vital nutrients (such omega-3 fatty acids or excessive omega-6). It is possible that dementia and other senile brain abnormalities, for which the nutrients mentioned above and low-dose valerian may be helpful, exist.
LOVE, DR. FOX: Mia, our maltipoo, is fourteen months old. She is affectionate, playful, and loving, but we need assistance with two things:
1) She chews and bites at her bed, her towels, and whatever other fabric she can get her hands on. The fragments are swallowed by her without seeming to bother her. However, we wish for it to stop because we don’t understand why she does it.
2) She is agitated and yells at anything and everyone outside. She occasionally seems to see things that aren’t there. She gets excited when we have guests, barks, and bites their feet.
TO L.U.E. : A prevalent trait, if not an affliction, of “designer” dogs like yours is a cross-cultural canine consciousness brought on by the genetic blending of Maltese terrier and French poodle.
Aside from that, I find it disgusting that hundreds of Chihuahuas and other little arm-and-basket lap dogs have been transferred from overcrowded California animal shelters to the East Coast because they didn’t work out as fashion accessories for certain well-known celebrities.
Can a dog become ill from cement?
“Cement powder is an extremely strong, corrosive substance that, when combined with water, can expose animals to the risk of what are basically chemical burns. This had irritated Doug’s oesophagus and increased the amount of acid in his stomach.
Do canines enjoy concrete?
Even though dogs enjoy going for walks, it might be uncomfortable to stand on pavement in the heat. Since you presumably wear shoes every day, it’s simple to miss this uncomfortable fact, but because of this, purchasing dog paw heat protection is not only important but absolutely necessary for the welfare of your pet.
What occurs if one consumes cement?
A common building material is cement. It’s crucial to understand what cement can do if you come into touch with it, whether you use it at work, are having cement work done at home, or are planning a DIY project.
There are numerous cement-based products available for both industrial and domestic use. It comes in premixed forms like concrete (cement and aggregate [sand and gravel]), mortar (cement and sand), and grout or in pure powder form (a more fluid form of cement). These many cement compounds all serve distinct functions. For instance, grout is used to fill in the crevices between tiles, while mortar is used to bind bricks together.
Any portion of the body that comes into contact with cement can suffer caustic harm, resulting in chemical burns to the skin, eyes, mouth, and throat, as well as the lungs if cement powder is inhaled. Calcium oxide makes up the majority of cement. It creates very alkaline (high pH) calcium hydroxide when it combines with water, which can quickly reach a pH of 12 or more. Dry cement is less caustic than wet cement because of this. On a scale from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline), the pH indicates how acidic or alkaline a solution is, with a neutral pH being around 7. As a result of the high pH of wet cement, burns may result.
When cement leaks into or through boots, gloves, or clothing, the results can be disastrous. There could have already been severe skin burns by the time the victim realizes this. The burn may become more severe the longer the cement is on the skin. The alkaline burn usually becomes worse before it gets better, even after washing the cement off. When skin is severely burned by cement, the burn can penetrate deeper into the tissues beneath the skin and harm bone and muscle.
Cement can also cause other skin issues. It is coarse and has compounds that can lead to dermatitis, which is characterized by swelling, itching, and redness.
It’s possible to have burns on your lips, mouth, throat, and stomach from swallowing cement. Drooling, trouble swallowing, or vomiting can be the first symptoms. In some situations, cement can solidify and clog the digestive tract. Coughing, wheezing, and breathing problems can be brought on by cement dust inhalation.
Avoiding or minimizing contact with cement is the greatest form of prevention. This necessitates ensuring that:
- Keep dogs and kids away from cement and out of their line of sight.
- Never put cement goods into unmarked containers after removing them from the manufacturer’s containers.
- The manufacturer’s usage instructions should be read and followed.
- When working with cement materials, put on the proper personal safety equipment, such as well-fitting gloves, masks, and boots.
If you breathe in cement dust, go away from the area and look for some fresh air right quickly. Remove any contaminated clothing right away after coming into contact with cement. Rinse off any cement that has gotten on your skin or in your eyes right away with cool or room temperature water for at least 15 minutes. If any cement is ingested, thoroughly rinse your mouth and lips.
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or use the webPOISONCONTROL online tool right once if you think someone may have been exposed to a cement product.
How can I stop my dog from consuming concrete?
Your dog won’t be tempted to chew on the sharp edges of any loose pebbles or pieces of concrete in your backyard if you remove them and fix any damaged concrete. To further stop him from eating the restored concrete, squirt it with a bitter deterrent. In order to control him near concrete and to prevent leaving him outside alone, keep him on a leash at all times. When you walk your dog, keep him muzzled to stop him from ingesting any concrete.
What causes my dog to gnaw on concrete?
Some dogs could have fairly odd tastes in food, but there is a big difference between odd and compulsive. You may be dealing with a classic case of “pica,” a compulsive behavior that includes eating inedible materials, if your beloved dog often eats concrete.
The term “pica” refers to a compulsive medical condition that requires the eating of substances that are never, ever, ever regarded appetizing. Certainly falls under this category is concrete. Other items that dogs with pica consume include things that don’t look particularly appealing, such as sand, chalk, cosmetics, rocks, coats, plastic bags, and socks.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, the underlying causes of pica are not entirely established. However, the ingestion of concrete or other strange items may be linked to a number of factors, including prior trauma or neglect, separation anxiety, annoyance, inattentiveness, boredom, and lack of socializing. Puppy concrete-eating may simply be a transitory stage of exploration that ends as quickly as it began. Think carefully about your pet’s everyday activities, as well as his past, if you know it. Find out whether there is anything that might be motivating him to act out by consuming concrete.
Eating concrete might have health implications. Intestinal parasites, toxicity, vitamin deficiencies, an overactive thyroid, diabetes, anemia, malnutrition, inflammatory bowel disease, and hyperadrenocorticism are a few conditions that can infrequently cause pica as symptoms. To ensure that the peculiar habit is unrelated to anything else, take your pooch who eats concrete to the vet.
Concrete is in no way a healthy part of a dog’s diet. An abundance of additional extremely severe concerns, such as bacterial illness and pesticide poisoning, could arise from your dog consuming concrete, in addition to the possibility that it could obstruct your dog’s intestines. Anything could be hiding beneath that grubby outside concrete. It shouldn’t be put in your dog’s mouth.
If your dog’s concrete eating is due to a medical condition, a veterinarian may be able to help him recover from pica; if malnourishment is to blame, consider dietary supplementation. However, if the pica is unconnected to a medical condition, you may have to take care of the issue yourself. You might be able to break the habit by encouraging your child to engage in regular mental and body activities, giving them access to a variety of engaging and interactive toys, and limiting their exposure to concrete. When taking your dog for a walk and the path includes concrete, keep a tight eye on him and forcefully instruct him to “Leave It” or “No” if he approaches the material. You might want to seek the assistance of a certified pet behaviorist in the event of a particularly enduring or severe pica problem. Obtain helpful local recommendations from your veterinarian.
