Bulimia
Rather than talking about bulimia in dogs, we are more likely to talk about hyperphagia or polyphagia. The dog who suffers from it then seems obsessed with food, which he is constantly looking for. When he finds some, he devours it ruthlessly until sometimes making himself sick. If it is true that dogs are opportunistic eaters who ingest what they can when they can, whether they are full or not, this behavior is questionable when it becomes exaggerated and compulsive.
While most pet owners attribute this behavior to hunger or gluttony, overeating can have other origins among iatrogenic, nutritional, organic, psychological or behavioral problems.
Also Read: Why Is My Dog Always Hungry?Anorexia
Anorexia is the dog's total loss of appetite. In dogs, it is often the symptom of a he alth problem rather than an eating disorder strictly speaking.
Indeed, there are many causes of anorexia in dogs and it can be one of the first indicators of various diseases or disorders. Anyway, a total loss of appetite in dogs should always lead you to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible, especially if your dog usually has a good appetite and/or if he has other symptoms. .
Also Read: Anorexia in DogsThe problem may not be physical, but rather psychological, and it manifests itself when your dog is faced with a change in environment or a different daily routine.Separation anxiety can also be the cause of a very temporary refusal to eat. If your dog is only skipping one meal and seems otherwise fine to you, then there is no need to panic. On the other hand, react quickly if he hasn't eaten at all for more than 24 hours!
Coprophagy
Coprophagia refers to the behavior of dogs that eat feces. Dogs can then ingest their own droppings or those of other animals. Cat droppings or horse droppings are often on the list of "their preferences" .
This habit, although it seems particularly disgusting to us, is nevertheless quite common in dogs. It can have instinctive, nutritional, behavioral or medical causes, sometimes quite difficult to uncover.
Anyway, eating droppings is rather risky for your dog because this behavior can cause food poisoning or a source of parasitic infestation.
To learn more about the causes of coprophagia and how to cure it, read our full article on the subject.
Also read: Coprophagia in dogsGluttony
When a dog eats too quickly, often even chewing what he eats, it can lead to dog he alth issues ranging from simple flatulence to stomach dilatation-torsion syndrome.
Swallowing his food too quickly also deprives him of essential chewing time for maintaining good oral he alth and psychological balance.
To remedy this, there are tips to make your dog less voracious. Discover them in our articles en titled “My dog is a glutton: is it serious? and “Slow down a dog that eats too fast”.
The pica
Pica is an eating disorder, similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder, which causes the dog to eat anything within reach, including things that are not edible at all .It can be anything from cotton to metal objects to dirt or even pebbles.
Pica is obviously not without consequences and can lead to cardio-respiratory arrest by suffocation as well as digestive occlusions or perforations which can be potentially fatal for the dog.
Stress and anxiety can lead to unusual behaviors like pica, as can boredom or loneliness. Some dogs find it physically and mentally stimulating to engage in chewing activity to calm themselves down or keep themselves busy.
Pica is also one of the symptoms of a developmental disorder in dogs called Hs-Ha syndrome (hypersensitivity-hyperexcitability).
Whatever the supposed cause of this behavior, it is best to consult a professional behaviorist or your veterinarian to find a solution to this problem.When a dog has pica, his behavior puts him in danger and signals to you that he is suffering psychologically. We must then act without delay!