Synonyms

Allotriophagy

Name of the disease in English

Pica-Allotriophagia

The disease in brief

Pica is defined by the ingestion of non-food materials, of animal origin (corpses, hair, urine, etc.) or from the environment (wood, gravel, sand, etc.), and can occur through voluntary consumption or licking.

Possible causes are related

• in the ration, deficiencies in salt (NaCl), phosphorus, trace elements, deficit of dietary fiber,
• behavioral disorders caused by boredom, overcrowding in buildings, or even unsuitable ambient conditions,
• to clinical conditions (ketosis-nervous form,…ectoparasites – phthiriasis…).

The consequences of pica are very diverse, such as botulism (following ingestion of corpses), digestive disorders in the abomasum (overload with sand, etc.), intestinal obstruction (trichobezoars, etc.).

Clinic & diagnosis

Compulsive and recurrent consumption of non-food substances.

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

No description

Confirm a suspicion?

No description

Prognosis and treatment

No individual curative treatment except treatment of a possible nervous or parasitic condition causing behavioral disorders.

Collective preventive treatment. Some cases remain difficult to explain.

Prevention

Good breeding and feeding practices for cattle (particularly ensuring sufficient salt, phosphorus and drinking water intake).

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References

Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 31