As such, puppies may also eat feces as an observation of the mother's behavior, or as part of exploration. Mothers with newborns will also commonly eat the feces of their newborns this is a normal part of their grooming behavior. Sometimes an animal will eat its feces if there are remaining undigested articles of food in the stool. Parasites, too, can be another of the causes for this behavior. There are several possible reasons for why an animal would eat feces or other non-food items, including malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, increased appetite, or conditions such as diabetes or thyroid disease. There may be weakness and lethargy in the animal. You may notice that the animal is vomiting, has loose stools, or has diarrhea. The largest organ system that is affected by this behavior is the gastrointestinal tract, especially if foreign objects are being swallowed. You may observe your cat eating dirt, clay, rocks, soap, or other items that can endanger the animal’s health. Fortunately, there are treatment options in these types of cases, or behavior modification practices that can be implemented if it is a non-threatening issue. Generally, neither of these conditions are the result of an underlying disease, but may be the result of a mineral or vitamin deficiency. Coprophagia is the eating and ingesting of feces. Pica is a medical issue referring to a craving for non-food items and the subsequent eating of them.
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