Dogs have plenty of strange behaviors and unusual habits. From chasing their tails to sniffing each other’s butts, dogs keep us puzzled and laughing. However, an abnormal eating habit is no laughing matter. Eating clothing, such as socks and underwear, can cause a serious gastrointestinal obstruction.
Why Does My Dog Eat My Underwear?
Pica is a term that describes the compulsion to eat non-food items that offer no health benefits. The condition is seen in humans, dogs, cats, and other animals.
Dogs explore the world with their noses. A highly evolved olfactory system allows dogs to smell far better than any human ever could. When they come across an item that smells strongly of a family member, they are drawn to it. Even clean underwear can have lingering human smells that dogs can detect.
Dogs often greet humans with a nose to the crotch. Humans have active sweat glands in that region which produce pheromones and other scents. Dogs can learn a lot about a person by smelling them. The same rationale applies to your underwear.
Once your dog has discovered a set of underwear, he may lick and chew the fabric to explore it or play with it. As unappealing as it sounds, the dog may enjoy the smell and taste. Some dogs simply chew the underwear, but others will actually ingest it.
While eating underwear is a form of pica in dogs, there are some underlying reasons for it.
- Curiosity/attraction to Smell
- Boredom
- Resource guarding: Some dogs ingest underwear because they deem it valuable and want to keep it from others
- Teething (puppies)
- Anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Medical condition or nutritional deficiency
The Problem With Eating Underwear
Besides the obvious gross-out factor and the loss of your skivvies, eating underwear can cause serious health issues for dogs. Fabric cannot be digested in the stomach; the body will try to expel it or pass it. Your dog may vomit up all or part of underwear completely. There is a risk, however, of the underwear becoming trapped in the gastrointestinal tract, causing an obstruction. This is a serious condition that requires immediate veterinary attention. If you know your canine has recently ingested a pair of underwear, your vet may be able to give them a medication to make them vomit them up. The abdomen may become painful and/or bloated. If you notice these signals and you suspect your dog might have eaten something non-edible, bring your dog to the nearest open veterinarian immediately. A GI obstruction may be discovered via radiographs or ultrasound. If so, the foreign body will need to be removed. If the foreign body is in the stomach, it might be possible to remove it with endoscopy.
Contact your vet if you notice your dog trying to consume your underwear or any other inappropriate items. Blockages in the intestines require abdominal surgery. It is critical to rule out a medical or nutritional cause for the pica before attempting to correct the behavior.
Possible initial signs of a GI obstruction include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy.
How To Stop Dogs From Eating Underwear
The best way to keep your dog from eating your underwear is to keep clothing out of reach of your dog. Keep dirty laundry in a closed hamper or bin. Put clean laundry away in drawers and closets before your pet can steal them from the laundry basket.
Take steps to enrich your dog’s environment and reduce boredom. Spend time exercising and bonding with your dog. Consider interactive dog toys, tasty dog chews, and even dog sports to occupy his busy mind and body. Go on long walks, allowing him to sniff around thoroughly. Change your route regularly to offer new smells, sights, and sounds.
Training can also help you get your dog’s underwear-eating habit under control. Work on cues, such as “drop it” and “leave it ,” so you can stop your dog at the moment you catch him trying to eat something bad. If your canine fails to obey, use positive reinforcement rather than punishment. Redirect your dog to a toy or game. Reward him for diverting his attention from the underwear (or other “bad” item).
