Puppy licking cement and/or brick mortar... - Page 1

Has anyone ever had any experience with puppies doing this.....?

 No. Are they obsessive about it?

Are there white salt stains on the parts that are being licked?

Someone that bought a puppy from us called today and said the puppy was doing that....Puppy is now, 11wks old. He left us at 9wks old and was not doing that.  They said he seems to do it when he he is alone.  I have never experienced anything like that before....I have heard people say that if a dog eats oyster shells they may lack in some kind of minerals.... But I have no experience with that either......So I don't know....

              It seems that I have heard of this before....but I can not quite place it....sorry...

You might find these interesting.

.www.petplace.com/dogs/pica-in-dogs/page1.aspx


www.howtogetridofstuff.com/living/how-to-get-rid-of-pica-in-pets/ 

 Give the puppy calcium and iron supplements

also get him dewormed

cheers

DO NOT GIVE THE PUP any kind of supplement, especially calcium. As all of you know, or should know, the balance of calcium is important in a dog, just as in humans. However, assuming the diet is a decent diet, the dog will get all it needs and adding extra calcium risks upsetting the crucial ration of calcium to phosphorus.

The pup is likely enjoying the evaporated salts and/or the feel of the brick and/or the moisture that is there. This is very, very common behavior where a dog or pup has the opportunity. The amount of evaporated salts available in such a case would not be a concern.

Deworming pups routinely at certain intervals and older dogs once or twice a year is always prudent.

I NEVER give a  calcium supplement.....Too much calcium can be a really big problem.....
All our puppies get a health check before they leave our home......Therefore he was free of all internal parasites before he left.....The new owner was given a schedule of past worming and those that were due......Hopefully the puppy will continue what is scheduled.....As I stated before, none of the puppies did that while they were here..... But nothing says it can't begin after it is in its new home....

From the research I have done, this type of behavior is called Pica....Which is fairly common in puppies....There could be many reason for this behavior, and it is usually outgrown as the puppy gets older, if it is indeed just a habit and not an underlying medical problem.....

I did advise the owner to talk to his vet and see what he would recommend....I believe this is the best route to take for the sake of the puppy....Don't want anything to happen to him, if it is an underlying medical issue...

Thanks for all the great responses......

My pup would do this from time to time when I first got her. She stopped with reprimands so nothing serious.
Reggie