Pica as a clinical sign of a chronic enteropathy in dogs and cats.

Objective: To determine whether pica should be considered as a clinical sign of a chronic enteropathy.

Methods: In a retrospective review, 133 client-owned dogs and cats presented to a multispecialty hospital for endoscopic gastric foreign body retrieval between January 1, 2018, and August 26, 2024. Chronic gastrointestinal sign data were noted, and the animals were divided into 81 that were not biopsied and 41 receiving gastrointestinal biopsies (11 biopsied excluded). Biopsied animals were screened for anemia, pregnancy, juvenile age (< 2 years of age), use of appetite stimulants or corticosteroids, or endocrinopathies. Biopsy specimens were classified by severity level and type of cellular infiltrates. Presence of Helicobacter spp was documented.

Results: 100% (41 of 41) of biopsied animals and 66% (70 of 106) of all animals with data available reported chronic gastrointestinal signs. The median age was 8 years in dogs and 6 years in cats. One hundred percent (41 of 41) of biopsied animals had histologic chronic enteritis, and 80% (33 of 41) had histologic chronic gastritis. Helicobacter spp was noted in 49% (20 of 41) and was positively associated with gastric inflammation severity (n = 24; ρ = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.71).

Conclusions: A significant number of animals with pica and foreign bodies demonstrated evidence of a chronic enteropathy. In most cases, inflammation was lymphoplasmacytic with duodenal predominance. Helicobacter spp was associated with severity of gastric inflammation.

Clinical relevance: Chronic enteropathies should be considered in cases of pica, with prompt confirmation and treatment to reduce associated morbidity and mortality.