Why does my dog eat paper?
Question
Why does my five-year-old Chihuahua eat paper? She particularly likes tissues and paper towels that she finds in trash cans throughout the house and she seems to have trouble making bowel movements after eating paper.
Answer
Quite simply, your dog likes paper! She doesn’t have a “cause and effect mode” to connect eating paper with a stomach ache and/or constipation, so it may be difficult to train her to stop eating paper products. Consequently, it is up to you to keep trash out of her reach. Reprimand her when you catch her eating paper with a strong “no” or “drop it” and provide more diversionary tasks for her, such as walks, play time and pet-safe toys, to keep her occupied.
This question was answered by Dr. Lauren Keating, owner of Natural Bridge Hospital for Animals in Natural Bridge Station, Virginia.
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