Can anyone shed some light on a rather annoying habit my 15 yr old springer X has recently started.  He was diagnosed with Canine Cushings Disease about 2 months ago which explains his massive weight loss but over past 3-4 weeks he has taken to stealing socks and underwear (from anywhere he can find them - I've stopped putting washing in the utility room but he still keeps finding them.) The problem (apart from the number of odd socks and my depleted knicker drawer) is that we don't know he's done it until they come out again.  Sometimes they come out the other end with severe discomfort to him and often without any warning, causing him yo have accidents in the house.  Occasionally they do not go through him but he vomits them back up.  They are always the full article, not chewed, and I'm concerned this could cause him problems with his digestive system if they get stuck etc.  I just wondered if anyone had experienced this or could explain why he does it.  Like I said, I've been trying to make sure he does not have access to anything but he still manages to find them somehow.

The most common symptoms include:
      * increased/excessive water consumption (polydipsia)
      * increased/excessive urination (polyuria)
      * urinary accidents in previously housetrained dogs
      * increased/excessive appetite (polyphagia)
     **** * appearance of food stealing/guarding, begging, trash dumping, etc.*****
      * sagging, bloated, pot-bellied appearance
      * weight gain or its appearance, due to fat redistribution
      * loss of muscle mass, giving the appearance of weight loss
      * bony, skull-like appearance of head
      * exercise intolerance, lethargy, general or hind-leg weakness
      * new reluctance to jump on furniture or people
      * excess panting, seeking cool surfaces to rest on
      * symmetrically thinning hair or baldness (alopecia) on torso
      * other coat changes like dullness, dryness
      * slow regrowth of hair after clipping
      * thin, wrinkled, fragile, and/or darkly pigmented skin
      * easily damaged/bruised skin that heals slowly
      * hard, calcified lumps in the skin (calcinosis cutis)
      * susceptibility to infections (especially skin and urinary)
      * diabetes, pancreatitis, seizures

Your dog is not alone, it is not an uncommon problem at all. :-)

There are many reasons for your dog to suddenly be attracted to socks and under garments, dirty socks often smell and taste delicious to dogs it could just be that, or a way to be close to you in taking something of yours, dogs may also do this because they are bored and it becomes a game of hunt the sock or underwear especially when you are not looking (substitute toys and kongs can satisfy this need) or hunger could be a factor and these garments act as a filler. So the reasons can be many.

You know it has to stop not only can it cause constipation and vomiting but intestinal obstructions which will need a vet visit if caught in time. :-(

I would put a lock on your utility door to stop him going in there whilst you are doing your laundry if you are not supervising, remember he can not be trusted the minute your back is turned he will snatch something, so lock him out of there whilst washing, make sure all washing is put away in drawers and if you have children/teenagers/hubby make sure they put them in the wash bin immediately no socks etc on the floor, if you get into a routine you can do this easily and make sure he can never get hold of anything again. You'll have to adapt to this new problem.

One of my mum's dogs along with socks if given the chance is a tissue fiend, she'll go hunting in dressing gowns or anywhere she can think of to find her prize tissue, what you think is a cuddle on the lap is actually a sneaky maneuver to look for a tissue. :-D

As far as I understand, Cushings will make a dog feel constantly starving and perhaps this would explain his new behaviour of eating anything (even undigestables!). How well is the Cushings being controlled? Perhaps once this is being managed appropriately this behaviour will reduce? In the meantime, its a case of vigilance on your part - making sure trash is firmly secured and nothing is left lying around which he may be tempted to eat.

Life with old dogs can be even more time consuming than puppies! I know this from first hand experience lol Still, very much worth it :)

My old dog (BC 16) started doing this a few years ago. 

With him it is not an appetite related thing as he is not the best eater going.

Nor is it confined to knickers and socks, he will also try for gloves or bits of toys.

I have to confess that I am so particular now about making sure that he has no access to anything that he could swallow as I am terrified that he gets a blockage as I would be unhappy with him being operated on. 

Management sounds like the only solution I am afraid.