![]() It might take some time and patience on your end, as change does not happen overnight, especially with dogs. Once you have determined why your pet is eating rocks in the first place you’ll be able to put a plan in place to help them stop. If they are eating rocks to get attention from you, being proactive with your attention may lessen their desire to eat rocks in the first place. Similar to ensuring your dog has enough physical and mental exercise, if eating rocks is a behavioral issue, you will also want to ensure that your dog is getting enough attention. Give your dog ample amounts of attention.You may wish to consult a trainer, especially if your dog is a working or herding breed like a Border Collie or Husky. Some dogs even enjoy learning tricks or tasks around your house. You can add training exercises or even give them puzzle toys to help stimulate their minds. For some breeds of working dogs, leash walks are not enough mental stimulation. Once you have ruled out nutritional deficiencies or infection and have determined that your dog is eating rocks due to a behavioral issue, you’ll want to make sure that your dog is getting ample exercise and mental stimulation. Offer opportunities for exercise and mental stimulation.This could include adding nutritional supplements to your pup’s food and/or medication to treat any parasitic infection. Should your vet determine that a nutritional deficiency or parasite is the reason that your pet may be eating rocks, you’ll want to work with him or her on a treatment plan. Ensure nutritional deficiencies are addressed and treat any parasitic infections.By positively reinforcing the behavior of not eating rocks you may be able to eliminate your dog’s desire to do so. Offer your dog an alternative like a favorite treat or a tug toy for dropping the rock. You can also look for dog training facilities that allow you to rent space to exercise your dog indoors in extreme instances. If you are in a city, seek out dog parks that don’t have gravel so your dog can’t eat it. If you know your dog can’t resist you might want to avoid or eliminate the temptation. If your dog isn’t around rocks, he can’t eat them. Avoid areas with gravel or significant amounts of rocks.They can experience vomiting or diarrhea even if they’ve only eaten a few pebbles. Dog dental work is done under anesthesia and therefore poses some additional risks.Įven small pebbles can irritate your dog’s stomach. If your pet is chewing on hard stones or rocks they can chip or damage their teeth, resulting in the need for dental work or even having an impacted tooth removed. If your dog is in pain or showing any signs of perforation you will want to take them to the vet for treatment. Sharp rocks can cause perforation as they pass through your pet’s digestive tract. If you think your dog has swallowed something and it is causing a blockage, see your vet immediately to confirm with an X-ray and have it removed. Intestinal blockages prevent dogs from getting adequate nutrition and can cause your pet to vomit or become lethargic. If your pet ingests a large enough rock, it can cause a blockage that will require surgery to remove. ![]() ![]() It can lead to illnesses or injuries that result in the need for costly surgery or medical care. They may also ask some lifestyle questions about your pet to determine if the issue is behavioral.Įating rocks is not a safe behavior for your dog for many reasons. He or she can do an exam and run diagnostic tests to check for nutritional deficiencies or parasites. To get to the root of why your pet is eating rocks, you’ll want to start with a visit to your vet. Your dog might be seeking your attention when he puts rocks in his mouth or he could be anxious or bored.įinally, if your pet doesn’t have Pica or a behavioral issue, they may be eating rocks due to a nutritional deficiency or a parasite. Stress or anxiety in your dog may manifest into your dog eating rocks. There is no known cause as to why dogs get Pica, but it is often linked to nutritional deficiencies.Īnother reason your dog may start eating rocks is that he or she has a behavioral issue. In addition to rocks, dogs with Pica might also eat dirt, trash, plastic, metal or articles of clothing like socks. The classic signs of pica are eating non-food items. The most common reason your dog might be eating rocks is a medical condition called Pica. This will help you get to the root of why your dog is engaging in this strange behavior and how to help them stop. All the delicious food and treats you buy for your dog and he goes outside and eats rocks! What is that all about? Why do some dogs like rocks so much? We explore some common reasons why dogs eat rocks, risks associated with eating rocks and finally how to stop your dog from eating rocks.
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