Your dog may be suffering from parasites or another problem that requires medical treatment.
If the problem persists then visit your vet. This will eliminate the problem if a nutrition deficiency is the cause. Make sure that your pup is eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of nutrient-dense food. A tired body and mind mean less energy available for rock-eating shenanigans! This should help keep them occupied and away from any stray stones laying around outside.Īdditionally, make sure your pup gets plenty of exercise every day. And don’t forget he needs plenty of interactive playtime with you or other animals. Offer him a selection of toys, puzzle feeders, and lick mats. If they are bored, make sure to provide plenty of alternative activities for your pup. Once you have an idea of what’s causing them to eat rocks, you can start working on curbing their habit. The first step is to figure out why they do it in the first place. If your dog has taken up a habit of eating rocks, it’s important to take the necessary steps to curb this behavior.
#Pica dogs rocks professional#
If you think your pup has pica disorder then seek professional help from a vet immediately so that proper treatment can begin and prevent further harm from occurring in the future. In addition to physical issues, eating rocks may indicate underlying psychological issues that need addressing too.įor instance, dogs with a medical disorder called pica might compulsively eat non-food items like stones because of mental stressors such as boredom or anxiety. Therefore, it's important to discourage this behavior right away before any serious damage is done. Ingesting large pieces of rock can also lead to internal punctures, blockages, and other severe health problems that could require surgery or even prove fatal.Įven smaller stones can cause gastric distress such as vomiting and diarrhea due to the sharp edges scratching the stomach lining or irritating it internally. Periodontal disease can be just as vicious in dogs as it can be in humans.Īdditionally, the rocks can become lodged in the dog’s throat or cause choking if they get stuck in the digestive tract. Obviously, rocks are not meant to be consumed, and chewing on hard objects like this can damage your dog’s teeth and gums.Īside from potentially breaking their teeth, rocks can also cause cuts that allow bacteria to wreak havoc in their mouths. The Dangers of Eating RocksĪs you might imagine, eating rocks can be a dangerous habit for your pup. Thankfully, a trip to the vet is all you need to diagnose and treat parasites. If your dog is scratching or licking at their rear end a lot, this could be the culprit. Having parasites can compel your dog to do all sorts of weird things. Make sure they have plenty of chew toys on hand so they don’t take up rock chewing or something even more destructive! Parasitesįinally, rock-eating can be an indication that your dog has parasites. Putting things in their mouths is a way of exploring and understanding objects.Īlso, puppies often have sore gums due to teething, and chewing on something can be soothing. First, they are little babies exploring their worlds. It’s fairly common for little puppies to chew on rocks for two reasons. Chew toys, lick mats, and puzzle toys for dogs are all great ways to offer stimulation while you are away. The best way to avoid this issue is to ensure your dog gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. It can also mean digging holes or destroying your furniture - so watch out! For some dogs, this can mean eating rocks. Without it, he gets bored and looks for anything and everything to entertain himself. The more intelligent your dog is, the more mental stimulation he needs. Help avoid this reason for rock-eating by providing your pup with well-balanced, nutrient-dense dog food. The lack of a mineral or minerals may drive him to take up eating rocks as a way of supplementing his diet.
Your pup’s strange habit may arise because he’s suffering from a nutrition deficiency. So why does your pup seem to have an obsession with stones? Well, there are four main reasons that could be behind this strange habit. 4 Reasons Your Dog Eats RocksĮating rocks isn't the most typical behavior for a dog, but it's definitely more common than you might think.
#Pica dogs rocks how to#
We'll also provide tips on how to curb your dog's rock-eating habit. To find out, we'll look at four reasons why dogs eat rocks and the potential dangers of ingesting them. After all, eating rocks doesn’t seem like it could be a healthy habit! You may be wondering why your pup is doing this and if there's anything you can do to discourage the behavior. Does your dog have a rock-eating habit? It seems like a strange problem to have but this weird habit is common among dogs.
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