Content
- why dog eat rock
- Dog Eating Stone: 5 Reasons
- Symptoms of a dog that ate stone
- My dog swallowed a rock, what to do?
- Dog eating rock: how to make it stop
The greedy behavior of dogs can seem cute at times, however, when we talk about the consumption of stones, we come across a serious and even dangerous problem that we must solve as soon as possible. If a dog tries to eat everything it finds, it can ingest chemicals, excreta, foreign bodies and even foods that are harmful to health.
In this sense, something that occurs with a certain frequency and we must be aware is the habit of eating stones. And if you suspect or directly saw your dog ingest rocks or other foreign elements, you might ask yourself questions like, "Why did my dog start eating rocks?" and most importantly, "How do I know if my dog has consumed something?"
With that in mind, in this PeritoAnimal article we will solve your doubt about the çchorro eating stone: causes and what to do, detailing the possible symptoms of a foreign body in dogs and the causes that lead these pets to consume stones.
why dog eat rock
The ingestion of stones is very dangerous, as it can irritate and inflame the gastrointestinal mucosa, which can lead to gastritis in dogs. In more serious cases, a dog that eats stones can suffer an intestinal perforation, which can cause internal bleeding and can even result in animal death.
But, why dog starts eating rocks? Well, what is certain is that there is no single explanation for this behavior in dogs. A dog that consumes foreign objects can do so for a variety of reasons, and to identify the specific cause of a dog eating rock, you will need to pay attention to its routine, nutrition, health status, and everyday behavior.
Taking into account the possible risks of ingesting stones for the health of your best friend, we advise you to urgently seek a veterinarian if you've seen him do it or if you suspect he might be eating rocks, dirt, and foreign bodies in your absence. Even so, below we'll summarize the most common causes that explain why a dog eats rock.
Dog Eating Stone: 5 Reasons
There are several reasons that can explain a dog eating rock, here we list some of them:
- Pica Syndrome: Pica syndrome in dogs is a condition that causes the ingestion of all types of food, including, of course, stones. The animal may even try to eat all kinds of inedible material, such as plastics and wood.
- Discovery phase in puppies: it is totally normal that, in the puppies stage, dogs bite and even accidentally ingest all kinds of objects, including stones. Despite being "normal" it is not acceptable behavior. However, you should never force a stone out of your mouth, as this can trigger a quick ingestion in an attempt to prevent it from being taken out. The ideal in these cases is to start working with the dog and teach him to drop objects.
- stress and anxiety: There are many reasons that can cause the appearance of stress in the dog, such as lack of exercise, confinement, lack of mental stimulation, constant punishment, etc. The dog may find in the habit of chewing and consuming stones a way to relieve accumulated stress. It is customary in rescue dogs.
- attention demand: puppies that spend many hours alone or that do not receive enough attention may consume stones or other inedible foods (as well as perform many other inappropriate behaviors) to attract the attention of their guardians. The dog would rather be punished than not receive any kind of attention. It usually appears in very extreme cases.
- Parasite infestation: Several studies show that, in the wild, dogs eat plants or herbs to eliminate an infestation of intestinal parasites. In their absence, they may consume other foods or resources they find. Visit your veterinarian to eliminate this or other health problems.
Symptoms of a dog that ate stone
A dog will not always show visible symptoms after consuming rocks or sand, and guardians may only notice when watch your stools, as the dog's organism will not be able to digest these elements and will need to expel them through the excrement.
However, if your dog is eating larger stones, it will likely show changes in its health and behavior. Below, we summarize some of the symptoms that can signal if it is a case of a dog eating rock:
- Nausea, cough, attempt to vomit and vomiting
- Constipation or difficulty with bowel movements (the stones can "trap" in the intestines, preventing the dog from defecating normally)
- Presence of blood in the stool (the stones can perforate the intestine, causing bleeding)
- Symptoms common to gastritis in dogs, such as vomiting, loss of appetite and weight, diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy, excessive salivation, etc.
- Weakness and loss of interest in their daily activities.
My dog swallowed a rock, what to do?
If your dog has swallowed a rock or other foreign body, it is very important that get him to the vet quickly. Although you can find many at-home methods to get your dog to expel a stone, these routines are not always recommended, as depending on the size and location of the stone in your pet's body, trying to make it vomit or defecate it may damage your gastrointestinal tract and further aggravate the condition, which will require veterinary intervention.
If you want to know how to get your dog to expel a stone, you should consult a properly trained professional. When performing a physical examination and requesting some studies, the veterinarian may know the exact location of the foreign body in your dog's body. With this data, then, he will recommend you the most convenient way to remove this element from your gastrointestinal tract without causing serious damage to your body. In some cases, it may be necessary to perform a surgical intervention to extract the stone completely safely.
But in case your furry gets suffocated with a rock or other element, we'll tell you what to do if your dog has something stuck in his throat.
Dog eating rock: how to make it stop
Now that you know that a dog eating rock is a bad indicator of his health, it is necessary that you act to combat this very dangerous behavior. To do this, pay attention to the following points in order to prevent your dog from eating stones or foreign bodies:
- Provide him with a complete and balanced diet, according to the nutritional requirements of each stage of his life.
- Reinforce your physical activity, always respecting the type and amount of exercise most appropriate for your dog's age.
- Always use appropriate toys to play with your furry, avoiding presenting a rock or other foreign object such as a toy.
- Provide him with adequate mental stimulation, introducing intelligence games and/or canine activities such as searching.
- Enrich your environment so your dog can find positive ways to spend his energy and have fun, even when he's not at home.
- Offer an adequate preventive medicine to your best friend, always respecting your vaccination schedule and periodic deworming, in addition to making preventive visits to the veterinarian every 6 months.
Now that you know why dogs eat rock, its causes and what to do, in this video we tell you everything you need to know about dog deworming: