Reasons Dogs Eat Rocks
Pica
When dogs frequently try to eat things that are not edible or have no nutritional value, this is referred to as a medical condition called pica. Dogs with pica eat a variety of objects, ranging from underwear to paper to rocks. This is a serious medical condition that usually stems from other underlying medical conditions or compulsive disorders, such as:
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Extreme boredom
- Anxiety
- Teething
- Early weaning
- Compulsive disorder
Pica could be life-threatening when dogs consume objects they shouldn’t, like rocks. If your dog is chewing and swallowing rocks, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Boredom
Does your dog spend a lot of time outside alone? Dogs get bored easily. When dogs lack mental enrichment and physical exercise, they often engage in destructive behaviours. Often times they’ll engage in these disturbing behaviours in an attempt to get your attention. You can easily increase their enrichment by providing mentally enriching toys, like puzzle toys.
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is a term that means that your dog isn’t getting all of his required nutrients. Malnutrition is most common in dogs that are starving or aren’t eating a nutritionally balanced diet. This commonly occurs when owners cook or feed a raw diet that isn’t balanced in vitamins and minerals.
Diabetes
Diabetic dogs become incredibly hungry and often want to eat everything in sight, which can include rocks. Diabetes is often accompanied by other signs, like excessive drinking and urinating.
Anaemia
Similar to malnutrition, anaemia refers to the medical condition in which a dog is specifically iron deficient. Iron is an essential vitamin that transports oxygen in the red blood cells. When dogs are lacking in iron, they might begin eating mineral-based things, like rocks and dirt. This is the dog’s way to self-correct the iron deficiency.
Puppy Teething
Teething is an uncomfortable and painful stage of life for any puppy. When their mouth begins to hurt, they may become destructive and chew and swallow anything they can get their mouths on, including rocks. Most puppies will grow out of this phase naturally, but in the meantime, it’s important to prevent your dog from eating rocks since that can be life-threatening.
How to Stop Your Dog from Eating Rocks
Change the Environment
The easiest and quickest way to prevent your dog from eating rocks is to alter the environment. If your dog is snacking on rocks in your backyard or garden, consider removing them. Alternatively, you could install a fence to prevent your dog from accessing them.
Trip to the Vet
If your dog is suddenly eating rocks out of the blue, it’s important to discuss this with your vet. Eating rocks can be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition, so it’s best to rule that out with your vet before going on to work on other methods to get your dog to stop.
Muzzle Training
Muzzles can look scary, but they’re actually a wonderful tool! Just because a dog is wearing a muzzle doesn’t mean that he’s a bad dog. Muzzles can keep dogs safe by preventing them from eating things they shouldn’t, like rocks. If you’re thinking about using a muzzle, be sure to go through the steps of properly muzzle training your dog. This ensures that your dog will actually enjoy wearing his muzzle.
Teach a “Leave It”
Even if you’re with your dog in your backyard supervising, you’ll still need a way to communicate with him. Sometimes he’ll be further away on the other side of the yard, so you’ll have to use verbal cues to communicate. Using a verbal “leave it” or “drop it” cue will come in handy in these instances.
Use a Leash
Rocks are a common staple in most gardens and in parks, so it’s impossible to avoid them altogether. If your dog is on a leash, you’ll be able to see him at all times. You’ll be able to reel him back in or use your “Leave It” cue if you notice him attempting to eat rocks.
Conclusion
Dogs eat a variety of strange things, but one of the strangest things they eat is rocks. Eating rocks can be indicative of a serious underlying medical condition, like pica or a nutritional deficiency. Sometimes it’s not quite clear why a dog is eating rocks, but it’s important to prevent him from doing so. Eating rocks can result in intestinal blockages or even perforations. This can lead to expensive surgery having to be performed. Sometimes this can even lead to death, especially if it’s not treated quickly.
