Reasons why dogs eat rocks
Dogs have great appetites and these animals have the inclination to eat questionable (at least to us humans) things. Dog experts call this habit of ingesting non-edible things as pica. Eating non-edible items is a normal behavior of dogs but dog owners would still be puzzled by this behavior more so if the pet is provided with enough food. One of the non-edible things that dogs love to eat are rocks.
Puppies are more inclined to eat rocks. Puppies are naturally inquisitive and one way of discovering their world is by using their mouth. The hard rock will be chewed by the pup as if it were a fruity bubble gum. Eating rocks though is dangerous. Because rocks are hard, the teeth as well as the soft tissues inside the mouth can be damaged. Swallowed, the rock can cause diarrhea as it can really affect the delicate digestive tract of the dog. What would be more alarming is the fact that a rather large rock ingested by the dog can be life threatening if an esophagus or an intestinal tract blockage is created.
We know that dogs are voracious eaters. We also know that man’s best friends can develop hazardous and socially unacceptable behaviors. Nevertheless we would still be puzzled why dogs eat rocks. A brain disease can be one of the reasons why the dog eats rocks. A dog’s rock eating habit that is not caused by a medical concern is probably caused by a behavioral concern.
The dog’s propensity to eat rocks can be caused by boredom, anxiety or stress. Dogs would always love to get the attention of the family because these are social animals. Dogs that do not get any attention from the family will be bored. Bored dogs will develop destructive behaviors. Eating rocks is a sign that the dog is bored. The habit of eating rocks can be the dog’s way of attracting the master’s attention.
For proper diagnosis, humans have to have a series of laboratory tests. Dogs don’t need any of these test as these animals can recognize what is wrong with their system. A nutrient deficient diet will entice a dog to eat rocks in an effort to correct the imbalance. The habit of eating rocks can be the dog’s way of calling the master’s attention to the nutrient deficient diet or to the attention that is being missed by the dog.
robbie on August 30th 2010 in Dog Ownership, Health tips
