Why Do Dogs Eat Rocks

Are you looking for the answer “Why has my puppy been eating rocks?” or “why is it chewing pebbles?” You are not the only person looking for the answer. You’ve come to the right place to quench your thirst.

A core reason your dog could be eating rocks is a medical condition called Pica. Signs of pica are eating non-food items. Dogs with Pica not only eat rock but also might eat dirt, trash, plastic, metal, or pieces of clothing. Though the exact reason canines develop Pica is unknown, it is often linked to nutritional deficiencies. Another reason your pet may start eating rocks is that it has a behavioral issue. Stress or anxiety in your dog may provoke it to eat rocks. If you often find your pup chewing rocks while you are around, that's because it’s just trying to get your attention.

Stick with us as we’ll be going through all the possible reasons and discussing why your pet is eating rocks.

Reasons for Dogs Eating Rocks

As we have mentioned, earlier this can be Pica or some behavioral problem. Also, there are some other reasons why your loyal companion is doing so.  Here we will be discussing all the main reasons and some remedies.

1. If Tired of Following Daily Routines

Canines are pack-hunting animals. They are very active and have a faster brain function. They can be munching on rocks and dirt just to try something new and see the result. It may be just to grab your attention or just to be relieved from a monotonous and boring routine.

Some dogs require mental exercise to stay busy; this can be through puzzle toys, interactive play, or various sports. An idle hound may begin to display destructive behavior. This might be chewing up furniture, shredding toys, or other non-toy fabric objects (i.e. shoes, clothes), it can also eat things that are not meant to be consumed at all.

2. Curiosity for Testing

Doggys are naturally curious and intelligent. Dogs are like babies to a certain point but mostly puppies use their mouths just as we would our hands. They explore the environment with them. Rocks might be chewed out of mere curiosity about their texture, taste, and how they feel.

Getting a toy that closely replicates the texture and experience of chewing on human hair, is then ideal. Just like how babies use their hands to explore, so do dogs Whether it is the texture, taste, or feel of an item they may chew on one out of curiosity.

3. Lacking of Nutrition

Chewing rocks can cause a lack of nutrition called Pica. This it's usually the result of a nutritional deficiency, like not getting enough minerals in their food due to another health problem.

Chewing and ingesting random non-food objects like rocks could sometimes be a sign of pica. This could be an indicator that your rover is missing minerals in the diet, or more often it might signal an associated medical problem.

Minerals differ in cement between various rocks. A dog that does not get a nutritionally complete and balanced diet or has a medical condition that creates a deficiency of some nutrients could be seeking to balance the missing nutrients by licking rocks.

Some medical conditions that cause pain or ill absorption of nutrients can incite dogs to consume non-food items. This could include, but not be limited to intestinal parasites, food allergies causing malabsorption, stomach ulcers, and pancreatic disorders as well as any other sources of pain. This is why a good medical workup should be your first course of action to understand what the problem is and make sure that you get him feeling at his best.

4. If Feel Vomiting

Soil and rocks are alkaline substances. If a dog has an acid reflux and gastro-intestine problem this can provoke its upset stomach and vomiting. Naturally, dogs are witty and can eat dirt and rocks to induce alkaline in the stomach and intestine.

Dogs may naturally resort to gnawing on non-edible objects such as rocks when their stomachs are bothering them. Perhaps through some such behavior, they seek some comfort in their tummy upset. Just as dogs eat grass either to cause themselves to vomit or due to digestive issues, chewing rocks could be a similar instinct, though one that is far more dangerous.

5. Phobias or Other Anxiety

An anxious dog could act just as a bored dog would. For instance through destructive acts like chewing and digesting things they should not be ingesting like dirt, rocks, and pebbles. Anxiety can be general or can develop specific anxieties such as separation anxiety, fear of noises, and other specific phobias.

Vomiting can indeed be a very stressful experience for dogs, and some may utilize compulsive actions like inappropriate chewing, including rocks, either to cope with that stress or anxiety. This can take place when they feel unwell, disoriented, or anxious concerning their physical condition.

6. Teething Troubles

Your furry friend can bite, grind, and chew rocks due to poor oral hygiene or misaligned teeth. It tries to polish the misaligned part. It can also be a result of teeth and gum-related pain, infection, and inflammation. This leads to grinding and biting rocks to get quick relief and increase the pain so that the pain receptors get numb.

Less commonly, other dogs will chew on hard items, like rocks, to help soothe discomfort in the mouth or teeth. If they are feeling nauseous due to the pain or an underlying dental issue, they might feel a need to chew, though this would be counterintuitive as they might vomit.

Chewing on rocks can also worsen health issues when feeling nauseous and can cause dental damage or intestinal blockages. The reason for vomiting, as well as the behavior of rock chewing, should be taken into consideration to avoid perils to the health of the dog. It is recommended to refer your case to a veterinarian if the behavior remains the same.

7. They are Demanding for Something

Dogs are also stubborn animals. They show demand and discomfort with their behavior and activities. If they want your attention or want something they can do such things which will grab your attention such as eating rocks. This can also show the demand for calcium and other minerals in its diet or maybe a new chewing toy.

8. They are not Familiar to Objects

If your canine companion is still a pup and hasn’t been outdoors that much this can be a reason for your dog eating rocks. Naturally, dogs are quite enthusiastic animals. They love to explore and inspect their surroundings. A rock or pebble can catch the attention of your dog as it is a foreign object to it. 

We use our hands to feel the texture and dogs often do it with their mouth as it has more sense receptors than other parts of the dog's body. To inspect and quench the thirst of curiosity they taste and bite and chew rocks.

9. They Want To Try Them Out

A dog can be interested in the smell, color, and shape of pebbles and rocks. A dog can be inquisitive as well as patronized by different types of rocks. Out of their curiosity, they want to try new things. For a dog, the best way to comprehend a foreign-looking object is to taste it. 

There is no harm in it but oftentimes they may chew garden snails and those are very poisonous to dogs.

How Can I Get My Dog to Stop Eating Rocks?

Some practical measures in this aspect, to stop your dog from eating rocks, will be as follows:

1. Even in the yard, always keep a close check on your dog when they walk outdoors; if rocks are scattered around, halt them in their tracks.

2. Replace these with safer alternatives like chew toys, bones, and puzzle toys. If their attention falls on a rock, gently distract them towards something acceptable to chew on.

3. Instruct "leave it" or "drop it" commands that will reduce your dog's interest in picking up rocks. Positive reinforcement will help them learn such orders correctly.

4. Let your dog get tired from enough physical activity and mental stimulation. Since most of the time chewing inappropriately is caused by boredom, this will help minimize the behavior.

5. If the chewing of rocks is a result of anxiety or stress, find the causes and eliminate them. This may be by providing your dog with more soothing and relaxing things or even taking him to a behaviorist when needed.

6. If your dog is still eating rocks, this could be because of a medical issue such as pica or nutritional deficiency. A vet will diagnose and treat the root cause.

With these steps repeated regularly, your dog will break out of the habit and remain safe from possible harm that arises with rock eating.

Are There Any Problems if Dogs Eat Rocks?

Yes, there are a couple of potential problems if a dog eats rocks. Here are the top few problems with your dog eating rocks.

• Choking Hazard: Bigger rocks or bigger chunks can easily get stuck in a dog's throat and cause choking or difficulty breathing which constitutes a medical emergency.

• Dental Damage: Chewing hard rocks can break and wear down a dog's teeth, leading to painful teeth, and possible infection. This can trigger even more stress and health-related issues.

• Gastrointestinal Blockages: If swallowed, rocks can obstruct the dog's gastrointestinal tract, and surgery may be required in some cases. Blockage can lead to vomiting, dehydration, and fatal conditions.

• Internal Injuries: The dog's mouth, or maybe its guts and esophagus, can be sliced by sharp rocks. These cuts have the potential to cause internal bleeding or infection.

• Toxicity: Depending on their location, certain rocks can contain poisonous chemicals or even bacteria that might poison your dog.

Because these are very critical health hazards, you must take any rock-eating behavior of your dog seriously and address the problem right away.

Conclusion

Though dogs consume rocks for several reasons including curiosity, to relieve boredom, and sometimes because of medical conditions like Pica or nutritional deficiencies, attempts should be made to break this eating habit. Choking, damage to teeth, obstruction to the gastrointestinal tract, internal injuries, and rarely poisoning, are some of the major health risks associated with the intake of pebbles.