As curious and even funny as it may seem to you that your dog eats everything in its path, including stones, can be very harmful to your health And therefore it is a bad habit that you must attack immediately, since in this act of gluttony you are exposed to ingesting dangerous substances, garbage, excrement, etc.
Do you know why your dog eats stones?
It usually happens with some frequency that some dogs develop a certain taste for the ingestion of stones, in fact, you may have seen it and surely you have asked yourself the question that of where did you get that habit, how you can eat something so hard and tasteless, since when you have done it and other questions. The worst thing is to think about what other foreign bodies have been swallowed and how that affects the dog's health.
Well, we will try to dispel all these questions, help you to know if your dog has eaten stones or any other foreign body and to recognize the symptoms of these in his body, as well as to understand why he likes stones so much.
We said at the beginning that eating stones has serious repercussions on the health of your pet, in fact, as it passes through the digestive tract, it may cause irritation and inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, which in the long run generates a gastroenteritis problem in the animal.
But there are much more serious consequences as in cases where the dog suffers from perforations in the intestine, the immediate consequence of which is the presence of internal bleeding that if not attended to in a timely manner would lead to his death.
Reasons why a dog can eat stones
The reasons why a dog eats stones are not easy to determine, since this behavior can be caused by various reasons. The most recommended is patiently observe the dog regarding its feeding, his current state of health, routine and daily behavior as well as anything that helps you identify specifically what it is that motivates him to eat stones and other foreign objects.
In any case, when you suspect that he has eaten stones and other objects that are not edible or if you have seen him do it, go immediately to the vet due to the many risks that this implies. Meanwhile, we are going to show you some reasons why dogs eat stones, five to be exact, although in practice there are many more:
Pica syndrome
The presence of this syndrome in dogs makes the animal want to eat all kinds of food, objects, stones and any other material that is not suitable for consumption.
In the puppy stage
Since the little you need to explore everything in your path, so it is not uncommon for them to chew or swallow objects, inedible materials, and even stones. Of course, this behavior must be corrected, but always taking care not to forcefully or abruptly remove the stone from the mouth, since the reaction may be to swallow it quickly.
Anxiety and stress
Stress in dogs it can make its appearance when it is not exercised enough, it is locked up all the time, it does not receive any type of mental stimulus, it suffers scolding, punishment or mistreatment. The reaction to this may be just chew objects and swallow them, including the stones.
For call the atention
If your dog spends a lot of time alone, without attention or stimulation, he will surely start eating rocks and other inedible materials, coupled with other behaviors that make them the center of attention of their masters even when that means punishment, since for them that is better than inattention. This behavior usually appears in extreme cases.
When they have parasites
Most dogs chew herbs and plants to naturally eradicate the annoying parasites, however when this resource is not available they may chew on stones. It is important that you rule out with the veterinarian that this is the problem since it will be enough for him to prescribe a dewormer.
What to do if your dog has swallowed a stone?
When we have not been able to prevent a stone or any inedible object from being swallowed, you have to quickly take him to the vet Since there are certainly methods applicable at home to encourage your dog to expel it, but if they are not applied properly, you increase the risk for your pet.
In addition, without the help of the professional it is very difficult to determine the exact location of the stone and based on this apply the appropriate method for expulsion either through the rectum or through the mouth. The size of the stone and the damage it can cause to the gastrointestinal tract must also be taken into account.
To know the most reliable methods for your dog to expel the stone, it is recommended to consult with the veterinarian, who through the corresponding studies and together with a physical examination, can locate where it is and determine which method would be the right one to avoid further damage in the dog's body.
How to prevent your dog from eating stones?
It has already been clear enough that ingesting stones is very dangerous, now we will see how to avoid this behavior in the pet, since above all we must be careful when giving our dog a complete, healthy and balanced diet, according to the stage of your life in which you are.
The dog must have some type of physical activity on a recurring basis and always adjusted to its need and age, this avoids anxiety. Provide your pet with its own toys and that these are suitable for it, no foreign objects or stones, as you would be promoting the bad habit.
Stimulate your mind, play games especially for this and other activities that activate your intelligence. Visit the vet regularly and provide vitamins, medications, and dewormers when appropriate.