Dog owners would know that apart from being good eaters, dogs have the unaccountable inclination to eat repulsive things. Dog experts call this habit of ingesting non-edible things as pica. Dog owners are aware of the pets inclination to eat non-edible things but they can’t help but be exasperated if the pet eats disgusting things. Most dogs would love to gnaw and eat rocks.

Puppies are more inclined to eat rocks. Puppies are naturally inquisitive and one way of discovering their world is by using their mouth. These “baby” dogs would chew rocks as if the stony fragment is a fruit flavored bubble gum. The habit of eating rocks can endanger the life of the pet. Because rocks are hard, the teeth as well as the soft tissues inside the mouth can be damaged. Moreover this object is not meant for the dog’s delicate digestive tract as ingestion can result to diarrhea. 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.

Dogs are really good eaters. Dog owners would always want to have the best pet unfortunately, dogs do have the inclination to develop not only socially unacceptable behaviors but dangerous ones as well. The dog’s habit of eating rocks will still puzzle a lot of pet owners. The habit of eating rocks can signify that the pet has a medical problem such as brain diseases. If an underlying medical concern was ruled out, the rock eating habit of the pet can be attributed to behavioral problems.

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. Boredom is one of the reasons why dogs develop unacceptable behavior. Eating rocks is a manifestation 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. Rock eating can be the dog’s way of correcting an undiagnosed nutrient deficiency. 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.

Learn more about why dogs eat rocks and other interesting dog behaviours.