Dogs have great appetites and these animals have the inclination to eat questionable (at least to us humans) things. The habit of eating non-food items is called 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. One of the non-edible things that dogs love to eat are rocks.
Rock chewing is more common in puppies. 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. This habit of eating rocks though can have dangerous repercussion on the health of the pet. Chewing rocks is really dangerous as even if the rock is not swallowed it can still injure the soft tissues of the mouth. Swallowed, the rock can cause diarrhea as it can really affect the delicate digestive tract of the dog. A rock can get lodged in the dog's esophagus or in the intestinal tract and create a life threatening obstruction.
We know that dogs are voracious 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. Dog owners will still be perplexed by the dog's craving for rocks. This undesirable habit can be attributed to a medical concern 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.
Boredom, anxiety or stress can entice a dog to gnaw and to ingest rocks. 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. The unacceptable behaviors of dogs can be associated with boredom. 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.
Humans would need to have various laboratory tests to know what is wrong with their body. 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. When the dog starts to develop a craving for rocks ask yourself if you are being a good pet owner that provides time to bond with the dog and one that gives the dog premium quality food.
Learn more about why dogs eat rocks and other interesting dog behaviours.




