“Why is my dog chewing rocks?”
It’s not as odd a question as it sounds!
I witnessed my friend’s dog pick up a brick one afternoon and continue to lay down and chew on it, like he would a bone. I asked her if he did that often, she said yes, and he went to take the brick away from him.
“Why do you think he does this? Is this some kind of deficiency?” she asked me.
I didn’t have an answer then, but I wanted to find out!
It turns out there could be a couple reasons why her dog preferred to chew on bricks.
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Why is My Dog Chewing Rocks?
Pica:
Pica is eating things that should not be eaten. Things such as rubber bands, wood, strings and rocks just to name a few. A visit to your vet will help in diagnosing if Pica is the issue or something else.
Does he need attention?
Sometimes dogs can act like kids, and do things they shouldn’t so they can get your attention. Chewing on rocks might be one of those things. He knows if he does it, he will get your attention, good or bad.
Boredom:
He may be telling you that you need to get him some new chew toys! And keep them rotated. Put some aside and then rotate them to keep him interested.
Related: Best Hypoallergenic Dog Chew Toys for Your Pup’s Chompers
Underlying medical issue:
It could be that your dog is trying to tell you something is wrong. He could have a nutritional deficiency, or even diabetes. A vet visit is a must to rule out anything that could be underlying.
Dealing with the issue of your dog chewing rocks:
Rocks cause problems:
If you have a dog chewing rocks, he can cause more damage than just his teeth and soft tissue in his mouth.
If he ingests one (and you may not even notice it), he could end up having intestinal blockage or diarrhea and vomiting. Let’s not even mention he could choke!
Limit the rocks:
Obviously you can’t go around picking up all the rocks you come across (unless of course you collect them) but you can watch your dog and limit his exposure to rocks and other objects he may chew that he shouldn’t.
If he is off leash in your yard, maybe take a sweep of your yard and gather all the loose rocks you can find (maybe you can start a collection!)
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If you have a puppy, it is normal for puppies to find things to chew on that they aren’t supposed to.
Having a puppy is like having a toddler! If your puppy doesn’t grow out of this, that is when I would think about going to the vet to make sure he is not harboring something more serious.
Do you have any experience with your dog chewing rocks or bricks? How did you handle it? Share your experience with us below!
