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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > Puppy eating rocks? (9 replies)
Puppy eating rocks? by fawndallas on 24 June 2012 - 13:28 |
| I have a puppy that eats rocks (10 weeks old). This can't be good for him. He eats them to the point they are in his stool. Internet is giving conflicting information. ----------------- what could be causing this and what is the best way to resolve based on the cause? |
fawndallas by mirasmom on 24 June 2012 - 14:10 |
| It is just a phase your pup is going through, the cause being a curious pup. My pup that is 10 weeks was doing the same thing, eating rocks like crazy, just like her grand-ma Sam did at 6 weeks, until I picked up a rock and acted like I was about to feed it to her, then when she started to take it I tapped her on the nose and said "No!" "Leave it!" I did that over and over until she looked away from the rock, only had to do it about 3 times, they are super smart and learn fast. Sam just turned 9 years old in April, we have never needed an operation to remove rocks from her only because I took the time to show her "No!" "Leave it!" The pup has stopped eating rocks already at 10 weeks, Good luck, be firm, Paula |
mirasmom by fawndallas on 24 June 2012 - 15:09 |
| Perfect, thanks Paula. |
by dmo171 on 24 June 2012 - 15:22 |
| It's a phase, just stay consistent. |
dmo171 by beetree on 24 June 2012 - 15:36 |
It can grow into something worse. I woud teach, No/Leave It,  immediately. Also remove all rocks in the vicinity they are in, to discourage the activity. |
beetree by benzi on 24 June 2012 - 17:40 |
It's called, "Pica." Some do it, some don't, seems no one knows why. |
by Hutchins on 24 June 2012 - 18:26 |
| Regardless of what it is called or why they do it, IT IS DANGEROUS!!! Although considered a "phase", they go through, I wouldn't take it lightly. I know someone that very recently had to rush her puppy to the vet because of eating pea gravel. Thank God she did not have major complications. Its rough to find a puppy on its side listless because its stomach and intestines is full of rocks, pea gravel or whatever else he may be able to eat smiliar to these, while going through this "phase". It may be difficult, but worth the effort to try and not allow puppies to get themselves into the position that they could eat gravel or rocks...JMO |
by gsdpartisan on 24 June 2012 - 21:43 |
| My dog is crazy about river rock. He loves to carry a ball & a river rock around with him. He also loves to eat the river rocks. He knows he's not supposed to eat the rocks so he's pretty sneaky about it. He watches me & as soon as I take my eyes of him (literally) he'll have a rock & his ball. I'll tell him to out it, he knows what I mean & he'll just drop the rock out of his mouth & keep the ball. The rocks always passed right through him.... BUT, a few months ago, he inhaled a river rock... X-rays showed the rock stuck midway in his airway. Couple of thousand $$$ later he's fine. They went in with something that grabbed the rock--he was slightly groggy a few hours later & back to himself the next day. He's over 3 years old. Everyday at the park, he also carries his ball. He'll pick up anything like paper, plastic bottle, leaves....to carry with his ball. But, river rock is his favorite. I'll tell him to out & he'll keep his ball & drop the extra whatever he has. |
by guddu on 24 June 2012 - 23:20 |
| Pica is a symptom of iron deficiency anemia. Not implying the dogs have Iron def. |
guddu by clc29 on 25 June 2012 - 00:57 |
| I feel your concern.....Cisco was constantly trying to eat the landscape rock at that age....I had to watch him like a hawk every time he was in the yard.....Plucked A LOT of rocks out of his mouth until he was about four months old and cleaned many a pile of poo up with rocks in it. I asked my vet about it, he did'nt know why he was doing it either. I am very grateful he grew out of it. |
clc29
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