Rocks and poop

[Warren.morley]

I have seen here lately that Bo has been eating alot of rocks and dirt and just about anything he can get in his mouth... Should I be worried... I clean up after him when he poops and when I checked his poop (which I do occasionally to make sure he doesn't have worms or anything else in there, I found it was prob 70% rock and 30% actual poop... Idk if I should worry or if its just something all or most pups do... He's about 10 weeks old btw


Also on a different note, he has also been eating his poop so I got the pills to stop it but they don't seem to be working. I looked online and saw somewhere that garlic powder helps deter it as well so I have been putting it on his food... However since I have he has become listless and his pop has went from its normal consistency to mushy...I'm stopping for a couple of days to see if things get back to normal... And he's been drinking way more water than he prob should... Could he be sick?

[Jax08]

I would be. First, rocks can cause intestinal obstructions which are dangerous. Second, rocks will wear his teeth own.

I wouldn't leave him outside unattended until he's past this particular puppy stage.

As far as eating his poop, pick it up immediately after he's gone.

[N Smith]

Has he been vet checked? 70% rocks in his stool is more than just a puppy eating everything, IMO.

Does he eat other things? Paper, cardboard, etc?

What diet is he on, kibble/raw etc? And how much/day?

This could be a deficiency in a mineral in diet, that the dog is compensating for - or possibly Pica.

What Jax said is correct about the obstructions and the teeth, possibly even a perforated bowel. Either way the behavior has to stop.

How many times are you feeding a day?

Any way you could feed 5 meals a day (his regular amount, just split into 5), so that you could feed him and then take him out for his potty breaks right after? I think it would be worth the effort, just to see if he STILL eats the rocks when he has a full belly.

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/...hagia_and_pica
http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/app...s/picabeh.html

[1sttimeforgsd]

As for the dirt, mine eat it occasionally and it has never hurt them. Now the rocks that's a different story, as someone else mentioned they can cause a blockage and that means surgery. You just need to monitor Bo when he is outside and not let him pick up the rocks or anything else that might cause him harm, at 10 wks he is still a baby and for his safety you need to be there to take away anything that should not be eaten. Good luck, I know that is easier said than done because they can be so quick but you will be keeping him from possible harm.

[Warren.morley]

Thank you all for the comments and suggestions. I am taking him to the vet tomorrow just to be safe... I pick his poop up pretty quickly and this is the first time it has ever had anything in it... And it's the only time... Although his poop has been runny here for the past couple of days...as for the food, he is on puppy chow right now... And I have been debating changing it... He eats more of my other dogs dog chow than of his own food...as for eating other things... Nothing any other little pup wouldn't be trying to put in his mouth but I know there's nothing there I should be concerned about. I'm sure about that...

I feed his 2 times a day but its big bowls... In the morning when I get up and when I get home from work... But he rarely eats all of it in the morning...


Thanks for all the concern... And I'll look into pica...

[MichaelE]

Lisl will sometimes pick up a rock while on a walk. I can't really see her jaws move when she does this, but then I'll see her chewing and have to stop and clear her mouth.

So far I haven't caught her swallowing one or seeing anything in her poop.

[Warren.morley]

Originally Posted by MichaelE

Lisl will sometimes pick up a rock while on a walk. I can't really see her jaws move when she does this, but then I'll see her chewing and have to stop and clear her mouth.

So far I haven't caught her swallowing one or seeing anything in her poop.

The rocks are more like small pebbles... The round ones that are used in landscaping... And it's hard to know he has them sometimes too. Til he starts chomping. Then I have to grab him and dig it out of his mouth...

[huntergreen]

eating rocks or pebbles is not normal dog behavior. can you keep him away from rocks ? also imho, purina is not the best food. might want to check out the diet and nutrition section.