Puppy swallowing stones

by Brian
(Jeffreys Bay, Eatern Cape, South Africa)

We've got a 5 month old swiss shepherd puppy and he is eating stones.

Why is he doing it and how can we stop him from eating stones?

He was really sick two days ago, bringing stones up and the day after that he had diarrhoea.


Hi Brian
Eating strange things is a pretty common puppy behavior, although some dogs seem to indulge in it more than others. Rocks and stones seem to be a favorite!

Why they do it isn't really known, and the old wives tales that it is due to dietary imbalance is not true.

The why isn't so important as making sure that he doesn't get a chance to do this. Eating rocks and stones poses a serious health hazard, as they can get lodged in his intestines/bowel and cause an obstruction. That normally requires emergency surgery.

If you notice that your puppy is having difficulty pooping, is straining and seems to be in pain, then this may be happening. A puppy with an obstruction like this will often vomit as well, and show signs of stress such as panting, pacing, whining etc. His belly may also appear swollen/distended.

As your pup has a taste for rocks, do watch out for these signs and if you notice them, seek veterinary help.

This is one of those situations where prevention is better than cure. Don't allow him to be anywhere there are rocks and stones unsupervised. Always take him out on a leash and correct him firmly if he tries to eat things he shouldn't. Also make sure he has plenty of safe, sturdy chew toys to chow down on.

He may outgrow this habit, or may not, but its' something you'll need to be vigilant about controlling.

Best of luck with him!