Seefood diet?

[etuberdyke]

Romeo seems to have a taste for rocks and sticks. I've taken more than a few rocks out of his mouth since we picked him up in August, but he must have ingested a few. Needless to say, I'm a little concerned. I realize that some animals actually do eat a few rocks to help pummel bone matter and aid digestion, but it's still unsettling to catch him doing it, and he's very sneaky about it. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else owns a vaccuum like mine, and if so, has it led to problems. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.
P.S. to all who responded to Romeo's neutering post, he's been doing great ever since I picked him up at the Vet.

 

[Jan]

I have heard of dogs that have had to have rocks removed (surgically) from their stomach. It is really not a good idea to for them to eat rocks. :(

Markus loved to play with rocks and loved to retrieve them. He never ate them though. Sometimes he would carry them home. I wouldn't realize that he had it until he would drop it on the carpet when we got home. He was such a silly guy.

 

[Pearlywhirly]

Pearl plays with rocks too. She doesn't eat them but I do hear her rolling them around in her mouth before she spits them out and jack hammers them to death. It's a fun game when we're out in the driveway and I'm doing yard work or washing the car. She sometimes gets bored and chews the tree but it hasn't caused her any problems. Just because my dog doesn't eat them doesn't mean yours won't though, so keep an eye out.

 

[gussy98]

I'm sure JoJo has eaten rocks... he eats everything else. He's been trying to hack something up since last night... I think he ate a stick, but I'm not sure! I used to freak out and take him to the vet everytime he did this, but it's become so common that now I know the signs if it's an actual emergency or not. He's still pooping and eating and drinking, so I'm giving him some time. I'll definitely take him to the vet on Monday if he's still hacking. They pretty much just start laughing when they see me coming!
We have an English Bull Terrier who comes to our daycare, and she has eaten her leather leash, a picture frame, and chunks of brand new end tables since we've known her. I think she's had surgery twice to remove things... she is crazy!

 

[dharmadoodle]

BF's old dog (our Odin) had this bad habit, & his teeth paid the price, & so did we with his bad breath. :(

Get him out of it quick. Take a ball out with you at all times to encourage this instead.

 

[axlsmom]

Axl has had two surgeries in the last six months to remove foreign objects. The first was a squeaker from his squeaker toy, the last item has yet to be identified, but looks like a large plastic shark fin. We have small kids and it is impossible to keep everything picked up 100% if the time. I would recommend watching your dog closely, and if he stops eating, is vomitting, and seems painful, take him to your vet.

 

[etuberdyke]

thanks

thanks for all the comments and suggestions. He's real clever about it, picking things up as he's running. I have seen him just spit them out, but somethimes it seems like he doesn't let them go. I'll continue keeping close watch on him when we are outside, and especially watch for changes in appetite or vomiting. Thanks again.

 

[efb01]

Watson and Fender love to chew on the lava rocks that I have in my potted plants. But they do crumble easy in their teeth but I take them away from them when I catch them.

 

[carolshafer]

My best friend works at our vets and they just did surgery on a Lab and removed six pounds of rocks from him. I pick them up whenever I see them in the yard. My baby, Hannah, brings them to me whenever she finds them, sort of like a peace offering for digging!

 

[gussy98]

JoJo kept us up all night with his hacking, so I took him to the vet today, thinking he was going to have to have something surgically removed from his stomach, and it turns out he has bronchitis! I hate it that he's sick, but it's so much better than surgery! The vet x rayed him just to make sure, and said it was just bronchitis, and nothing else. He also said his heart looks great, which of course I was glad to hear! He said he always checks the hearts on boxers b/c he's paranoid about that.