Why is my dog eating rocks, throwing up rocks, and not eating?

Unfortunately, rocks of certain sized can get stuck in the GI tract and cause an obstruction so just watch him closely. An obstruction will usually cause vomiting and a lack of appetite. I actually had to surgically remove a rock from my own personal dog. Silly dogs will eat anything. Since he has a tendency to eat rocks, I would consider putting him in a crate when you aren't able to supervise him outside for his safety. I understand this may not be possible, just understand that he could obstruct if he eats a rock that is too large. In the meantime, I would feed him a high fiber canned food for a couple of days to help him pass this rock. I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Oso. If the vomiting, lack of normal thirst/appetite continue, then I would advise having your vet evaluate him. Rock ingestion can be a major problem in dogs. They can become stuck in the stomach or intestines causing a foreign body obstruction. Your vet can take a history, examine him, and then discuss a treatment plan as warranted. Good luck

Dogs often make bad decisions and swallow many things they shouldn’t. Rocks, underwear even razor blades. There is a concern that these rocks could cause an intestinal obstruction which requires surgery. I recommend to have her supervised at all times outside to make sure she does not continue to eat rocks or other objects she should not. Most dogs will outgrow this around two years of age but some never do. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi there and thanks for posting! Oh dear, this sounds stressful for everyone involved. He ma not be chewing his food due to just inhaling his food very quickly. if this is the case I would want to get Zeus a special dog food bowl that has indentations and lines in it like a circular maze. This will enable him to slow down when he eats. Another possibility may be dental or oral pain due to a tooth infection. You may want to take Zeus to his veterinarian for an oral exam to rule out a dental problem. I hope this helps and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lou. You will need to monitor him closely. Hopefully he vomited all of the rocks he ingested. If not, there is the potential for one to become lodged in his intestines. This would make him very ill. Signs of this include vomiting, lethargy and a decreased appetite. If this occurs, you will need to find a veterinarian for him. In the meantime, offer him some water . Wait several hours as he just vomited and then you can offer a small amount of his food. I hope this information helps!

Hello. I am sorry that Zeus isn't feeling well. Hard swallowing/licking can be a sign of nausea and an upset stomach. Eating grass and fur is also a sign of an upset stomach. It is not surprising that he did this on a raw food diet (especially if there were bones) as this often causes gastritis. Now that he is on a kibble he is likely feeling much better most of the time. If he is having another episode now, it could be that he is having a bit of gastritis again. It is firstly important to make sure he doesn't have something stuck in his esophagus, this can be done with an x-ray. Alternatively, at home you can feed him some boiled boneless chicken, and see if he will eat it and not vomit or regurgitate it back up. As a general rule, if they eat food and it stays down for an hour it is unlikely to have an esophageal blockage. If you feed some food and Zeus either regurgitates/vomits/or does not want to eat the treat, I would recommend a visit to the vet. If Zeus is eating, and not vomiting, and is otherwise bright and happy, a simple gastritis can usually be treated at home with boiled boneless/skinless/chicken breasts, and boiled rice, in small frequent meals for 2 days, and then re-introduce his kibble slowly. At any time if there is vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, or inappetance, I would recommend a visit to the vet ASAP for radiographs, possible bloodwork, and possible hospitalization and treatment depending on what they find. I hope Zeus feels better soon!

I see from your information that Zeus is a puppy. Puppies often find inappropriate things to play with and eat. I would try to engage Zeus in playing with some other (more appropriate) toys when he starts to eat dirt. You may also consider a feeding ball like a Buster Cube or similar. Make sure that Zeus is on a balanced large breed puppy food to make sure that he isn't missing any necessary minerals. And finally make sure you continue regular fecal testing and intestinal parasite dewormings as recommended by your veterinarian because there can be internal parasite eggs in soil. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and please let us know if you have any other questions.