My dog eats rocks. Last night he pooped out 4 rather large rocks. He is well fed, walked, and loved. I can't keep every single rock away from him, since they do occur in nature. I have no idea how he swallows these rocks and how they pass through his system. Help!

That is Pica disease and it simply means that the dog is lacking some minerals
I know one of the minerals is zinc,
Prenancy worsens the condition.
But you have to be careful because too much minerals can be very toxic.
Ask your vet according to what he is eating and his weight how much more minerals he needs
Or maybe buy a tube of dog vitamin and minerals and don't give him more than the dosage says.
Also you can give him ice to chew on instead BUT that will NOT cure the problem it is only a substitute for the rock.


My father in law had a little dog that had a habit of diving to the bottom of the pond and come up with a red rock and eating it.

Only an inexperienced dog owner with experience

pkenyon, although it is hard because rocks are found everywhere, you need to keep a careful eye on your puppy. If he manages to eat a rock that is too large for his system to pass, it can kill him.

To find out whether your dog is suffering from Pica disease, as mentioned by Nohelp, you need to make an appointment with your vet and have him/her do a physical exam, run bloodwork (CBC blood chemistry) & a urinalysis. There are certain diseases that do cause Pica and it can be as simple as correcting a low iron deficiency (anemia) to serious gastrointestinal issues, among others. If he can rule out a medical reason, then your dog has a behavioral issue. Usually it is considered a compulsive obsessive disorder. That can come from boredom. If your vet determines it is a behavioral issue, ask him/her for a referrel to a trainer/behaviorist who has experience dealing with this issue. You are going to need someone to show you how to engage your dog in other activities, and if you keep your dog outside in the yard all day without supervision, you are going to have a tough time redirecting his behavior, and you will need some hands on help with that.