The other day when I did the post on Litter bugs and I talked about all the litter that is on the side of the road, I left out the fact that there is also a ton of rocks.
Leroy has a tendency to pick the rocks up and swallow them.
It’s hard to tell when I am walking with him if he is sniffing the ground or swallowing rocks.
We have had this issue in the past with him.
He use to eat the rocks in our backyard, until we removed them.
Last Friday he gave me a pretty big scare.
I had come home on Thursday evening and he had vomited 4 rocks and bile in his cage.
I knew that wasn’t a good sign.
I fed him dinner and told my husband that if he vomited up his food overnight then I was going to have to take him to the vet in the morning.
Sure enough, I woke up in the morning and he vomited up undigested food and 2 more rocks. He wasn’t acting right, panting heavy and drooling more than normal.
I immediately took him into the vet’s in tears.
Being a vet assistant, you see the worst, so you think the worst. You know the signs and panic. You are a vet’s worst nightmare. You ask a million questions, and you think you know the answers.
So while I am waiting to take the x-rays I am already preparing myself for his surgery to remove the rocks that are stuck. I am a hot mess in no makeup, my pajamas, and choking on my tears.
We finally take the x-rays and there they are, my worst fear, the rocks.
Plain as day, 1 rock, 2 rocks, 3 rocks, four.
This is a lateral view of Leroy’s stomach.
And this is a VD, which shows that while the rocks are there, they are in the colon, which means they have already passed through the intestines and should pass easily out. (which they have)
Whew!!!!
Leroy has escaped surgery once again.
This is the third time I have had to take x-rays of him due to rock consumption.
One of these days we will not be so lucky.
So in order to lessen the chances of a repeat consumption, I have decided that Leroy will now need to wear a basket muzzle on our walks to prevent him from eating rocks.
I honestly do not like the idea, but it is for his own good.
The alternative is just unbearable to me.
Category: leroy. bad
Amy / Layla the Malamute says:
Oh no!! I totally know what you mean though. I saw awful things as a vet tech. Btw I'd absolutely still be a vet tech, but they didn't pay as much (even as a surgery tech) as the pharmacy, so while I'm still in school I'll have to stay where the money is. Anyway, I'm glad he passed them! The basket muzzle sounds bad, but not compared to the other option. Plus, you won't have to worry about getting harassed on your walk – if anyone would be stupid enough to bother you with two Newfies anyway!Casey doesn't often eat rocks, but he eats dirt and sometimes gets pebbles in there. He eats dirt because he's a psychopath. I asked the pet psychic once why he eats dirt and she "asked" him, and his answer was something like, "I like the flavor, but don't worry, I spit out the rocks." The dogs drive you crazy!
Priscilla says:
Oh dear, what a naughty doggy Leroy is!!! I'm so glad that he is okay now and no surgery is needed. It's so hard to keep an eye on them as they are usually much quicker than we are if they spot something they can put into their mouth. I don't think Leroy is going to be happy to wear the basket muzzle but it at least helps preventing him from getting himself into bigger troubles. I hope the big boy has learned his lesson and not to let his mom worry again
bichonpawz says:
Oh Jen! I feel for you!!! What a terrible scare!!! I'm soooo glad that Leroy is all right. It is terrifing sometimes…the things they get into. The muzzle doesn't sound good, but it is for his own safety and he loves his walks so I'm sure he will get used to it in time. It must be so hard to keep him from eating them…even in your very own yard! GLAD he is OK!!
scotsmad says:
Sounds like the muzzle might be the thing to do. What a scare……and if he doesn't learn…seems like it'll have to be the muzzle.XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & BellaSHE had a dog that wore her teeth down to the gums chewing rocks.
Mango says:
Dexter eats rocks too. As we have lots of drainage ditches in our yards filled with rocks it is impossible to keep his environment rock free. I will note that he seems to only eat them when he is left out for long periods and gets bored but I cannot train my husband out of his habit of leaving the dogs in the yard. Well, since he only started this last summer, maybe this year he will have forgotten how good they taste. I sure hope so. I know that it could kill him. Glad Leroy escaped the knife this time.Mango Momma
Hound Girl says:
Hay is a rock eater too but then again the whole year of her first life I would catch her eating poo. she is a weird little gal. Hay loves the chewing and breaking of the rocks and then ends up swallowing them. for the life of me I dont getit.WOW so glad you got him to the vet xoxoxoxoxo
Mr. Pip says:
OMG! That is scary. Pip doesn't eat rocks, but he does pick up other little sharp things – like toys. I try to watch him like a hawk, but you just never know.
Sugar the Golden Retriever says:
Woof! Woof! Oh MY!!! Have not tried eating rocks yet … no intention to do it. Scary n be safe next time. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar
Amber-Mae says:
Leroy, STOP eating rocks!!!!! It's dangerous & you could seriously cause harm to yourself. Do you want to go under the knife, no? Then stop eating those rocks. You're scaring your mom too.
Garden Girl☺ says:
That must have been awfully scary! I hope that he stops eating rocks!
Remington says:
Rocks? Really? Wow!
♥♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥♥ says:
Oh, that must have been so scary. We are so glad Leroy didn't have to have surgery and is OK. Bad boy, Leroy – no more rocks – remember you have all that yummy kibble there.Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara
Corbin says:
Hm… I've never eaten rocks before… but there is a bush in the back yard that I munch on every once in a while. My says she can't wait until spring so she can remove it… -Corbin
Nichole says:
Close call… Leroy you stop doing that to your Mama now, you hear!
Benny and Lily says:
Oh my word Leroy! You can't eat rocks. You poor baby hope you are okay. But then again humans eat stones. We heard a lady had kidney stones. Wonder what's the differenceBenny & Lily
Peggy Frezon says:
Those xrays are amazing. I'm so glad it turned out fine but, as you noted, Leroy is not likely to stop swallowing rocks on his own. I know you don't want to have him wear a muzzle, but don't let him make you feel guilty. You are just being a good mom.
24 Paws of Love says:
OMG! How scary! So glad to hear the rocks are going to pass. We used to have a dog that ate tennis balls, he had to have surgery twice because they became lodged. Sounds like a basket muzzle is your best bet. It is always hard to do something that you know they won't like but is for their own good. But like you said it is better than the alternative.
Pup Fan says:
Scary! I'm so glad that Leroy won't need surgery. Whew.
H Ski says:
Poor Leroy and poor you. It is one of the worst feelings when you dog is sick. I am glad to hear that he will be ok. You would think they would learn, but they never seem to.
Barbara says:
We know it's for his own good. Some dogs just eat everything! We're very glad he doesn't have to have surgery. Do you have to count the rocks as they come out?
jen says:
Hi Barbara-I did count the rocks when they came out…I only saw 3, but I am not to worried because I figure I just missed the other one.
brooke says:
So scary! Poor Leroy and poor you! So glad to hear he didn't need to have surgery!
Miss Kodee says:
Reading this was pretty scary! I felt your fear but am sure it was 100x times worse to live it. I think a basket muzzel is the right thing to do for Leroy's own sake. He'll get plently of freedom at home. So glad all is well now!
Shauna (Fido and Wino) says:
Oh my goodness, that would be so terrifying! I am so glad to hear he is doing okay, and good idea with the muzzle. You are definitely right, it's for his own good.
houndstooth says:
I think you're making the right call with the muzzle! I'd have been in a panic, too. If you can get a plastic muzzle that fits him, you can even get what they call a stool guard. It fits in the end and will keep them from getting anything through. It's handy after surgery, too! I'm glad he's okay!
Cat Chat With Caren And Cody says:
omg you poor thing!! I know how terrified you had to be! Dakota has eaten rocks before too….it is so hard sometimes to catch them. Thank God Leroy is ok….(((((hugs))))) I would have been equally as terrified
jen says:
Thank you to everyone for the comments, I took Leroy for a walk today with the muzzle and although it made me sad, it did the job it was meant for. He tried to pick up one rock and realized he couldn't so he just walked on! On the way back home I took the muzzle off and he didn't attempt to snatch any rocks. My hope is that we will use the muzzle for a bit and break the habit!
Lori @ According to Gus says:
Oh my goodness…how scary! I was literally holding my breath as I read through your post. I'm so relieved that everything came out (pun intended) okay. What a scare!Please give him a tummy rub for us…I'm sure he was scared too!
FiveSibesMom says:
Oh, poor Leroy and Mom! So glad he does not need surgery. How scary. One of our Huskies likes to chew on rocks and is always bringing them up on the deck and we're always praying she does not swallow them. It's such a strange habit…Leroy, no more rocks and no more scaring Mom!
Kris says:
oh another prospect for the rock-coholics anonymous or prospect student of rockology XD
dogsmom says:
Glad to hear no surgery was needed. My thoughts are to maybe try to retrain him to carry something on your walks, so his mouth is busy and he can not pick up other things, as well as aversion training to rocks. If he even sniffs at one to use an air horn or loud noise to make it something to avoid. Hopefully the muzzle is a short term necessity.
KB says:
I'm glad that those rocks are going to go through Leroy. I've seen xrays like that of 2 of my dogs – but in both cases, they had bones in their intestines (animal bones that they'd found in the woods).We use basket muzzles for some of the year. I hat them because people are afraid of my dogs when they wear muzzles. But, it keeps them safe so it's the best thing to do. I'm glad that you're going to do it for Leroy.