Another rock-eating episode - two questions

Rusty had surgery for a rock obstruction in July. I believe this was an isolated incident. I "think" it must have something yummy on it like soda, etc. We take him out quite a bit and I've never seen him show any interest in any rocks anywhere. I don't believe he intended on swallowing it. I think he took it in his mouth because of the taste or smell and it went down?? Now all of this is just what I believe since he can't tell me how or why it happened Thankfully we caught it in the early stages. He acted VERY weird and we knew something was terribly wrong. His intestines didn't suffer any damage. Not even bruising. It was very fortunate that it was early morning and we were home with him. From what I've read and heard from the Vet, timing is crucial for rock eaters. The more time in the intestines, the more damage. Each case is different.

SO, we don't muzzle him. I have heard that rock eaters are hereditary. Hopefully some with others with rock eaters will join this discussion. Sending healing drool to your friend!

We have a rock eater, Bogie, who will be three in April. He has had two surgeries for swallowing rocks. The first time we were camping, and we THINK he swallowed it because rocks were under the picnic table and food, etc. had been spilled on them. We knew something was wrong when he started circling in obivious distress, lying down and stretching out, then throwing up. Rushed him to the vet who x-rayed, saw the rock, and did emergency surgery. The intestine was stretched so thin she said you could have read a newspaper through it. Thankfully he recovered fine.

The second surgery was after we had scoured our yard for rocks and thought we were OK. The cable people came and dug at the back of the house unearthing rocks and concrete whch they threw in the bushes along with a coke can and doughnut. Again Bogie started circling, stretching, and rushed him to the vet. Another x-ray, another rock, another surgery. Lucked out this time, smaller just stuck in crook of intestine and they were able to shake it down to the rectum and retreive it without cutting into the intestine. Another good recovery.

Bogie nows wears a basket muzzle when he is out in our yard or when we are traveling or camping in rocky areas. He does not wear it when we take him for neighborhood walks. It's an "Italian Basket Muzzle" made of polyethlene, and Bogie can bark, pant, and has learned to drink water with it on. We don't leave him outside without checking on him, since he did hang it in the bushes once and got stuck. We ordered it from KV Vet Supply via the internet. Bogie has adapted to it really well, and it goes with him to the kennel when we are out of town.

The only bad thing is when we are out in public and Bogie has on his muzzle, people think we have a mean biter and will walk out of our way. I'll stop them and tell them he is friendly, just a rock eater. Makes for some interesting conversations, but Bogie gets lots of pats and belly rubs, too.


Our little hockey goalie.


I did have to wrap netting around the sides and secured it with dental floss. Bogie learned he could lay on the ground, put his head down flat, and stick his tongue through the holes and lap up things.

I sure hope your friends Basset will be OK. As to being genetic, I'm not sure on that. We informed his breeder ,and she did say she had another Basset some years back that had swallowed rocks.