How to stop dog from eating everything!

[liz&Obi]

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Hi all,
I am really in need of some advice about scavenging.
Obi (1 yr old JRT)was rushed in for emergency surgery last Saturday with a blockage in his intestines. He had eaten all sorts of crap in the garden. The main thing was fuzz from a tennis ball - it anchored in his stomach and went all the way through to the other end. He had to have 7 incisions in his intestines and 1 entry incision. This cause small holes in his intestines and he got peritonitis.
He is lucky to still be with us.
He is feeling much better today after a week of resting and he is quite hyper. I'm trying to keep him from jumping around but not having much luck.

The reason for this post is to ask if anyone has got any advice on how to stop him eating non food items?
He can't have a bed in his crate, plastic toys, blankets or clothes to keep him warm as he eats these things.
He can't go in the garden without a lead on ad he will eat wood, the fence, stones and basically anything he can find.

Do puppies ( is he still classed as a puppy at 13months?) grow out of this behaviour?
He doesn't chew things and spit them out like most dogs do.

Please help!

Liz

 

[JoanneF]

How horrible for you. I'm assuming (to get this out of the way first) that he isn't hungry.
I think my first step would be muzzle. Others may have different suggestions.

 

[JudyN]

There's some good info about this here: Pica in Dogs

A muzzle could help, but you want one that allows him to open his mouth to pant, not something that holds his mouth closed. A good muzzle, introcuced carefully, isn't aversive, he can still enjoy his walks and time in the garden. Bear in mind that some dogs are rather good at eating stuff through their muzzles - but it should at least prevent him from eating larger stuff, and slow him down enough that you'll gave a chance to intervene.

And if he can't bolt stuff down so quickly and easily, you'll have more chance to teach him 'leave' - i.e. 'If you turn away from that stone and pay attention to me instead, you get something much tastier.'