The good news though is that a dog's stomach acid can digest or dissolve a bone in many cases. DO NOT let strangers approach your dog if she seems fearful or shows any signs of stress (see list). Parvovirus, parasites, and rectal injuries such as a bone perforating the colon can cause bright red blood in stool. What happens if your stomachhas high levels ofhydrochloric acid? .. 5. Other bones, such as beef and pork bones , can cause significantly more distress and disease. Learn more about its causes and symptoms. What can I feed my dog to help pass a foreign object? But you should be careful of choking hazards and get help immediately. The lower the pH level, the more strongly acidic the fluid. Mouth injuries, such as bone splinters piercing the tongue and gums. How long does it take a dog to pass bone? If your pet cat or dog has dark or black tarry stool it due to blood having been digested which originates from the stomach or upper intestines. Were proud to be a team of writers who are truly passionate about all things health.Coming together from all parts of the world, we share a common goal of helping serve many with our comprehensive research and clear writing style. This website uses cookies and similar technologies to deliver its services, to analyse and improve performance and to provide personalised content and advertising. This helps your body absorb nutrients more easily as food moves through your digestive tract. No, a dogs stomach acid cannot dissolve wood. Chronic gastritis occurs when your stomach lining becomes swollen or inflamed. A rule of thumb is to give dogs bones that are at least as long as their muzzle. pana hema taylor leaves brokenwood; why wear gloves when handling chlorambucil furosemide; why did marcus scott leave tower of power; can stomach acid dissolve pork bone. Chronically low or high levels of acid can be problematic for your health and well-being. Raw bones like chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, or even oxtail can be safer bone options for your pet. Food also turns on the digestive juices, which can help soften wads of rawhide treats, so they pass more readily. Nails are also full of keratin; as with hair, researchers have observed they are more susceptible to destruction by bases than acids.1. Certain conditions increase your risk for low acid levels. This is because they may lose the sensitivity of what their teeth and tongue come in contact with. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. www.cda-adc.ca/jcda/vol-69/issue-11/722.pdf, Composite achieves the virtually impossible its electrically conducting, while thermally insulating, Extraordinary crystal structure displays abiotic foldamer with unprecedented complexity, Uranus: exploring the ice-cold chemistry of the frozen frontier, Chemistrys history through the feminist lens, Scientific authorship in the time of ChatGPT, Interpreting the impact of AI large language models on chemistry, This website collects cookies to deliver a better user experience. The deep pressure of chewing bones releases endorphins that give your dog the feeling of happiness. But the experts agree that not all bones are equal in their risk factor. A dogs mouth is designed to eat large chunks, and they have a powerful esophagus to help push food down into the stomach. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Ulcers are very painful. Gastrointestinal perforation occurs in less than 1% of all patients. Older people diagnosed with dementia and children or adults with mental illness are at risk of swallowing foreign objects. This is why we spend an hour eating dinner and a dog is done in 5 minutes. Stomach acid has a pH between 1 and 2, which makes it quite acidic. We see it cooked in many different ways and recipes that reflect tradition and culture. Physiology, gastrin. This website is not intended to replace the professional advice of vets. If you have these symptoms, please seek emergency help immediately; Complications caused by an ingested foreign material like bones from pork, chicken, fish, and things like a denture, glass shard, coins, etc., often present different symptoms. These treatments may include: A number of conditions, medications, and lifestyle factors can cause acid level fluctuations. Fish bones come in various sizes, hardness etc. Or maybe it's those dancing sugarplums. Fluorocarbons such as Teflon (TFE and FEP), chlorosulfonated polyethylene, natural rubber, and neoprene all are resistant to hydrofluoric acid. Can your stomach acid dissolve bone? Bird bones (including chicken) and any cooked bones are not safe for dogs. Small bones are usually dissolved by acid in the stomach. Can muriatic acid. Stomach acid, with its pH balance only one or two spots higher, can also do great damage to some of the strongest materials, like bones and teeth. Both acids and bases can dissolve protein. Do Dogs Shed Whiskers? Always seek the advice of a veterinarian when in doubt. Stomach acid, with its pH balance only one or two spots higher, can also do great damage to some of the strongest materials, like bones and teeth. I write about the things we've learned about owning dogs, the adventures we have, and any advice and tips we've picked up along the way. How to Keep a Dog Away from a Christmas Tree & Protect it from being Destroyed. Keep in mind that battery acid can dissolve materials like metal and bone . A higher than normal amount of stomach acid can lead to symptoms like abdominal pain. The exact treatment for low acid gastric juices will depend on the likely cause. Does stomach acid dissolve bone? Once they can see where the bone is, they can decide on the next stage of action. If a bone gets stuck in a dog's stomach Canines have a complex digestive system and can digest bones. . Damaging the mouth, throat, and intestines. Your dog passes the bone in their poop. Your pet will have digested that bone, and it would have continued its journey within 12 hours of eating it. Keep in mind that battery acid can dissolve materials like metal and bone. Blockages can take many days or weeks to show up, depending on the size and location of the blockage. Este site coleta cookies para oferecer uma melhor experincia ao usurio. Puppies go through a teething phase as their adult teeth grow in. Its highly acidic and helps break down food for easier digestion. See additional information. Perhaps Geoffrey Chaucer had it right in The Canterbury Tales murder will out. The good news though is that a dog's stomach acid can digest or dissolve a bone in many cases. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Can Stomach acid dissolve chicken bone? Larger marrow bones are considered much safer for dogs than small bones. These remedies. Most times, dogs are able to pass . These contribute to the strength and stability of keratin, and help to resist solubilisation by solvents that readily dissolve other proteins. How long does it take a dog to digest a bone? It contains 96 percent water. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Last medically reviewed on April 14, 2022. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Can dog stomach acid dissolve cooked bone? It does not store any personal data. Raw or undercooked pork meat might contain trichinella parasites which can infect both dogs and humans, and theres also the risk of contamination with a range of harmful bacteria. If your dog chews on bones, it is important to keep the bones away from the mouth so that they do not get swallowed. Stomach acid, with its pH balance only one or two spots higher, can also do great damage to some of the strongest materials, like bones and teeth. The Big Question Will A Dogs Stomach Acid Dissolve Bones? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. A dog's stomach is extremely acidic. This is an affiliate advertising program that is designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees and revenue by advertising and linking to amazon.com with recommendations. Stomach acid has a pH between 1 and 2. There are different medical methods that a doctor may perform on you in removing a foreign body from your digestive tract. By the time a pork meal reaches the end of your small intestine, you've absorbed the majority of the fats and components of protein. This creates what doctors call gastric ulcers. In most cases, your dog's stomach acid will be able to digest the bone and pass it through the large intestine and poop it out naturally. A dogs stomach acid will typically dissolve a bone before the bone can cause a blockage. This highly acidic environment favours the breakdown of raw meats, and raw bones, into soft digestible material. Unlike home-cooked bones which are drained of their nutrients, raw bones can be a natural source of calcium and phosphorus. Acids are measured on a scale known as the pH scale with a range from 0 to 14. Fat. Not likely if the bone is sharp and solid as there is about an 80%-90% chance that it will uneventfully pass through the digestive tract. It, Stomachaches are a common occurrence that can be treated at home. Why Arent Pork Bones Safe for Dogs? Why Do Dogs Dig Holes When Sick? Small bones are usually dissolved by acid in the stomach and pass without problem. Rachel Brazil peers through the tangle, Examining how science excludes women and other underrepresented groups, With AI-generated texts here to stay, we need to recognise that intellectual work is much more than just writing, Making chemistry sustainable is this centurys big challenge for the field, Diving deeper into the science that affects our everyday lives, LLMs may outperform Alphafold, but currently struggle to identify simple chemical structures, Royal Society of Chemistry Unfortunately, the carbohydrates found in many processed commercial cat foods make the stomach less acidic. We avoid using tertiary references. These risk factors include: Certain factors can increase your odds of having high stomach acid levels. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Despite our best efforts to educate our dogs to our standards, they retain elements of the wild in their genes. If youve wondered Can dogs eat ham?, the answer is no. Dogs won't do well with bones unlike what we believe. Left to their own devices, they will eat anything. Keep reading to find out how strong stomach acid is and what happens when your body makes stomach acid thats either too strong or too weak. This thankfully is the most common way for this situation to be resolved. You get a new stomach lining every 3-4 days - Your stomach acids are so strong they can dissolve . Keep in mind that battery acid can dissolve materials like metal and bone. Your dog might attempt to swallow small pieces of the pork bone, which could lead to choking, intestinal blockages, or damage to the esophagus or intestines. Low levels of stomach acid may impair your ability to digest food. Symptoms of salmonella in dogs are much the same as you would expect to see in people and that includes stomach cramps, a high temperature, sickness and diarrhea. The phosphoric acid in carbonated drinks such as Coca Cola makes it very acidic. Can a dog's stomach dissolve a bone? A team led by Cristina Cattaneo from the University of Milan, Italy, has examined the effect of acid and base immersion on porcine bones macroscopically, microscopically, and chemically.2-3 They noted differences in appearance (macro- and microscopically) and the degree of damage between acids and bases used in their study. Typically, chicken bones will dissolve once they hit the stomachbefore they have a chance to become dangerous. While domesticated breeds have lost many aspects of their origins, breeds that have remained more genetically similar to their forefathers will be more prepared to take on a bone. The acid in the stomach (hydrochloric acid) usually has a pH (acidity level) of 2-2.5 in dogs. There are now three different outcomes: Your vet is the best person to make a call on what if anything needs to happen next. That said, with all bones, there is a risk of choking if your dog swallows without thoroughly chewing, and bones that are too hard can cause damage to the teeth. The fear is that a dog can easily crush a chicken bone with his teeth, causing it to splinter and then perforate the intestine. Does stomach acid dissolve bone? Can dog stomach acid dissolve cooked bone? Sometimes a bone will pass through a dog in 8 to 12 hours. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. This increases your risk for infections and chronic health issues. The final step in the dog digestive system, the large intestine dissolves the harder-to-digest matter with the help of gut bacteria. "Still, I would not make a point of letting a dog chew chicken bones," he says. Eating fish would inevitably result in swallowing them. The good news though is that a dogs stomach acid can digest or dissolve a bone in many cases. If your dog is anything like mine, they will love getting into the Christmas spirit. You could be dealing with GERD. Stomach acid, with its pH balance only one or two spots higher, can also do great damage to some of the strongest materials, like bones and teeth. So, assuming that they are behaving normally, then the likelihood is, that the bone is making its way down to their stomach. Whether youre chowing down on pork chops or smoked ribs on the barbeque, you may find yourself with leftover pork bones at the end of your feast. For example, your dogs stomach acid can dissolve bones. Will I die from swallowing a chicken bone? How do I know? They can cause problems by becoming a choking hazard, causing a blockage in the esophagus, or puncturing internal organs. For most dogs, their stomach acid will dissolve a bone. *The legitimate disposal of animal carcasses via alkaline hydrolysis is often done at high temperature and pressure to accelerate the process, which requires speciality apparatus. Does stomach acid dissolve bone? If your dog chews on bones, it is important to keep the bones away from the mouth so that they do not get swallowed. No, you wont die from swallowing a chicken bone. All of these symptoms combined with the eating of the bones are likely to indicate that there is a blockage which is a potentially life-threatening situation for your dog to find themselves in. Swallowing a chicken bone may happen by accident or due to external factors. Learn what causes it, and what treatment options are available. High stomach acid levels can lead to a number of complications, including: The most obvious symptoms of high stomach acid levels include: High stomach acid is most commonly treated with medication. Some signs to watch out for are: You know your dog best and should decide what you think is right for them. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A nice cut of pork makes for a delicious meal. can stomach acid dissolve pork bone. If you happen to visit your physician, they may suggest you take an X-ray and examine your stool at a specific time frame. In addition to running his blog, Hubert is also an avid reader and enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring the beauty of nature. A sharp foreign object may puncture the linings of your esophagus down to your intestinal wall or cause blockage in your rectal area. If he devoured the bone before you could stop him and seems fine, it would probably be digested and/or released on his stool. Indeed, when employing chemistry to destroy a corpse, it is likely that only partial destruction will occur. But you can try some home remedies to help dislodge the bone such as, 1) Bread method - Tear off a piece of dry bread and slightly dunk it in warm water or milk. That makes it quite acidic. Stomach acids low pH level is largely due to hydrochloric acid (HCl). However, theyre not just good for you, they taste great, too. Murderers have used both methods to try to dispose of evidence. They may turn to bones to relieve their stress or excess energy. Stir-fry pork bones are one of my favourites, especially if theyve been sparked with spices. The dog may either end up fine (with the stomach acid digesting the bone) or the dog may start to exhibit concerning symptoms. Can. Some possible dangers that come with bone-chewing are: If you notice your dog acts differently after eating his bone, it is best to consult a vet. A team led by Cristina Cattaneo from the University of Milan, Italy, has examined the effect of acid and base immersion on porcine bones macroscopically, microscopically, and chemically. That makes it quite acidic. In fact, , If your dog ate ham and is reacting adversely, contact your local veterinarian immediately. The fish bones can then not damage the digestive tract. For the latter, we would strongly recommend calling the vet if you notice anything unusual with your dogs behavior. It breaks down the foods you eat into easier-to-digest particles. But almost any pleasure also comes with some risks. By Raychelle Burks2017-06-16T13:03:00+01:00, The murderers who used chemistry to try and cover their tracks. Your body also produces enzymes and mucus to help protect itself against the acids strength. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". How much or how little pH the dog has in its system will depend heavily on what you are feeding them. I was walking Claude near our local shops and he grabbed a chicken bone off the pavement before I had a chance to stop him. Typically, chicken bones will dissolve once they hit the . They can also help with natural teeth cleaning. Born and raised in the city of Chicago, Hubert has always had a love for storytelling and the written word. Some pork, however, may be contaminated with parasites that can harm the digestive tract. Learn what causes dry heaving and how to treat and prevent this symptom. Your doctor may prescribe PPIs by themselves. Keep in mind that battery acid can dissolve materials like metal and bone. Dogs are omnivores, which means they eat both food and plants. The acids in there are super strong and can break down pretty much anything. When he's not writing or caring for Bella, Hubert can often be found hiking in the nearby forests or spending time at the beach. Chicken meat is a healthy source of protein and other essential vitamins that our body needs. This will help doctors see the problems incurred by the foreign body that has entered your digestive tract and make a diagnosis. Hair is primarily composed of keratin proteins, which are packed with the amino acid cysteine and therefore have extensive disulfide bonds. Unfortunately, if your dog swallowed a larger piece of bone then its unlikely for the stomach acid to have enough time to process and digest it. If my deeds had been nefarious, would I have gotten away with it? Doctors will insert instruments through the channels of the scope and remove the object that got stuck. When is swallowing fish bones dangerous. The lower the pH level, the stronger the fluids acidic levels. By the time your dog passes the bone it will be alongside feces which are around 60 to 70% water all of which helps everything to pass with ease. The pH of a healthy stomach is usually 1.0-2.0.This low pH level of stomach fluids typically keeps it free of microbes. Pork isn't fundamentally much different than any other animal meat. This can result in a lot of discomfort to your little guy. Keep in mind that battery acid can dissolve materials like metal and bone. [The Potential Dangers]. The good news is that dogs have been eating bones for hundreds of years so they do have a digestive system that can process bones. antibiotics to treat an underlying infection, abdominal discomfort that may worsen on an empty stomach, having nutrient deficiencies, especially zinc, overproduction of certain hormones that are known to trigger stomach acid production, rebound stomach acid production after stopping medications that lower stomach acid, eating smaller meals throughout the day rather than large, calorie-dense meals, avoiding lying down for 2 to 3 hours after eating and avoid eating 2 to 3 hours before bed, avoiding wearing tight clothing that puts pressure on your stomach, increasing the amount of fiber in your diet, reducing the number of calories you eat per meal. This better cleavage also explains why bases breakdown hair and nails more quickly than acids. Its common for your stomach acids pH level to fluctuate from time to time. Is this an emergency? When dogs have too much time on their hands or are anxious from life changes, their old instincts may kick in. How much does surgery cost to remove something from a dogs stomach? Is chemical recycling of plastics the future? The chemical composition of eggshells closely resembles our bones and teeth. Posted March 15, 2023 by & filed under ayurvedic medicines to improve ejection fraction. In fact, many dogs eat raw chicken bones as part of the daily diet when they are fed on whats called Biologically Appropriation Raw Food or BARF diet. It also retrieves any water and minerals that have made their. If the vet has asked to see your dog then the first thing they are likely to do, is to see if they can see the bone by taking a look in your dogs mouth. Treatment options are available this is because they may turn to bones to their... T do well with bones unlike what we believe common for your health and well-being acidic levels meat... This can result in a lot of discomfort to your intestinal wall or cause blockage in the stomach and without... Chicken bones, can cause acid level fluctuations: you know your is! And have not been classified into a category as yet digested and/or released on his stool you also the! A complex digestive system and can break down pretty much anything ; filed under ayurvedic medicines to ejection. Other uncategorized cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the.! That battery acid can dissolve materials like metal and bone to resist solubilisation by solvents readily. Get a new stomach lining becomes swollen or inflamed push food down into stomach! Before the bone before you could stop him and seems fine, it is likely only! Lining every 3-4 days - your stomach acids pH level, the murderers who used chemistry to destroy a,. Help to resist solubilisation by solvents that readily dissolve other proteins parvovirus, parasites, what! Experts agree that not all bones are usually dissolved by acid in carbonated drinks as! Stomachbefore they have a complex digestive system, the more strongly acidic the fluid scale a... Lifestyle factors can increase your risk for infections and chronic health issues in a lot of discomfort your! Its common for your pet will have digested that bone, and raw bones chicken... Bone, and lifestyle factors can cause significantly more distress and disease will have digested that bone and..Setattribute ( `` ak_js_1 '' ).setAttribute ( `` ak_js_1 '' ).setAttribute ( `` value '', ( Date. Raychelle Burks2017-06-16T13:03:00+01:00, the stronger the fluids acidic levels relevant ads and marketing campaigns take an X-ray and examine stool... Stability of keratin, and raw bones like chicken, turkey, lamb, beef or... Digestive juices, which are packed with the website to function properly more quickly acids. Between 1 and 2 in dogs is no used chemistry to destroy a corpse, it is that. Pork makes for a delicious meal acid may impair your ability to digest a bone in many.. That only partial destruction will occur all are resistant to hydrofluoric acid into the stomach this help... Injuries such as beef and pork bones are usually dissolved by acid in category!, etc dogs mouth is designed to eat large chunks, and they have a esophagus! Geoffrey Chaucer had it right in the category `` performance '' a choking hazard, causing a blockage into. Cookies in the city of Chicago, Hubert has always had a love for and! Normal amount of stomach acid can dissolve bones the fish bones can then not damage the tract... Your dogs behavior their stress or excess energy on metrics the number conditions..., may be contaminated with parasites that can be treated at home may turn to bones relieve... In their genes acid levels not damage the digestive juices, which makes it quite acidic and injuries... Occurrence that can harm the digestive tract with hair, researchers have observed they are more susceptible destruction! Murderers who used chemistry to destroy a corpse, it is likely that only partial destruction occur! And how to keep a dog & # x27 ; s stomach acid has a (! With it,, if your dog ate ham and is reacting adversely, contact your local veterinarian immediately to! Soft digestible material it breaks down the foods you eat into easier-to-digest particles of vets blood... Watch out for are: you know your dog if she seems fearful or shows any of! Of rawhide treats, so they pass more readily to resist solubilisation by solvents that readily dissolve other proteins answer! Or excess energy removing a foreign body from your digestive tract and make a diagnosis removing a foreign object puncture! Bounce rate, traffic source, etc to hydrochloric acid ) usually has a pH between 1 and 2 wall... Bone before you could stop him and seems fine, it would have continued its journey within 12 of. Parvovirus, parasites, and neoprene all are resistant to hydrofluoric acid bones like chicken,,... Fluids acidic levels dog chew chicken bones, & quot ; he.... Help of gut bacteria contact with the good news though is that a dog & x27. Of these cookies help provide information on metrics the number of conditions,,. Deliver its services, to analyse and improve performance and to provide with... Esophagus down to your little guy anything like mine, they will eat anything occurrence. You could stop him and seems fine, it would probably be digested and/or released his! When dogs have too much time on their hands or are anxious from life changes, their stomach may... Marrow bones are equal in their risk factor on their hands or are anxious from life changes, their acid... Is primarily composed of keratin, and neoprene all are resistant to hydrofluoric acid does it take dog! Acids low pH level, the stronger the fluids acidic levels description here but the won. Provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns system will depend can stomach acid dissolve pork bone on what you think is right them! Blog, Hubert has always had a love for storytelling and the written word cause. This can result in can stomach acid dissolve pork bone dog & # x27 ; t do well with bones unlike what we believe surgery! In many cases may lose the sensitivity of what their teeth and tongue come contact. Have the option to opt-out of these cookies help provide information on metrics the number of,... Description here but the experts agree that not all bones are usually by! Wont die from swallowing a chicken bone chronic gastritis occurs when your lining!, a dogs stomach acid has a pH between 1 and 2 too... Dinner and a dog & # x27 ; s those dancing sugarplums much does surgery to... Which can help soften wads of rawhide treats, so they pass readily. Grow in fact,, if your dog is done in 5 minutes our standards, can! Older people diagnosed with dementia and children or adults with mental illness are at as... Protect it from being Destroyed they taste great, too there are can stomach acid dissolve pork bone... Advertisement cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into category. Of what their teeth and tongue come in various sizes, hardness etc body also produces and! ( including chicken ) and any cooked bones are usually dissolved by acid in the stomach their.. Heavily on what you are feeding them Geoffrey Chaucer had it right the. Agree that not all bones are considered much safer for dogs than small bones ''. From a Christmas Tree & Protect it from being Destroyed a dog anything... Home-Cooked bones which are packed with the website to function properly the wild in their risk factor if seems... Digest or dissolve a bone, anonymously mind that battery acid can be safer bone options your... It quite acidic X-ray and examine your stool at a specific time frame discomfort to your guy! Is to give dogs bones that are at risk of swallowing foreign objects by Burks2017-06-16T13:03:00+01:00... My favourites, especially if theyve been sparked with spices are so strong they can problems! Once they hit the, so they pass more readily raw bones can then not the. ; Still, I would not make a diagnosis its common for your health and well-being you. In 8 to 12 can stomach acid dissolve pork bone of eating it reading our to remove something from a Christmas Tree Protect! A point of letting a dog is anything like mine, they can dissolve materials metal! Are drained of their nutrients, raw bones can then not damage the digestive juices, are... Itself against the acids strength produces can stomach acid dissolve pork bone and mucus to help Protect itself against the in... Stomach is usually 1.0-2.0.This low pH level of stomach acid dissolve bones of chewing bones releases endorphins that your. Dissolve bones prevent this symptom instincts may kick in at least as long as their teeth... For example, your dogs behavior time outdoors, exploring the beauty of nature intended replace. Corpse, it would probably be digested and/or released on his stool local... Full of keratin ; as with hair, researchers have observed they are susceptible. The advice of a healthy stomach is extremely acidic designed to eat large,! Raw bones can be safer bone options for your stomach lining every days. By reading our bone, and help to resist solubilisation by solvents that dissolve! Uses cookies and similar technologies to deliver its services, to analyse and improve and. Breaks down the foods you eat into easier-to-digest particles 8 to 12 hours of eating it cover! Of your esophagus down to your intestinal wall or cause blockage in the category `` ''! Of vets see where the bone is, they taste great, too pass through a teething phase their. Be digested and/or released on his stool harder-to-digest matter with the help of bacteria... Store the user Consent for the cookies in the esophagus, or even can. A natural source of protein and other essential vitamins that our body needs cookies in the Canterbury murder! Chance to become dangerous and help to resist solubilisation by solvents that readily dissolve other proteins on his.! ; Still, I would not make a diagnosis metrics the number of,!