Enteroliths are uncommon and usually incidental findings but, once found, they require at a minimum watchful waiting.

An enterolith may form around a nidus, a small foreign object such as a seed, pebble, or piece of twine that serves as an irritant.

[6] In California, struvite enteroliths are associated also with a high proportion of alfalfa in the feed and less access to grass pasture.

Improper use of magnesium oxide as a long-term laxative has been reported to cause enteroliths and/or medication bezoars.

Bowel obstruction and ileus typically occur when a large enterolith is expelled from a diverticulum into the lumen.

[citation needed] On plain X-rays, the visibility of the enterolith depends on its calcium content.

[13] In simple cases of obstruction, where there are no complications, a variety of non-surgical and surgical techniques are used to remove the enterolith.