http://www.care2.com/greenliving/dogs-eating-grass.html
Dogs Eating Grass
One of my family dogs likes to sneak in a few chomps of grass every now and then, and I was never sure why. More importantly, perhaps, I always wondered if it was OK. I figured that his dog instinct was telling him “grass, yum, must eat,” so it was probably all right. But just to make sure, I decided to look into it a little further.
My first question was one that I have seen debated on these pages frequently: Are dogs carnivorous or omnivorous? The Encyclopedia Britannica states that dogs are indeed omnivores, but there seems to be plenty of debate about this. (I’d love to hear your insights about this in the comments field.)
Arden Moore, author of The Dog Behavior Answer Book (Storey, 2006), also states that dogs are omnivores, and that they like a little variety on their diet and know the value of adding some greens to the menu. Hello, grass.
Moore says that while some dogs eat grass and throw up afterward, some frequently do it and don’t throw up. They may simply like the taste and feel the need to add some roughage to their meals. This pertains more to those dogs that actually chew and swallow the grass blades thoroughly.
Grass can also act as a healthful aid for dogs with upset stomachs who need to purge their systems. In that case, you might notice that they seem to almost gobble the grass without really chewing the blades. The prickly little stalks irritate their stomach linings and cause them to vomit. If this occurs only occasionally, let nature take its course. But if your dog is vomiting daily and not eating well, please consult your veterinarian. There may be an underlying medical reason behind this behavior.
Grass is fine for dogs when it is free of pesticides, lawn chemical, or other harmful substances.
More from Melissa Breyer (497 articles available)
Go to the Source
related stories
-
(3 comments)
-
(162 comments)
-
(5 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
56 comments
add your comment »nice dog pic
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Thanks for the info.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Grass--no problem but be careful whose grass. I worry about chemicals & pesticides mainly. my grass-- no problem I don't use anything.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
My dog eats grass when he has constipation.
Definitely omnivorous!
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Every dog I have had ate grass. It's good for their digestion.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I have to agree with the need for greens in a dogs diet. All of my dogs used to munch on grass occasionally but, they never threw it up afterwards. Being that I cook a mixture of chicken and rice added to their dry food, I decided to incorporate some greens. I added only carrots at first... they gobbled it up. So... in addition, I tried celery and some italian squash with the same results. These veggies that they're eating are simmered with chicken breasts so they're nice and soft and have the flavor of chicken in them. Curious to see if they would like raw veggies as much, I fed them raw radishes, raw celery and some raw carrots... all four of my dogs loved them all!!! I imagine that the veggies are good for them and I no longer see them munching on the grass.
I do believe though that the grass munching can also act as a vomit inducer... I used to have a great dane who had stomach problems and he would grab large mouthfuls of the grass barely chewing it and than shortly after, the grass would came right back out.
I would think that if your dog is eating it often and vomiting right afterwards, he/she may have a stomach problem and should see a vet. If your dog is casually chewing the grass and is holding it down, maybe he/she just needs some greens in his/her diet.
Peace.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Another gr8 article!:) My dogs eat grass when they are waiting for food...lol Sometimes on walks they eat parts of the grass and lick the grass, but I think they are trying to get scents from other dogs off the grass too.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
My dogs are eating grass if they don't feel well i guess.. coz after eating and munching on it they vomit and they feel good afterwards.. so, they are not all carnivorous!
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
My dogs also are eating grass on walks and never thow it up. They just like the taste I suppose and they don't eat whatever grass but choose which one to eat! :) My dog Charlie loves to eat bananas and all three of them like vegetables cooked in their meal of chichen and rice.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
When your dog eats grass it's an indication that their stomach is bothering them. My sweet rescued Rottweiler Nikita ate grass constantly, even in the winter she would search out what few blades she could find and eat them and she never threw up after. During her checkups, she always tested out as perfectly healthy. When I asked the vet about her grass eating, he joked, "don't worry, she's healthy as a horse". When we finally discovered her cancer of the spleen it was far advanced and had metastasized and spread throughout her body. Her only sign that anything was wrong was her grass eating and it wasn't taken seriously until too late. Vegetables are good for your dog, but if he or she seems a little too interested in eating grass, make sure your vet digs a little deeper into the cause. I miss my beautiful Nikita every day and live with the regret that we didn't catch her illness in time.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: