Grass eating - Page 1

This is not a big question but it is something that has bugged me over the years. When I was a kid, the adults around me told me that dogs eat grass as a way of getting rid of worms in their systems. Something about the worms getting attached to the grass and then being expelled. Most of my life I assumed (from what I will call, common sense), that dogs ate grass because they lacked a certain mineral or vitamin that nature told them they could obtain from eating grass. Recently I asked my Vet why dogs eat grass, and why they usually vomit it out shortly after eating it. His reply was that dogs eat grass because they like to. He also stated that dogs can vomit at will whenever they want and they vomit it up because they want to. Simple as that. He said that it is not an indication of lacking any nutrients nor having worms. I just can't accept they do it "just because". Also, I have noticed whenever there is a television show about starving dogs being rescued, they usually are in a yard full of grass, which tells me that there can not be very much nutrition in grass. Anybody out there know the correct answer? Just curious.

Do right-- I had one dog who absolutely loved one type of grass. Used to drive me nuts---would always run to it, passing other types. Couldn't tell you why. He didn't eat it to throw up. Other dogs who ate grass, I do believe they wanted to throw up. My one boy who was eventually diagnosed with pancreatic insuffiency, was a big grass snatcher.

I also think they do it because they want to or like it as well. I noticed over the years some dogs did it more often than others and the ones that spent time lazing in the grass, watching my horses eat, would munch down more. Coincedense or from watching the horse eat? I know my dogs never lacked anything, they eat rather well and some just seem to enjoy it more than others. In the wild wolves, coyote and fox eat veggies, so it makes sense. I even had a female that loved alfalfa hay.

My boy is kind of a grass snob. He will only eat the really green, healthy looking grass. It only grows in one spot around here, he walks fine on a leash, no pulling until we pass that one spot where the grass is at. He never throws up and from stool examinations I can tell that he doesnt seem to digest it either. So does everyone here seem to think that eating grass is at least permissible???

i beleieve dogs can do that for more than one reason and depends on the context -- just as a dog can bark , a behavior , for different reasons under different contexts -- yes .. empirically i have seen my dogs ingest grass to purposely throw up .. perhaps they had a digestion problem .. a gastrointestinal upset or infection -- i have seen dogs eat grass when they have gotten stressed or nervous -- some of my dogs love to eat grass right after i have cut it .. perhaps the scent of chlorophyl .. lke smelling a herb a and feeling the want to eat it -- IMO -- to answer your question -- dogs do things with purposeness --but one beahvior can be for differnt contexts

I agree with your vet. Blitz grazes on ornamental grass, he's particulary fond of fountain grass. Sometimes he vomits it up, sometimes not.

I have some who eat grass and some who don't. The ones that do prefer a certain type of tall grass that grows as a weed near the fences. Why? Maybe they like the scent and flavour-beats me. I have heard that is is because of missing nutrients from their food. I think that might be just propaganda to sell grass pills. I also think if that was true, then all of mine would be pulling the long grass. Bob-O

Someone sent me this web site location that addresses this question. The web site basically states the same thing my vet said. So, still no sure answer. Another one of life's little mysteries that I will never know the answer too, just like "what do women really want" :) http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1547&articleid=1139

Refer to relevant bibliography on barf history and this will answer your questions, I think. Dogs "like" grass for its nutrients. They used to eat the stomach of the small animals they caught in the wild because of the grass it contained! However, there is a major difference between the 2 grass types: cellulose They cannot digest it easily. In your case the cellulose is whole in big "molecules" while the one contained in the grass in the stomach of animals is chewed and thus broken into tiny pieces, far more digestable. If you pout the grass in a mixer blender your dog will not vommit!

Maybe I can help with this one... Dogs eat grass because they're diet consists of little to no "Roughage" Roughage captures and moves "binds" foreign or lost food particles within the gut, and lower intestines. This is information from a Vet who is a friend of mine. Never thought to ask others they're opinion on it as she explained it in detail to about a 10 minute explanation. Dogs or Canid species eat the stomach of prey, NOT THE CONTENTS (very rarely) But they do eat the stomach itself, It contains several things most importantly and attractive to them though is the probiotics and enzymes the stomach offers. Grass eating also explained by my friend the vet, Is somewhat of a problem as parasites lay in a larvae forum on dewlets of water typically found on the underside of a blad of grass, A typical blade of grass with one dewlett of water can harbor several parasite larvae just waiting to be gobbled up by they're new host. That's about all I know.