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Grass Eating Dogs
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WHY DO DOGS AND CATS SOMETIMES
EAT GRASS ?
First broadcast
on www.provet.co.uk .
Note for Pet
Owners
This information is provided
by Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice of
your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise
on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for
your pet.
Both dogs and cats can sometimes
be seen eating grass....but is this normal ?
Grass is pretty indigestible for cats and dogs because they do not have
the digestive enzymes necessary to breakdown the fibre content ..which is
high. Apart from fibre and water, grass also contains some minerals, vitamin
A and sometimes vitamin D.
The nutritional value of grass for cats and dogs is very poor...so there
is unlikely to be a basic instinctive nutritional reason why cats and dogs
would eat grass ...unless they have a need for dietary fibre itself which
is thought to be unlikely. Cats in particular are known to be obligate carnivores
and have no requirement for nutrients derived from plant material.
It has been reported (but not scientifically proved) that cats and dogs
will eat grass if they have a digestive system problem such as gastritis or
nausea. They will also eat unusual materials if they have a nutritional deficiency,
or if they are hungry and do not have access to food. On the other hand eating
small amounts of untypical foods ..grass, wood, leaves ..can just be a normal
behavioural trait and is not important providing the material eaten is not
toxic - such as laburnum leaves or sticks. Grass is usually safe - unless
it has been sprayed with herbicide or insecticides.
Provet Recommendation If your pet suddenly starts eating grass it would
be worthwhile getting your veterinarian to examine it just in case there is
an underlying gastrointestinal problem or a nutritional deficiency.
Feedback from Provet Visitor :
I just thought that perhaps I could add my input on this subject.
I have an almost 10 year old golden retriever mix named Polly. Just
this morning I took her out for our early morning walk and she started practically
mowing the lawn. I was just on the internet to see perhaps if it was
a sign that I was missing something. Something new anyway. Basically
I discovered that in her case it is simply to induce vomiting. I was
unaware that she had gotten into the trash during the night (not usually
a problem with her but leftovers had been dumped and the bag didn’t make
it all the way outside.) When she came in she had a sad look on her
face...walked a few steps and threw up the most pleasant pile. I thought
about it and realized every time she had eaten grass she had thrown up afterwards.
I never knew how she knew that eating grass would make her vomit.
I would love to hear that explained if anyone can ever get into the mind
of my canine.
I also have 2 cats, Salem and Jenna. I found Salem would do the same
thing as Polly. If he had a hairball he couldn’t pass he would beg
to go outside. Once I let him out he would devour grass. Luckily
he would stay outside until the grass had done its job. So if I had
to provide a reason for animals to eat grass I would definitely say that
it was to help with an upset stomach.
27.4.05
Copyright
(c) 1999 - 2007 Provet. All rights reserved. Email: info@provet.co.uk
reprinted with kind permission from Mike Davies
************************************
Your grass
eating dog...
Ever wonder just what your dog
finds so appetizing about your front lawn? For centuries, Pet Parents and
veterinarians alike have been mystified by the amazing attraction our canine
companions seem to have for grass. Sure everyone knows that within seconds
of a good grass munch, your dog will most likely be tossing his doggy cookies,
but is this the reason for his fascination with it? Does your dog eat grass
to vomit, or does he vomit because he eats grass? Which came first, the chicken
or the egg?
A sick tummy?
Dr. Dan Simpson, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical
Association and veterinarian at West Bay Animal Hospital in Warwick, Rhode
Island, says "For 17 years as a practicing veterinarian, I had always believed
that dogs just ate grass for the heck of it--because it was there. Recently,
however, a very well-respected behaviourist convinced me otherwise."
Simpson now believes that dogs actually make an association between eating
grass and relieving an upset stomach when they're not feeling well. "I don't
necessarily believe that a dog knowingly eats grass to vomit, but I do feel
that because the dog will eat the grass, regurgitate and feel better, he
will then form an association between the grass and relief of his sick stomach."
In other words, after eating grass and vomiting up whatever offending substance
made him feel badly in the first place, he will be instinctively drawn to
eat grass whenever he isn't feeling well, associating the grass with feeling
better.
Missing nutrients?
Another theory for the dog/grass connection is based on diet and nutrition.
Some experts believe that processed dog foods lack a certain organic sulphur
called Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). Because this sulphur can be found in
fresh grass, many are convinced that dogs will actually crave grass in order
to fulfil this nutritional need. (However, due to years of treatment, most
of our lawns have actually been depleted of this natural sulphur.) Some Pet
Parents report that they have had luck adding MSM as a nutritional supplement
to their dog's diet to get their dog to lay off the fresh stuff!
In addition, there are those experts who feel that dogs simply eat grass
because it looks, tastes, and smells good. In fact, some say that a dog will
chew the grass in a particular area so that he can use all of his senses
to "read the spot." In other words, in the same way your dog's oh-so-sensitive
nose can pick up tons of information about who was in the area prior, what
type of animal they were, what they were doing, etc., his palate is equally
sensitive, if not more so.
How safe are those green pastures?
But regardless of why your dog is so magnetically drawn to the lush green
pastures of your front lawn, the important question for Pet Parents to ponder
is whether or not it is safe to let him chomp away. Most veterinarians agree
that although it seems a somewhat natural process for your dog to eat grass,
it is not a healthy pastime. Many lawns are chemically treated with herbicides
and pesticides that, if ingested, can make your dog extremely sick and potentially
even kill him. And, even if your lawn isn't chemically treated, it's possible
that your neighbour's lawns or the lawns in the parks where you and your
dog play are.
Because of this, many Pet Parents have gone out of their way to ensure
that no chemicals are ever used to treat their lawns. However, some experts
feel that even an untreated lawn still isn't a safe salad. "Even if the grass
isn't treated, it still contains parasite eggs and other indigestible substances
that can be potentially harmful," Dr. Simpson explains. "Dogs are not cows
or horses. They can't metabolize everything the grass contains the way those
animals do. Dogs are omnivores--just like humans--and have very similar
digestive systems. If a human wouldn't eat it, a dog shouldn't either!"
Stop that munching!
So how do you get your pooch to stop eating grass? If your dog is a regular
grass muncher, the first thing you should do is pay a visit to your veterinarian--with
a stool sample, of course. This way, your vet can rule out any potential
illnesses, such as a serious digestive disorder or parasite. Either of these
can not only cause your dog to develop a sick stomach, but can potentially
be life threatening if not treated immediately.
Once given a clean bill of health, try treating your dog's upset stomach
with conventional methods to keep him from chomping on the greenery. For
example, feed whole foods, including boiled hamburger and white rice, or even
give a little Pepto-Bismol every once in a while to soothe his irritated tummy.
And, if he just simply loves the smell and taste of grass, then good luck
keeping him away from it! After all, everyone knows how easy it is to get
a dog to give up something he likes to eat, right? Yeah right! But no matter
how hard it may seem, it's up to you to do what's best for your canine companion...and
make sure you do all you can to keep him from being a grass eater!
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The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to
replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis
of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of
any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.
