Dogs eating grass

[ru-fi-do]

Just wondered what peoples thoughts are on this........ When we went to a wildlife park in devon, the 'wolfman' was there and he said it's fine and they would do this in the wild as part of thier nutrtion.

 

[hadleigh]

Dogs eat grass when their tums are a bit upset. Both my dogs have a chew on the grass from time to time and it has never done them any harm. The cat does it too!! Nothing like a bit of Dr Green when you're not at your best.

 

[ru-fi-do]

Just watching my three out in the garden, they keep having a run round and play, then they all seem to forage round for some grass!

 

[GinaB]

Perfectly normal behaviour. I would never stop my dog doing it. Although she doesn't tend to very often.

 

[Sooty]

It is important that dogs have access to grass. They may eat a little every day, but if they have an upset stomach they will eat a lot to make themselves sick.

 

[claire1976]

Most dogs eat grass just because they like it and enjoy the taste. Its perfectly natural. Occasionally they will eat large amounts to make themselves sick if they have an upset tummy but mostly its because they like eating it!

 

[sloulou]

Think opinions vary on this: some say it is because dogs would have eaten animals that eat grass - so eat grass because they don't get it in commercial pet food. Others say it is because dogs naturally eat vegetation, we just don't feed it to them so they are supplementing their diet.

Others say it is to make themselves sick - there is quite of research done into animals self medicating - especially dogs...

maybe its a combination of the above! Although not sure what nutritional value there is in grass?!

 

[ru-fi-do]

One of them had been sick this morning when i came downstairs, but they seem perfectly happy and have had no cahnge in diet, i have seem them eat grass on odd occasions before, it's just interesting to hear peoples views

 

[polaris]

Totally normal and is indeed to make themselves sick but do not equate human sickness to dogs...dogs can regurgitate and it's pretty normal for them to do it. Totally harmless and whereas you or I would take a Rennie tablet for trapped wind/ nausea/ overindulgence....a dog will eat grass for the same reason however us feeling really ill rarely occurs in a healthy dog so no need to worry and as long as it's safe vegetation...let them graze!

 

[Breezesbenefactor]

Ditto to all written here it creates a biol in their guts which done to excess causes them to baff, or alternatively aids natural digestion- mine eat fox s**t trust me you have nothing to worry about

 

[Foxford]

My collie has a nibble every day! I don't think he has an upset tummy, he just likes it. And he is greedy, so he wouldn't say no to anything really.

 

[RLF]

Claire1976, have to disagree, on the dogs eating grass because they like it, im afraid as canivors, they only eat grass if they need to make themselves sick, bad belly/worms etc, not because they like it, nobody, not even dogs likes being sick.