Dogs eating grass

[horsemadelsie]

So I have always been told that if a dog eats grass it will be sick. Someone else has recently told me that they will eat grass if they have an intolerance to a certain type of food.
Now, my dog thinks she's a horse and has always 'grazed' with the horses in the field (as a puppy all she ate was grass and horse feed and poo!) and she has never suffered any bad reaction- except for the time she ate some recently fertilised grass, but thats another story!
So has anyone heard either of these stories? Does anyone actually know the truth?

 

[Dry Rot]

Your dog is behaving normally. They get vitamins from grass and horse poo (and other things!). There are small spines on the blades of some grasses that causes an irritation to the stomach lining, so the dog vomits. Ever cut your finger on a blade of grass? Oh yes you can! Dogs vomit very easily as that is how they feed small pups partially digested food under natural conditions. Face licking is your dogs' invitation for you to vomit for them!

Years ago I moved kennels. The dogs were fed raw but washed meat. After a while, I noticed the dogs behaving strangely. One in particular became hyperactive and started doing a "wall of death" type of behaviour literally bouncing off the walls! I took her to the vet who administered an injection of vitamin B12. The cure was instantaneous. He then asked if my dogs had access to grass, which they did not, and he explained how they get vitamins from it. Nothing to worry about and if you don't like the poo eating, look the other way and don't let them lick your face.

 

[horsemadelsie]

I am accustomed to the poo eating! Just extra careful to keep her away when the horses have been wormed
That explains where the 'grass makes dogs sick' myth came from, I knew it couldn't be true as my dogs almost 4 now and must eat more grass than the fat shetland with no side effects.
ps my dog is definitely not normal

 

[NOISYGIRL]

My springer eats grass, she loves it, is going to be a bit difficult on thurs morn when OH takes her out, she has to have a biopsy under general and can't eat anything after 8 the night before she won't be happy not being able to graze on her walk

 

[lexiedhb]

Dexie does a good impression of a cow sometimes!

 

[AngieandBen]

Both my dogs love grass too, it comes a close second to horse poo

 

[Ranyhyn]

Yes grass is part of all my dogs diet, as is horse muck, sheep muck, chicken muck...
YUCK! Grass is the least of our worries!

 

[Dobiegirl]

All of my dogs have eaten grass at some time or other, its a natural part of their diet and causes no harm at all.

 

[Brontie]

It's strange to hear all these experiences, our old dog only ate it when he needed to make himself throw up.

 

[CILLA]

Our two year old Brittany eats grass, horse and chicken poo with out any ill effect. We do try and discourage the poo eating however !!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Mine eat it all the time and don't throw up.