Dog owners often notice that their pets enjoy eating grass on a walk, or gnawing leaves from indoor plants... The reaction of the owners to this behavior is completely different. Someone considers the behavior to be normal, while someone tries to take the dog away and immediately go to the veterinarian. Therefore, it is worthwhile to understand the question of why dogs eat grass, and whether this behavior of pets is normal.
Most dog breeders have wondered why dogs eat grass. It is widely believed that dogs do this for the following purposes:
- The herb is a source of vitamins for dogs. Most people think so. However, this opinion is erroneous, since the dog's digestive system does not contain enzymes that break down greens. Therefore, the intestines of the dog cannot absorb the trace elements contained in the grass.
- There is not enough green in the dog's diet. and she tries to harmonize her own diet. Research carried out by experts has proven that eating grass does not depend on the daily diet of a dog. Even those dogs enjoy greens, in the diet of which the owners include a sufficient amount of greens.
- The herb is a cure for worms. Not a proven fact, since grass is also happy to eat healthy dogs.
- Dogs try to get rid of the bad smell from their mouths. It is very difficult to imagine that a dog thinks about how his breath smells.
Zoologists' opinion on eating grass
There is still some rationale in the listed reasons for the use of grass by dogs. Most dog health professionals believe that the herb is consumed by natural instinct.
In nature, predators eat the contents of the rumen of herbivorous animals, which contain undigested greens. Enzymes and microorganisms from undigested contents are essential for dogs by natural instinct. However, as noted earlier, their stomachs are unable to digest roughage, so eating grass becomes useless.
ADVICE. If a dog prefers to eat a certain type of grass and does not bring much harm to its health, it means that it feels the benefits of the plant at the instinctual level. In this case, you should not interfere with her.
What Scientists Say Why Dogs Eat Grass
Scientists have conducted a series of experiments designed to find out the true causes of dogs eating grass. As a result, it was found out that:
Eating grass - natural process for an animal living in wildlife... Thus, animals normalize their own intestines. For animals, this behavior is quite normal. Predators feed on small rodents and supplement their diet with grass.
It should be remembered that this phenomenon arose in a clean ecological environment, when the grass was not polluted by city dust, exhaust gases and other delights of civilization. Urban grass is a substance filled with chemicals, heavy metals, infections.
You can easily imagine what will enter the intestines of the dog when it actively eats. Phytoncides and antibacterial elements contained in pure grass that can be beneficial are clogged with harmful substances present in it. Together with the benefits, the grass harms the body of the animal.
Many owners note that after eating grass, the dog burps., and not only on the street, but also in the house. Therefore, in an urban environment and with a balanced diet of a dog, eating grass still cannot be considered a harmless and normal phenomenon.
How to be the owner
You can buy a special herb at the pet store and grow it at home for your pet. Observing the dog and taking immediate action in the event of a deviation in its behavior is the key to the welfare of the animal. If the owner notices that the dog begins to actively eat grass, you should think about the reasons for this behavior.
- If the dog eats grass systematically and then regularly burps, while the dog looks tired, dull hair, and signs of blood are seen in the mouth masses, an immediate consultation with a veterinarian is necessary. Perhaps her diet is not balanced, or inflammatory processes are present in the intestines.
- Don't let your dog eat grass along the roads., since it is as polluted as possible, saturated with chemicals. For walking, you need to choose clean lawns, away from the tracks. It is also worth finding out if the selected lawn has not been treated with herbicides, because poisoning with them can be fatal. If possible, it is worth going out of town so that the pet can walk on clean grass.
- After walks, the animal must be carefully observed. Walking on the grass, a pet can become infected with worms, which can cause quite serious diseases.
- Dogs who love greenery can be provided with specially grown grass. Grass seeds can be found at any pet supply store. The consultants will help the owner choose the most suitable seed for planting. For growing at home, oats, wheat, wheatgrass are suitable. The inclusion of specially grown grass in the pet's diet will have a beneficial effect on the intestines of the animal. The owner will be sure that the dog is eating clean, non-harmful grass.
IMPORTANT. If the dog constantly eats grass, and then burps in the house, you should not scold and even more punish him for this. It is better to wait until the end of the process, placing a cloth or newspaper for cleanliness, and then go to the clinic. In order for the regurgitation process to take place on the street, it is better to walk for some time after the dog has eaten the grass.
The dog is bored
The reason for eating grass is not always related to a malfunction of the dog's body. Often the dog feels great, but it gets bored from the lack of attention of the owner. In the house, in this case, he chews on furniture and shoes, and on the street begins to amuse himself by eating grass.
The dog needs psychological and physical stress, stimulation in the form of exercises. If the owner behaves only as an observer during a walk, the dog may try to attract his attention with non-standard behavior.
The dog can start eating grass out of boredom, so it is necessary to turn his attention to the game. A simple ban on eating grass will not work. It is necessary to distract the dog, give it a toy, or come up with a game. Perhaps such a technique will switch the animal's attention, and walks will do without eating grass and subsequent vomiting.
Isolated facts of eating grass in places safe for its health should not cause fear of the owners. If the dog eats grass systematically and experiences problems after that, it is worth finding out and eliminating the cause with the help of a competent veterinarian.
In conclusion, we invite you to watch a video material of why a dog eats grass, we wish you a pleasant viewing.
You can often see the dog eating grass. Many dog breeders are worried about this and immediately run to the veterinarian. The article discusses the topic of eating greens by pets: why a dog eats grass, what grass is better to add to a dog's menu.
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Dog Eating Grass Myths
Do not worry about the health of your four-legged friend if he eats weed. It will not harm his health. A survey was conducted among the owners of tailed pets on the subject of eating grass and the consequences of this. 1,500 dog breeders were interviewed and 79% confirmed that their tailed friends eat greens, but they did not name any negative consequences. Veterinarians have confirmed the fact of eating grass by four-legged. Research has been done on why a dog eats grass. But scientists have not yet found an exact answer to this question.
Some people believe that dogs eat grass to replenish the missing vitamins for their body, especially in the springtime. But scientists have done research and found that there are no enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract of four-footed ones that are capable of digesting greens. Thus, the animal cannot receive useful material from her.
It is believed that dogs eat grass to diversify their diet, replenishing missing nutrients. But this opinion was refuted after the study. It turned out that pets eat weed regardless of the diet that the owners feed them.
Some believe that by eating greens, animals get rid of worms. But domestic tailed beasts, which do not have worms, eat grass with the same pleasure. So, the question of herbal addictions of four-legged ones remains unsolved.
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Why do four-legged people eat grass?
Owners of four-legged friends are constantly worried about why dogs eat grass, as they are primarily concerned with the health of their shaggy family members.
Normal or pathological?
Scientists around the world are researching why dogs eat grass. Several theories have been put forward on their basis.
- One of the versions of animals eating greens is the use of tough blades of grass for stomach discomfort. It is assumed that eating rough grass, for example, thistle, wheatgrass, wild cereals, by irritating the walls of the stomach with grass blades, cause vomiting. Usually, in this way, the pet tries to remove rotting food or bile from the stomach. But only 22% of the interviewed dog owners confirmed that their pets vomited after eating greens, in other cases they felt good.
- Fiber, getting into the intestines of the dog, helps to liquefy feces, helping with constipation. Studies have been conducted with dogs that greens strengthen stool. Some of the animals were given food that induces loose stools, others were fed normal food. Dogs eating as usual ate greens more often. The second version - the four-legged like the taste of green grass. According to a study of posts on dog forums, it was concluded that four-legged friends do not always eat hard grass to induce vomiting. It has been observed that many tailed beasts like to eat young nettles, cornflowers, lettuce leaves, calendula flowers, etc.
- In addition to the fact that with the help of grass, animals expel bile from themselves, there is a version that they are looking for blades of grass for treatment. There is an opinion that animals at the genetic level understand which blade of grass will be useful to them and use it. Our pets, like their ancestors - wolves, are carnivores that feed on herbivores. Together with the entrails of these animals, a lot of grass residues got into the stomach of the predators. Therefore, the stomachs of wild animals are adapted to process greens. This could be the reason the dog is eating grass.
If your pet eats greens too often, you should pay attention to signs that may indicate some kind of disease:
- dull eyes;
- dull wool cover;
- there is blood in the vomit.
In this case, you should immediately contact your veterinarian and undergo an examination.
Eating greens on a daily basis may be associated with liver problems.
In one study, it was found that, unlike cats, dogs can be vegetarians. To say for sure, the love of animals for greenery is a pathology or a normal phenomenon, scientists cannot say for sure.
What grass should you supplement your pet's diet with?
If you notice that your pet is not averse to eating green grass, choose appropriate walking areas. These should be locations away from roads. A lot of heavy metals are deposited on the grass from engine fumes, which can harm your pet.
Do not forget that there may be worms on the grass cover. Therefore, if there are doubts about the quality of the grass eaten by the pet, it is better to purchase it at the pet store and grow it on the windowsill. You can grow your own cereals, such as wheat, oats.
In most cases, pets eat weed without harmful effects. Therefore, dog lovers should not worry much if the dog eats grass, but it is better to give your pet access to it: either walk in ecologically clean places, or buy a ready-made one, or grow it yourself.
Video "German Shepherd Dog Eats Dandelion Flowers"
On this, while walking, he eats green grass and dandelions.
Walking with the dog, the breeder more than once had to notice the strange behavior of the pet. The dog eats grass with pleasure, although after such a "dinner" it will certainly vomit. Why does the dog eat grass, what reasons or needs does it have for it, perhaps the dog eats grass to improve bowel function, or is it a personal taste preference. That signals a possible illness and the need to consult a veterinarian. Sometimes the reason for this behavior can be attributed to a lack of vitamins in the diet, but the dog is unlikely to receive the necessary vitamins by eating grass. In addition, the animal's body does not digest it. If the dog does not vomit, the grass will definitely come out with feces.
Breeders have noticed that long-haired breeds or pets with an unbalanced diet are more likely to experience this behavior. And the puppy's eating grass is mistaken for a game by the owners. The leaves are moving, and the future hunter is trying to catch them. But is this hobby so harmless, especially in the city? The grass in parks is regularly treated with pesticides from ticks, which means that such plants are not at all suitable for eating by a dog. It's another matter to chew grass outside the city, or in the country, away from exhaust gases and heavy metals. The main thing is that if your dog eats grass, and then regurgitates it, do not confuse the usual cleaning of the body with serious poisoning.
Reasons why a dog eats grass
- To improve digestion. The dog eats grass, which acts on the mucous membranes, improves intestinal motility, which allows food masses to pass faster.
- The dog eats grass to induce vomiting. Like any living creature, she knows and understands her body better than the owner. Feeling discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract, the dog eats grass, its bristles irritate the walls of the stomach, which actually causes vomiting. Thus, the animal gets rid of excess food or excess bile. This behavior can be observed in pets with an unbalanced, improper, abundant and rare diet. Sometimes the dog greedily swallows food along with the air, the food does not have time to digest. It moves along the gastrointestinal tract for a long time, fermentation and decay occur. In this state, the pet experiences discomfort, heaviness, bloating, nausea, increased gas production, and even pain. In this case, to get rid of the unpleasant sensations, the dog eats long, hard grass.
- In the city on flower beds or in a park. Such grass is often treated with chemicals in the fight against mites and weeds. Eating treated plants can lead to serious poisoning.
- Dog walking areas. Since in our country, unfortunately, it is not customary to clean up after pets, eating such grass threatens to become infected with worms or other viral infections that remain even after the feces dries.
- Near the roadway. Such grass absorbs exhaust gases and heavy metals, which will negatively affect health.
- Not on pastures where livestock are grazed. Worms remain the cause.
- Near reservoirs. Many cycles of worm origination occur precisely near water bodies.
- The dog has become more likely to eat grass
- Vomiting increased
- Before there was no vomiting after eating grass, now there is
- The body temperature rises
- Bloating, profuse gas
- Feces changed (color or consistency)
- Drooling appeared
- A dog eats grass regardless of its health condition, whether it is sick or healthy.
- Vomiting after eating grass can occur in both healthy and sick dogs. One moment, only 15-20% of dogs regurgitate grass after eating.
- The presence or absence of fiber in the diet does not in any way affect the pet's needs for eating grass.
Translate the pet correctly and balanced diet, feed often and in small portions.
So, the dog wants to eat grass, let him eat it for health. It should not be limited or punished. Having discussed possible reasons of such behavior of the pet, now it is necessary to make out where the dog cannot eat grass, since it is dangerous to its health.
When to take your dog to the vet
If you notice any changes in your pet's behavior or health after eating grass, be sure to pay attention and show it to your veterinarian. Behind such seeming at first glance, insignificant symptoms can hide a serious illness that will not go away without medical intervention.
Summing up the results
Based on the above, we can safely say that eating grass is normal for a dog.
Veterinarians don't know why dogs eat grass, but they can pinpoint factors other than the sudden craving for greenery. Experts claim that:
- The dog does not eat grass because of a lack of vitamins. The digestive tract of dogs simply does not contain enzymes that can digest greens.
- Four-footed people eat greens, regardless of the diet and type of food. This is evidenced by recent studies.
- The pet is not trying to get rid of the worms. Healthy dogs are passionate about green spaces.
Why does the dog eat grass outside?
There are several explanations for this behavior:
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There is a theory that eating grass allows the animal to get rid of the unpleasant odor from the mouth.
The dog eats grass: what to do?
What if the dog eats grass? Do not interfere with gastronomic addiction, if eating greens is not accompanied by constant vomiting and obvious signs of illness. Experienced dog breeders advise against interfering with a pet's diet without a good reason. The herb is a non-toxic product and does not pose any danger. The dog will sense by smell which plant can be eaten and which can not.
It doesn't matter why dogs eat grass. If the pet leads active image life, does not lose appetite and does not give up natural salad, no need to worry. Diarrhea, refusal to eat, weight loss, hair loss, lethargy are reasons to visit your veterinarian.
It should be remembered that:
- grass near roads contains heavy metals and is undesirable for the animal;
- greens in parks can be treated with chemicals;
- helminth eggs may be present on the surface of plants.
Can the dog eat grass outside? Remember that through the greenery, the dog can pick up an infection (a previously sick animal marked the territory here, or lay down to rest). Grafting is recommended if your pet likes greens.
Which herb is best?
There is no definite answer to the question. If your dog eats grass, make sure the animal has a preference for safe, non-poisonous plants.
- cereal wild plants;
- wheat and oats;
- carrots, nettles, calendula, lettuce and beets.
What grass do dogs eat? Four-footed people like mint, basil, parsley, dill, and sorrel. Greens for cats that are sold in pet stores are suitable. It is enough to purchase seeds, plant them, and at any time of the year you will have an environmentally friendly one.
Diet control
Many owners do not know which grass is good for dogs, and leave the choice to the pet itself. Some animals have a passion for lawn and meadow grass. One of the most useful plants for dogs is chamomile. It relieves inflammation of the stomach and is effective for intestinal spasms.
If the dog eats grass, certain measures need to be taken. It is important to ensure that the animal does not chew with its teeth too hard stems that can damage the walls of the stomach. Dirty grass should also be discarded. Which herb is good for dogs? Fresh and dry plants will do. It is good if they grow away from the road, and even better - in the garden.
Veterinarians will be wondering why dogs eat grass for a long time. Lovers of furry animals can only create conditions for a carefree life for their pets.
People far from cynology, who have never kept pets, are sometimes shocked when they watch the dogs greedily eating grass and the further recall of the body. A sitting animal, spreading its front paws as wide as possible, tilts its head to the ground. Breathing quickens, the body shudders, eyes with tears sadly piteously look at the owner. Another moment and an attack of vomiting brings welcome relief.
Do you need to leave the dog alone with the grass next time after such a scene? Will your pet get worse? Can the animal harm itself in this way, or is it a signal of something important? Why do dogs eat grass? Such questions often arise among the owners of four-legged pets.
Grass-eating animals and subsequent vomiting signals that the pet has:
- Stomach disorders. Vomiting helps to flush out of the body harmful substances and bad foods.
- Unbalanced diet, in which there is an acute lack of vitamins and minerals. Introducing vitamins, raw vegetables and fruits into the diet often solves this problem.
- The dog cleans the stomach, getting rid of the hair that got into it when washing.
- The pet likes the taste of young, succulent plants (in this case, vomiting is not always present).
- The animal gives preference to a certain species. Perhaps the disease has other roots. The type of herb and its properties will help clarify the diagnosis.
- With a sedentary lifestyle, the herb helps to speed up the passage of food through the digestive tract. With this cleansing method, intestinal peristalsis is accelerated, while plants leave it almost immediately undigested.
What Zoologists Say About Dogs Eating Grass
Dogs need enzymes and microorganisms, which are in the not completely digested grass, which predators in nature receive by eating the rumen with the contents of a killed herbivore. Pets, due to a different way of life, are deprived of such an opportunity, although they, as representatives of the family of predators, need roughage of plant origin. Therefore, they nibble the grass growing in places of walking, from which, however, they do not get anything useful.
The fact is that the gastrointestinal tract of dogs due to the lack of the necessary enzymes cannot digest fresh herbs and as a result, get vitamins.
In villages and towns, animals can get the necessary enzyme from cow cakes or horse apples. If you find your pet doing this unattractive activity for humans, reconsider the dog's diet.
Scientists could not stay away
Why dogs eat grass worries not only citizens. Scientists carried out experiments with interest, observing animals in everyday life and in laboratories. At different times a number of studies have been carried out, which revealed that:
What you need to pay attention to
With constant, systematic vomiting after eating plants from the lawn, especially if the animal has a fever, visit to the veterinarian necessarily.
Do not delay visiting the veterinary clinic if, under the same conditions, the dog looks tired, refuses food, moves economically. Dull eyes and six patches with a craving for greens is also an alarming symptom, especially if there is blood in the vomit.
What kind of plants does she eat. It is necessary to monitor the preventive treatment of the grass in the area where the dog is walking. Vegetation eaten from a lawn, generously treated with herbicides and chemicals, will add problems to both the pet and the owner at best, and at worst, death is possible. You should not allow your dog to eat grass that grows along the roads, therefore, environmentally unsafe.
I want weed, but nowhere to take
Modern cities are not buried in greenery, as they were 100 years ago. Finding a good lawn is problematic, and it is not always possible to travel with a pet to the city. In such situations departments with pet supplies come to the rescue... They feature a wide range of cat grass seeds.
Experienced counselors will give their opinion on why dogs eat grass and help you select seeds. After two weeks, the greens sown in a flower pot will be able to diversify the dog's diet.
Questions about the environmental component disappear. The owners control the process, starting from the stage of soil selection and ending with adding to food. At the pet all year round there will be delicious fresh grass.
No need to be afraid the dog eats grass. Even in ancient times, it was noticed that four-legged wards, who became lethargic, fell ill with unknown ailments, disappeared for several days. After some time, the animals returned home emaciated, but healthy.
Modern dogs, especially breeds bred artificially, are unlikely to be able to restore health in this way. But the instinct inherent in nature pushes them in the right direction. At this stage, it is important for the owner not to look for reasons why the dog eats plants, but to support it so that it recovers faster.