You leave the dog outside and he or she immediately runs to a patch of long grass and begins grazing after having finished a full-course meal minutes ago. Why does this happen? Is the dog still hungry? Is he or she not feeling well? Will the grass cause the dog to vomit?
Don’t fret. Dogs have eaten grass for thousands of years and there is no proof that it is bad for them. As long as the grass has not been treated with herbicides, pesticides and insecticides, the worst that will happen is that your pet will vomit.
Veterinarians really don’t know why dogs eat grass so the mystery continues until further research is done. However, experts do say it can be a matter of the dog’s diet being too low in fiber, an upset stomach or the fact that your pet just likes the taste of grass.
Animals are much like humans in that they have a natural instinct to seek out foods and nutrients that their body is lacking. Research has shown that dogs that don’t get sufficient fiber in their regular diets are likely to eat more grass. Try adding fiber to their diet by including fresh vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, celery and lettuce.
Dogs will frequently search for grass if they have an upset stomach or are too full. Experts say that vomiting occurs because dogs have sensitive nerve endings or neuro receptors in their stomach that are “tickled” by the long, thin green strips. The tickling somehow stimulates the stomach and causes it to react to chemical, textures and acidity.
Experts say that healthy dogs thoroughly chew the grass and refrain from vomiting while sick dogs tend to gobble the grass down whole. When the prickly stalks of grass enter the stomach and tickle the neuro receptors, vomiting occurs.
In the wild, the ability to vomit can be a lifesaver. Dogs can’t call the vet and make an appointment because they don’t feel well. Vomiting is a means of ridding the body of whatever caused the stomach upset in the first place. Vomiting up toxins or other deadly substances can mean the difference between life and death.
Dogs are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and plants. They are scavengers by nature. In the wild, they scavenge for prey. Some of the animal prey they feed on are herbivores that eat plant matter. When the dog consumes a plant-eating animal, he or she also consumes the plant matter present in the prey’s digestive tract.
Researchers have found evidence that dogs get cravings for certain foods just as humans do. Grass was a regular part of the diet of the ancestors of today’s canines, so it does make sense that your pet just has a hankering for some good greens.
Why not try a home experiment and conduct a little of your own research? Watch your dog when he or she eats grass. Do he or she gobble it whole or thoroughly chew it? Are there times he or she eats more grass than others? Does eating the grass make the dog vomit?
If you’re lucky, you’ll come to a conclusion that will help you better understand your dog’s dietary needs. If all else fails, you are back to where you started. You have a dog that eats grass and you are as baffled as the professionals that research the issue.
Related posts:
- How to Remove Urine Stains from Grass (and Prevent them!)
- Why do Dogs Get Sick After Eating Chocolate?
- How to Stop Puppy Poop Eating
- Good Foods to Feed a Puppy When She is Sick
- Stop A Puppy From Eating Shoes
