What is better than a dog on the grass. The dog eats grass: "why" and "why" that excite the owners
Probably every dog owner has noticed that sometimes his dog starts eating grass on a walk. Is it worth it to fight this habit of your pet? Why do dogs sometimes eat grass? We will consider these questions in this article.
Why do dogs eat grass?
In nature, many predators begin to pluck greens. The dog is no exception to this rule. Many owners think that in this way their pet replenishes the missing supply of vitamins, bacteria and any microelements. There is also an opinion that this is one of the ways to brush your teeth, eliminate a certain smell from the mouth, etc.
Veterinarians and dog handlers are skeptical about such theories of dog breeders. It is unlikely that the pet is trying to improve oral hygiene in this way, and it is even more difficult to prove that the dog is bothered by the smell coming from its own mouth. They are also not in a hurry to believe in the theory about the search for the necessary substances and trace elements, since with all its intellectual potential, the dog is hardly able to understand what exactly it lacks and find the right herb. Vitamins from such food are also not absorbed, so the "nutrition" will be of little use to the dog.
In fact, dogs eat grass because they want to get rid of excess bile and thus trying to simply induce vomiting. Also, the herb helps relieve heaviness, discomfort and pressure in the stomach. The grass contains the necessary fiber and moisture. If a dog is constipated, he can also actively engage in eating grass.
Should you let your dog eat grass?
Grass eating is a natural dog habit. But do not forget that it originated in the wild, where environmental pollution has not yet gained such proportions as in the city. Therefore, if you and your pet live in an urban environment, it is better not to allow him to eat grass, as it can be heavily polluted. There can be a lot of heavy metals or chemicals in the city air, ground or rain, which may well be present on the grass as well. There is a chance of catching an infection if a sick dog or cat went to the toilet on the plant. In the grass, helminth eggs can also be found.
If your dog eats grass several times, there is not the slightest cause for concern. But if suddenly eating grass becomes a constant occurrence, it is better to consult with.
Remember - a dog can, and sometimes needs to, eat grass. But only in those cases when you are really sure that such a “delicacy” is safe for your pet!
You can often see a dog eating grass. Many dog breeders worry about this and immediately run to the vet. 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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Myths about grass-eating dogs
Do not worry about the health of your four-legged friend if he eats grass. 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. 1500 dog breeders were surveyed 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 four-legged. Research has been done on why dogs eat grass. But scientists have not yet found an exact answer to this question.
Some people believe that dogs eat grass to make up for the missing vitamins for their body, especially in the spring. But scientists did research and found that there are no enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract of four-legged animals that can digest greens. Thus, the animal cannot get useful substances from it.
It is believed that dogs eat grass to diversify their diet, replenishing the missing nutrients. But this opinion was refuted after the study. It turned out that pets eat grass regardless of the diet that their owners feed them.
Some believe that animals get rid of worms by eating greens. But domestic tailed ones, which do not have worms, eat grass with the same pleasure. So, the question of the four-legged herbal addictions remains unsolved.
Sorry, there are currently no surveys available.
Why do quadrupeds eat grass?
Owners of four-legged friends are constantly worried about why dogs eat grass, as they are primarily concerned about the health of their shaggy family members.
Norm or pathology?
Scientists around the world are researching why dogs eat grass. On their basis, several theories have been put forward.
- One of the versions of eating greens by animals is the use of hard blades of grass with discomfort in the stomach. It is assumed that by eating coarse grass, for example, sow thistle, wheatgrass, wild cereals, the animal, by irritating the walls of the stomach with blades of grass, causes vomiting. Usually, in this way, the pet tries to remove rotting food or bile from the stomach. But only 22% of dog owners surveyed confirmed that their pets vomited after eating greens, in other cases they felt good.
- Fiber, getting into the intestines of the dog, helps to thin the feces, helping with constipation. Studies have been conducted with dogs on the fact that greens strengthen the stool. One part of the animals was given food that caused loose stools, while others were fed ordinary food. Dogs eating normally ate greens more often. The second version is that four-legged people like the taste of green grass. According to a study of dog forum posts, it was concluded that four-legged friends do not always eat tough weed to induce vomiting. It has been observed that many tailed ones love to eat young nettles, cornflowers, lettuce, marigold flowers, etc.
- In addition to the fact that with the help of weed 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 gene level understand which blade of grass will be useful to them and use it. Our pets, like their ancestors - wolves, are predators that fed on herbivores. Together with the entrails of these animals, a lot of herbal remains fell into the stomach of predators. Therefore, the stomachs of wild animals are adapted to process greens. This may be the reason why the dog eats grass.
If a pet eats greens too often, you should pay attention to signs that may indicate some kind of disease:
- dull eyes;
- dull coat;
- there is blood in the vomit.
In this case, you should immediately contact the veterinarian and undergo an examination.
Eating greens daily may be linked to 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 herbs should be added to your pet's diet?
If you notice that your pet is not averse to eating green grass, choose the appropriate places for walking. These should be places located away from the roads. Engine exhaust deposits a lot of heavy metals on the grass, which can harm your pet.
Do not forget that there may be worms on the grass cover. Therefore, if there is any doubt 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, eating weed by pets has no harmful effects. Therefore, dog lovers should not worry too much if the dog eats grass, but it is better to give your pet access to it: either walk in environmentally friendly places, or buy ready-made, or grow it yourself.
Video "German Shepherd eats dandelion flowers"
On this, during a walk, he eats green grass and dandelions.
Many dog breeders, walking their pets, observe the following picture. The dog, having reached a clearing with fresh grass, enthusiastically begins to pluck it, after which most dogs begin to vomit.
The latter circumstance raises a lot of questions and well-founded concern: is everything normal, why is the dog doing this, is it sick.
Why does a dog eat grass?
There may be several reasons for this behavior.
1. Poor unbalanced diet
The dog is deficient in vitamins. Yes, ordinary weed may not be such a serious source of nutrients, but the dog is trying at least in this way to make up for the deficiency of vitamins.
Review your pet's diet. Does it contain enough nutrients? The easiest way to provide your dog with everything he needs is to switch him to premium and super-premium prepared food. Canidae dog food is a good choice, rich in natural sources of carbohydrates, amino acids, fiber and a range of vital vitamins.
Save on food is not worth it. Cheap brands will end up costing more - low-quality ingredients and an abundance of artificial colors, flavors, stabilizers and preservatives can cause serious health problems. In addition, the low nutritional value of such feeds will require more feed consumption. So the savings here will be very controversial.
Ready-made food is a great way out for dogs with special needs. Animals, like people, can be predisposed to various diseases, and it is important to choose the right food that will meet all the needs of your pet. It can be a tendency to allergies, and sensitive digestion, and the solid age of your dog, starting to experience difficulties with the musculoskeletal system. The lines of almost all modern high-end feeds contain different types of feed for a variety of needs.
2. Lack of fiber
If your dog is on a low-fiber diet, he may find a replacement by eating grass outside. High-quality dry or wet food of industrial production contains enough fiber for normal digestion and well-being of the dog.
But if you're feeding your dog natural, you'll have to add fiber to your food yourself. The best source is raw and boiled vegetables (carrots, beets), in summer you can add some cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini. Be careful with cabbage - it causes increased gas formation, so cabbage can only be added in boiled or stewed form.
To improve the digestion process, vegetable oil should also be added to the porridge with meat (one teaspoon or dessert spoon per serving is enough for a medium-sized dog).
3. Cleansing the stomach
Vomiting is an effective way to empty the stomach if the animal experiences any discomfort. This may be a consequence of overeating, eating inappropriate foods (fatty or heavy foods - flour, sweets, smoked meats).
By causing vomiting, the dog may also try to get rid of a foreign object stuck in the mouth, throat, or accidentally entered the stomach with food.
Light vomiting should not cause concern. But if your dog constantly eats grass in order to induce vomiting, it is worth seeking the advice of a veterinarian.
Should your dog eat grass?
Yes, dogs should be allowed to eat grass. Even if you are sure that your pet is getting everything he needs in his food, the dog may simply enjoy the smell and taste of grass. Of course, then this is not accompanied by incessant vomiting and obvious signs of ill health.
Safety regulations. Do not allow your dog to eat grass where the lawn is treated with chemicals, near busy roads and other unsafe areas. Choose an area away from chemicals and exhaust fumes.
When to contact the veterinarian?
If your pet is cheerful, active, full of energy, if he has an excellent appetite, and at the same time he does not miss the opportunity to eat grass, you can be calm.
You should sound the alarm in such cases:
- the dog refuses to eat;
- the dog's stool is gone;
- the dog does not stop diarrhea;
- the dog began to lose weight sharply;
- the coat has become dull, hard, disheveled or has begun to fall out;
- vomiting (attempts to vomit) does not stop even when the dog has stopped eating grass;
- the dog clearly feels bad (does not play, does not respond to favorite toys or treats).
All this may be a sign that the dog has become ill with an infectious disease (enteritis, plague, hepatitis), the dog has disorders in the functioning of internal organs (problems with the kidneys, liver, stomach), digestion is impaired due to foreign matter entering the gastrointestinal tract. body (often dogs swallow plastic bags along with the remnants of meat, or the dog ate bones), the dog has metabolic problems.
There may be other reasons as well.
It is extremely important not to diagnose or try to treat the dog yourself!
Contact your veterinarian immediately for a comprehensive examination and assistance to your pet! Remember, all processes in animals proceed much faster than in humans. And while you are thinking about the causes of the problem, the dog can become much worse.
There are a lot of phenomena in the world that were programmed by nature: a spider, in order to move from one point to another, weaves a web; after childbirth, a woman actively produces milk in the amount that her baby needs; blind kittens know how to find their mother. Have you ever wondered why a dog eats grass? Is there a scientific explanation for this phenomenon?
Version number 1. Smell
Why do dogs eat grass? There are a variety of answers to this question. Since ancient times, people have been sure: with such a gesture, the dog is trying to mask the unpleasant smell coming from the mouth.
Zoologists are perplexed about this version. It is unlikely that any animal will be embarrassed by an untidy appearance. By itself, the herb does not have the ability to eliminate odors.
Version number 2. Vitamins
There is a more plausible version of why the dog eats grass on the street. Greens help her replenish the necessary supply of vitamins, trace elements, and even cure a dangerous disease. But it is worth considering: how can an animal self-diagnose? How does she determine which vegetation she needs to eat? Zoologists do not deny the beneficial properties of grass for the body of a dog, however, they are extremely wary of such a version.
Version number 3. Cleansing
Thus, the animal tries to clear the full stomach, providing a sense of relief and comfort. But here again the question arises of how the dog can know that it is the grass that will create such an effect. Experts do not exclude the fact that the instincts inherent in this individual induce to such an act.
Version number 4. Just
For a long time, zoologists have been trying to find an answer to the question: “Why does a dog eat a lot of grass?” They are sure that you should not attach importance to this particular substance. She does it on an instinctive level, just like she gnaws at a tree, wallows in the mud, and does other unpredictable things. She cannot consciously diagnose herself and cure him with vegetation. There is another ridiculous assumption - this behavior portends an imminent cooling. However, it is foolish to believe in signs that depend on the unpredictable actions of the animal.
Useful properties of sedge
Surprisingly, the dog does not eat all the vegetation. In this regard, she is very selective. Why does a dog eat sedge grass? She is also preferred by cats, cows and other animals. This is because it has many useful properties:
It is able to cleanse the body of accumulated bile. All food, regardless of whether it is natural products or food, the dog's stomach digests with difficulty. Such vegetation will help to remove this lump of rotting food.
It contains fiber and moisture. Zoologists have proven that regular intake of sedge normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The animal will no longer suffer from constipation.
In a small amount, it contains phytoncides, and therefore, it helps to strengthen the immune system.
There is an opinion that sedge contains a lot of useful vitamins and minerals. Perhaps this is so, but they will not be transmitted to the animal. This is due to the fact that it is not digested in his stomach.
What to do if the dog is sick?
Often, caring owners ask themselves: “Why does a dog eat grass and then vomit?” Do not worry about this, such a reaction is absolutely justified. The greens move to the stomach along the alimentary tract, during which time it swells noticeably, forming a prickly clot. It tickles the mucous membrane, causing the esophagus to contract. If the animal ate grass in large quantities, then after a few minutes nausea or diarrhea will appear.
Accordingly, another question arises as to whether the animal should be limited in the use of vegetation. Firstly, it is almost impossible to do this, the dog will still insist on its own. Secondly, you should not be afraid of vomiting. This is the process of clearing the body of accumulated bile. Sedge has the same effect on animals as activated charcoal has on humans.
Another version
Based on the above, it is worth talking separately about why the dog eats sedge grass. Most likely, her stomach is overloaded: she ate too much or ate any food that makes her feel uncomfortable. Her instinct makes her smell exactly the vegetation that will help get rid of the feeling of heaviness.
The most useful herb
There are several herbs that will benefit the dog's body:
Sprouted oats.
The leaves of these crops are well digested in the dog's stomach. They have a softening effect on it: they reduce the feeling of discomfort, relieve pain and normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. This herb has a high level of fiber, moisture and phytoncides. All these substances are perfectly absorbed by the body of the animal.
Do not allow your dog to eat grass from the street. Remember that cars drive on it, other animals relieve themselves, and people's shoes are the largest carrier of bacteria. Now imagine that all these substances will fall into the esophagus of your beloved dog. The risk of poisoning and dysbacteriosis is very high. It is recommended to grow vegetation on your own. Of course, there will still be little benefit from it, but it certainly will not bring harm.
Add essential vitamins to your pet's diet. It is worth introducing natural products into her diet, and not just food. The correct fluid balance must be observed so that the dog does not experience a lack of moisture. If necessary, you need to diversify the diet with additives, but it is recommended to do this only as directed by a specialist.
Observe the interval between meals. For each age category of dogs it is different. They can start eating grass and from the fact that they experience a clear feeling of hunger.
People who are concerned about why a dog eats grass should be aware of those situations when specialist help is needed:
If the dog is sick for more than three days in a row.
If, along with vomiting, other symptoms are present: fever, weakness and drowsiness.
If the pet has diarrhea for a long time.
All these signs signal people about pet poisoning. Most likely, the animal ate harmful grass or consumed something along with it on the street.
Why does a dog eat grass? There are many reasons for this phenomenon. The most common says that she does this in order to unload the stomach. There is no need to interfere with this process. For an animal to eat vegetation in the summer is the norm. In the same way as defecate, sleep and walk regularly. Vomiting is an obvious consequence, it should not be alarming. If the condition of the animal has deteriorated sharply, then you need to seek help from a veterinarian.
All terrestrial predators sometimes feast on grass, and dogs are no exception. In the wild, this behavior is not dangerous, but in urban areas, eating grass can cause significant harm to health. How to understand why a dog eats grass, and is it worth weaning a pet from this habit?
Possible reasons according to the owners.
Many owners think that their domestic animals (not only dogs, but also cats, rodents, birds, etc.) chew plants in order to: replenish the supply of vitamins and microelements; ? recover from an illness; ? brush your teeth, eliminate the smell from the mouth.
Zoologists and veterinarians are skeptical of such theories. It is hard to imagine that a dog is embarrassed by his own smell from the mouth. It is even more naive to believe that a dog can diagnose itself and eat a certain herb that will cure the disease. Everything is clearer about vitamins - no matter what grass dogs eat, the body almost does not absorb useful substances from such “food”. Not fit stomach and intestines predators for digesting grass, in the digestive tract of a predator there are simply no necessary enzymes for splitting and assimilating greenfinch.
The herb causes contraction of the walls of the stomach.
But the grass, especially beloved by all dogs of wheatgrass, causes contraction of the walls of the stomach. Long hard blades of grass irritate the mucous membrane, causing the stomach to contract convulsively. Swallowed grass entangles the food ball, rotting in the stomach. Greens improve the outflow of bile. Therefore, many pets, feeling discomfort, heaviness or pressure in the abdomen, go to graze.
An experienced owner probably knows why his dogs eat grass, and does not interfere with such behavior. After chewing a little, the dogs deliberately induce vomiting, getting rid of the "garbage" and excess bile. Therefore, immediately after the "grazing" it is better not to go home - take a walk a little more so that the contents of the stomach are not on the carpet.
Herb as a remedy for constipation.
Also, grass is fiber and moisture necessary for constipation. After leaving the stomach, the greens, almost in their original form, enter the intestines, where they swell and bind the feces. Irritating the mucosa, greens enhance peristalsis, i.e. it is easier for the intestines to move the contents to the exit. Therefore, the fact that the dog eats grass and vilifies is not a cause for concern. Of course, if this is a one-time occurrence, and there are no other symptoms of malaise.
Should your dog eat grass?
If the dog constantly, several times a week, eats grass, be sure to undergo an examination. Perhaps the fault is the wrong diet. Maybe it's a chronic illness, which has not yet been aggravated by obvious symptoms.
What grass can dogs eat? Dogs choose grass for taste, not for the medicinal properties of a particular plant. Fortunately, poisonous herbs rarely grow in cities, from this side the danger is minimal. But on the other hand, in the rain, earth and air of the city, it is full of heavy metals, toxins and other filth that the pet swallows, regaling itself with greenfinch. Grass can be poisoned by chemicals. And also, if a dog eats grass on the street, it can catch any infection (a sick cat slept on the lawn, the dog peed) or swallow helminth eggs. Therefore, it is possible to allow a pet to chew grass only outside the city, and only if the dog is vaccinated.
An alternative opinion about the reasons for eating grass by a dog.
The most adequate explanation for why a dog eats grass is intestinal and digestive problems, as well as a lack of fiber. However, nowadays most dogs are well maintained and fed a balanced diet. In this connection, it can be assumed that the body of a dog or other pet does not lack any vitamins or trace elements. There is also no scientific evidence that eating grass in dogs causes vomiting, as claimed by the American Kennel Club. Although eating grass does cause vomiting and stomach contractions in some dogs.
It is possible that a person simply evaluates such an act from his "human" point of view: after all, a dog likes cartilage from a garbage can, and even the smell of dirty linen or socks. A person does not understand such behavior, but a dog or cat may well like to do this and enjoy it.
It may well be that dogs and cats have a genetic predisposition to the taste of grass. After all, predators received it along with the contents of the stomachs of their victims. Therefore, with a noticeable pet interest in grass or home flowers, it is quite possible to try adding vegetables to his diet.