Every time you take your pet outside, he goes straight for your beautiful lawn. After he rolls around and smells and urinates on every tree, he proceeds to get a big mouthful of grass. Later in the day, after you have already brought him inside, you find a pile of grass-filled vomit right in the middle of your living room floor. Why do dogs eat grass? Is it necessary? Is it harmful?
Unfortunately, nobody has come up with the ultimate answer to the question: “why do dogs eat grass.” There are a number of explanations, and each seems to hold their own; although, some are questionable. It helps to understand the differences in reasoning; but, keep in mind, why your dog eats grass may be for a completely different reason than why your neighbor’s dog eats grass.
Explanation number one: dogs like the taste. Okay, that’s a fairly simple explanation. It’s safe to say that most dogs are not picky eaters; whatever falls off the dinner table is fair game. But why, with all the nice-smelling plants in your yard, would your dog choose the grass? This leads us to explanation number two: dogs are using the senses of taste and smell when eating grass. You know that your pooch marks a tree with urine as soon as he hits the lawn. If you walk around with him, he’s constantly sniffing out all the different animals that have entered your yard since his last visit. Some people believe that by eating grass your dog is using his senses of taste and smell to identify the passerby. But, your dog may not seem to be too choosy when he makes a meal out of the grass.
Explanation number three is one that generates a fairly good amount of debate: dogs are trying to rid their stomachs of a bothersome toxin. In this case, toxin is not referring to something highly poisonous or dangerous. Instead, it is merely something in the stomach that is causing discomfort. When your dog eats grass, the grass binds with the toxin. Eventually, the grass irritates the stomach enough to cause vomiting; therefore, the toxin is removed from the stomach. The debate comes in this: do dogs really know how to self-medicate? Some people believe that their dogs are, in fact, self-medicating. Many offer another explanation for the inducement of vomiting. Explanation number four: dogs simply eat the grass (out of taste, boredom, whatever) and vomiting follows.
The fifth explanation, perhaps the leading theory, is backed by many professionals and is the most in-depth. Prior to domestication, a dog was, in essence, a wolf. Wolves and other similar pack animals are carnivores. They stalk, kill, and consume their prey. Often, their prey is an herbivore. The intestines of the prey are the first item consumed by the wolves. When consuming the intestines, the wolves also consume vegetation, such as grass and fruit. For this reason, vegetation is part of a dog’s natural diet. When dogs eat grass, they are simply fulfilling a craving or something that they lack in their diet.
Now, a question you may want answered is if the consumption of grass is safe for your pet. As long as the grass has not been treated with pesticides or any like chemicals, then your pet can eat all day and be perfectly fine. The problem comes when he vomits inside your home. To slow the grass eating, you can try to purchase a pet food that contains additional plant material. Before you change his food, talk with your veterinarian first to find out how to balance your pet’s diet.
There are many explanations as to why dogs eat grass, but none have yet to be confirmed. Maybe they are lacking something in their diet, or perhaps they just like the taste. It is okay for your pet to eat grass as long as it has not been treated with chemicals, such as pesticides. You may not mind for your pet to chew, but you do mind when he vomits in your home. Speak with your veterinarian about food choices that contain more plant material. This may satisfy his craving; but, really, who knows for sure? This article was written by discount pet mall a site featuring
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