Why and why a dog eats grass: causes, consequences, is it worth fighting it

Far from cynology, people who have never kept pets are sometimes shocked, watching dogs greedily eating grass and 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 look sadly plaintively at the owner. Another moment and an attack of vomiting brings long-awaited relief.

Is it necessary to leave the dog alone with the grass after such a scene next time? Will the pet get worse? Can an 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.

Why do dogs eat grass

Grass eaten by animals and subsequent vomiting indicates that the pet:

1. Stomach disorders. Vomiting helps to remove harmful substances and bad foods from the body.
2. An unbalanced diet, in which there is an acute shortage of vitamins and minerals. Introduction to the diet of vitamin, raw vegetables and fruits often solve this problem.
3. The dog cleanses the stomach, getting rid of the hair that got into it when washing.
4. The pet likes the taste of young succulent plants (in this case, vomiting is not always present).
5. An animal has a preference for a particular species. Perhaps the disease has other roots. The type of grass and its properties will help clarify the diagnosis.
6. With a sedentary lifestyle, grass helps speed up the passage of food through the digestive tract. With this cleansing method, intestinal peristalsis is accelerated, while the plants come out of it almost immediately undigested.

What zoologists say about dogs eating grass

Dogs need enzymes and microorganisms, which are found in not fully digested grass, which predators in nature receive by eating a scar 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 the walking areas, 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 can’t digest fresh herbs and as a result, get vitamins.

In villages and villages, 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 couldn’t stay away

Why dogs eat grass worries not only citizens. Scientists carried out experiments with interest, observing animals in everyday life and laboratories. At different times a number of studies have been carried outwho found that:

1. About 22% of cases of eating grass ends in vomiting, with which rotting food and excess bile come out of the stomach. For cleaning the dog choose hard plants (thistle, wheatgrass, bluegrass, other cereal plants). The bristles of this herb irritate the walls of the stomach, which leads to vomiting.
2. Moisture and fiber, which are abundant in plants, when ingested, help animals cope with constipation, as they liquefy fecal deposits. Initially, the study was supposed to prove the opposite, that the herb strengthens loose stools.
3. It has also been proven that many dogs simply enjoy eating greens such as young nettles, carrots, cabbage and lettuce leaves, marigold flowers, and others.

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With constant, systematic vomiting after eating plants from the lawn, especially if the animal has a fever, visit to the veterinarian required

You should not delay visiting the veterinary clinic if, under the same conditions, the dog looks tired, refuses food, and moves economically. Dull eyes and six patches with a craving for greenery are 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 treatments of the grass in the area where the dog walks. 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, it is not environmentally friendly.

After walking on the grass, the animal needs careful examination. Hooked parasites (worm eggs) can cause serious illness. Often, incurable processes in the animal’s body begin after the bite of an infected tick.

I want weed, but there is nowhere to get

Modern cities are not buried in greenery, as it was 100 years ago. It is problematic to find a good lawn, and it is not always possible to go to the city with a pet. In such situations pet supply departments come to the rescue. They offer a wide range of grass seeds for cats.

Experienced consultants will give their opinion on why dogs eat grass and help pick up the seeds. After two weeks, 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. The pet will have delicious fresh grass all year round.

Do not be afraid dog eating grass. Even in ancient times, it was noticed that four-legged wards, becoming lethargic, falling ill with unknown ailments, disappeared for several days. After some time, the animals returned home emaciated, but healthy.

Modern dogs, especially artificially bred breeds, are unlikely to be able to restore health in this way. But the instinct laid down by 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.