DOGSAFE's demo dog, Monty, writes a Q & A guest post this week on why dogs eat grass. Welcome Monty:
Q. Hey Monty, I have a 4 month old chocolate lab puppy who is always eating grass; in our backyard, the park and sometimes he vomits as a result. Why do dogs do this and is eating grass harmful to my puppy?
A. It's no big deal. Some of us dogs eat grass and some don't. This is normal dog stuff. Some dogs who eat grass do vomit after eating it (I've seen my buddies devour the green stuff which ends in a nasty hurl) and some dogs who eat grass don't vomit (I don't, but do puke after eating bamboo leaves--- that's another story). Same reason my human would vomit after eating maple walnut ice cream yet her friend says she loves it (the maple walnut ice cream that is). Different dogs, different reactions.
As a puppy, I would pick up sticks, leaves, grass and anything I could get my mouth on (don't got hands to check things out like you humans) and munch and chew and swallow just cause it was fun. C'mon, you guys stroke the 100% natural cotton while browsing at the Gap and squish Whole Foods' avocadoes, let us chow down on the Kentucky Bluegrass!
I totally LOVE moist grass, especially when we go for an early morning run and I slurp the dew off the grass -- YEAH! Another time I was eating the grass because somebody had spilled something awesome on it (think it was a cream soda slurpee) and my human didn't know. Shhhhh. Hee Hee.
Most of us get pretty balanced diets with today's foods so we dont HAVE to eat grass to make up for lack of nutrients in our diets. Some dogs are simply going to eat turf because they like it. Why would your dog eat sod if it just makes him spew you ask? Dunno, maybe your dog is just odd. Does he eat the grass in order to make himself throw up, like if he's got a sore tummy, you ask? Dunno, maybe, or maybe your dog is just odd.
The only time my human stops me from eating grass is if she thinks the lawn has pesticides, fertilizers or other chemicals on it; those are poisonous. And by the way, if your dog upchucks when not eating grass, especially if he is not eating his normal food, has the runs or seems more tired than normal, or if he vomits a LOT, there is projectile vomit or there is blood in the vomit, take him to your vet. If he only vomits after eating regular ol' sod and it's just regular ol' vomit, dont worry, perhaps even take the time to share in his fun by getting down and rolling in it (the grass that is).
Slurps,
Monty
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Hey, why not prepare for summer fun and join us for a DOGSAFE canine first aid course? Check out all our courses, find your closest instructor or register for distance education (available across Canada and United States).
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© 2012 Michelle Sevigny. DOGSAFE Canine First Aid. www.dogsafe.ca. Reprint permission granted with full copyright intact.
Photo by Michelle Sevigny
Q. Hey Monty, I have a 4 month old chocolate lab puppy who is always eating grass; in our backyard, the park and sometimes he vomits as a result. Why do dogs do this and is eating grass harmful to my puppy?
A. It's no big deal. Some of us dogs eat grass and some don't. This is normal dog stuff. Some dogs who eat grass do vomit after eating it (I've seen my buddies devour the green stuff which ends in a nasty hurl) and some dogs who eat grass don't vomit (I don't, but do puke after eating bamboo leaves--- that's another story). Same reason my human would vomit after eating maple walnut ice cream yet her friend says she loves it (the maple walnut ice cream that is). Different dogs, different reactions.
As a puppy, I would pick up sticks, leaves, grass and anything I could get my mouth on (don't got hands to check things out like you humans) and munch and chew and swallow just cause it was fun. C'mon, you guys stroke the 100% natural cotton while browsing at the Gap and squish Whole Foods' avocadoes, let us chow down on the Kentucky Bluegrass!
I totally LOVE moist grass, especially when we go for an early morning run and I slurp the dew off the grass -- YEAH! Another time I was eating the grass because somebody had spilled something awesome on it (think it was a cream soda slurpee) and my human didn't know. Shhhhh. Hee Hee.
Most of us get pretty balanced diets with today's foods so we dont HAVE to eat grass to make up for lack of nutrients in our diets. Some dogs are simply going to eat turf because they like it. Why would your dog eat sod if it just makes him spew you ask? Dunno, maybe your dog is just odd. Does he eat the grass in order to make himself throw up, like if he's got a sore tummy, you ask? Dunno, maybe, or maybe your dog is just odd.
The only time my human stops me from eating grass is if she thinks the lawn has pesticides, fertilizers or other chemicals on it; those are poisonous. And by the way, if your dog upchucks when not eating grass, especially if he is not eating his normal food, has the runs or seems more tired than normal, or if he vomits a LOT, there is projectile vomit or there is blood in the vomit, take him to your vet. If he only vomits after eating regular ol' sod and it's just regular ol' vomit, dont worry, perhaps even take the time to share in his fun by getting down and rolling in it (the grass that is).
Slurps,
Monty
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey, why not prepare for summer fun and join us for a DOGSAFE canine first aid course? Check out all our courses, find your closest instructor or register for distance education (available across Canada and United States).
If you're not already subscribed, sign up here to receive future Dogsafe articles directly to your inbox or join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter.
© 2012 Michelle Sevigny. DOGSAFE Canine First Aid. www.dogsafe.ca. Reprint permission granted with full copyright intact.
Photo by Michelle Sevigny
