Why eat grass?

[Kritrluvr]

OK, I have pondered this for way too long...so now I must ask.
Why- Oh- Why do dogs eat grass (ferns& Hibiscus ect.) only to throw up... then** be way too interested in the barf in the grass. I had a dog trainer tell me to feed spinach to curtail this behavior.
What's up with this grass eating thing ?

[IceyBlueSibes]

Some dogs will eat it when they feel sick, while some just eat it. It helps to cleanse the digestive tract, and some just like eating it (they may not always throw up). Mine will eat grass now and again. But they do eat grass when they don't feel well too.

I've never heard of the spinach thing. Sounds interesting...

[Sophie45]

Sophie has no interest in the grass, but looooves the mud and worms! yuck! I think dogs eat it because for whatever reason they like the taste, or maybe because their tummies are upset, but do we really have proof that some dogs eat grass when they have an upset stomach?

[Rivsky]

Originally Posted by Sophie45

I think dogs eat it because for whatever reason they like the taste, or maybe because their tummies are upset, but do we really have proof that some dogs eat grass when they have an upset stomach?

River had gastro a while back and during this time he ate a LOT more grass than usual - don't know if that's proof - but it is something to think about......

[Cassiepeia]

Jesse doesn't eat grass either...he's too busy vacuuming up the ants on the cement.

I'd be interested to know why they do it too.

Cass.

[Fuzz Puppy]

Some dogs enjoy the grass to eat. That's more how both my two dogs are. If they don't feel well that happens sometimes too.

[ColColt]

Eating grass couldn be hazardous if you do as me and fertilize a couple of times a year, spray for weeds, put lime out in March, etc. It may be best to leave the back yard unscathed of such chemicals for potty visits and just do the front yard!

[mrsgrubby]

Originally Posted by ColColt

Eating grass couldn be hazardous if you do as me and fertilize a couple of times a year, spray for weeds, put lime out in March, etc. It may be best to leave the back yard unscathed of such chemicals for potty visits and just do the front yard!

Yup, thats what I do... no chemicals in the back yard because Jasmine thinks she is a cow and grazes each day

[calgal]

Their ancesters ate grasses, (among other plants and berries) and covered their poop, so it's just part of their nature to do the same.........but they don't know why they do it.

[WelshCollie]

I have also wondered why dogs do this, my parents Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on occasions does this but its just usually too throw up something that she had eaten a while before. I never really thought it was anything more than to cause some sort of gag-reflex to bring up something that might be stuck etc.

Do cats do the same? or is it only dogs... just curious

[calgal]

I know nothing about cats and have never had one, but I'm sure their instincts are the same as dogs.

[IceyBlueSibes]

I think it is the same. I have seen my cats eat grass, and throw up a while later. But I've also seen them eat grass, and never have a problem.

There are multiuses to their habit LOL

[Sophie45]

My mom's cat loves to eat grass, only to, of course, throw it back up as a lovely present for us to clean up : )

[Swiftwind]

Harley and Abby really enjoy eating grass when they're on their walks (though I try not to let them, seeing as I don't know if what they're eating is poisonous or not). They love to walk on the side of the footpath where the houses are, and they will pick out all the weeds growing up against people's fences.

I'm also curious to know why Harley likes eating dirt.. it just seems so odd.

[viki irvine]

my dogs eat anything in sight including horse poo! i have always known it as, a dog eats grass they have an upset tummy, which mine usually have probably due the horse poo they enjoy so much