[rose]

Most dogs love to eat grass, it helps in thier digestive systems. So it is a good thing. Again keep in mind - balance in all things. A little grass goes a long way. Dont encourage "goat" behaviour, but also dont worry if you see a few strands of grass in their droppings.
Rose & Maverick & Mariah

[Todd]

my understanding is that dogs eat grass if they have an upset stomach. They eat the grass so it makes then throw up to make them feel better.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Todd

my understanding is that dogs eat grass if they have an upset stomach. They eat the grass so it makes then throw up to make them feel better.

This is true. Primary reason for eating grass is to help with upset stomach or to clear blockage ie: intestines which on occasion you will see grass in a dogs stool otherwise and more often you will see a dog regurgitate the grass shortly after eating. It serves much the same was as fiber in what we eat to help clean out the system.

[Woolsy]

You are correct Todd. From the previous answers on this topic, dogs only eat grass for them to throw up the bad things that are messing up their stomach. Rose might be thinking of another kind of animal and not a dog. Grass is not a part of the diet of dogs.

To make this simple, we humans take medicine when we are sick. But we don't consume those medicines as a part of our diet or else we will get sick from them. I guess this is the same with dogs.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Woolsy

You are correct Todd. From the previous answers on this topic, dogs only eat grass for them to throw up the bad things that are messing up their stomach. Rose might be thinking of another kind of animal and not a dog. Grass is not a part of the diet of dogs.

To make this simple, we humans take medicine when we are sick. But we don't consume those medicines as a part of our diet or else we will get sick from them. I guess this is the same with dogs.

I agree with Rose---Dogs don't just eat grass when they are sick and it is good for them for other reasons too! Am pasting here a copy of a post I posted in another thread last June on this same topic:
Silicon is found in your dog's bones, hair, nails, and teeth. It helps heal wounds and protects against skin disorders. If your dog has something foreign in her system, such as worms, an infection from an abscess, or a bacterial infection, silicon will work to eliminate the foreign object from her system. Silicon is a type of sand that is found in dirt and the stem of certain grasses and plants. When your dog eats dirt, grass, or plants, she may be adding silicon to her system to help her eliminate a foreign object. Try to steer her away from grass. Dogs do not digest grass well, and the sharp edges on the blades of grass irritate the throat and intestines. Be sure she has access to pesticide-free dirt and plants; if eating these substances continues for any lenghth of time, bring your dog to your vet. ENd of quote. Mine eat grass too--I even plant it inside during the winter----WHEAT GRASS that is!! My Corky helps himself and it seems to be when he wants to throw something up ( and when he gets like this--he is looking for just anything he can find--on the floor--not just the wheat grass so I really do think he is doing this to throw up! I also treat this wheat grass as a greens addition to their raw food diet---mix in 'pulverized' with their regular meal at times.
Have you never seen a dog eating grass just for the pure pleasure of it?
And also maybe craving it because it needs more silicon.

And if you would care to see the whole thread done on this subject back in June of 09: dog eating grass

[Woolsy]

Corky/Max, I appreciate the explanation about silicon that the grasses have to help the dogs. But there is one line that confuses me. The first sentences are supporting the thought that dogs need grass to get the needed silicon. Now when I get in the middle of the post, I read this part which seems to be contradicting the former sentences.

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Try to steer her away from grass. Dogs do not digest grass well, and the sharp edges on the blades of grass irritate the throat and intestines.

I hope this was just an error.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Woolsy

Corky/Max, I appreciate the explanation about silicon that the grasses have to help the dogs. But there is one line that confuses me. The first sentences are supporting the thought that dogs need grass to get the needed silicon. Now when I get in the middle of the post, I read this part which seems to be contradicting the former sentences.



I hope this was just an error.

quote: (This article was copied from the net or a newsletter I get-can't remember):

Silicon is a type of sand that is found in dirt and the stem of certain plants and grasses When your dog eats dirt, grass or plants, she may be adding silicon to her system to help her eliminate a foreign object. Try to steer her away from grass. Dogs do not digest grass well, and the sharp edges on the blades of grass irritate the throat and intestines. Be sure she has access to pesticide-free dirt and plants; if eating these substances continues for any lenghth of time, bring your dog to your vet. In my words here-->If the dog keeps eating these substances--may have a foreign object that it can't get rid of and better check it out as it is unable to get it out (obstruction?) by the silicon alone!

It took me a couple of 'readings' to figure out the same thing you are seeing but if you will note that plants and dirt are also mentioned and best to let the dog have access to them over too much grass.
Just because the dog is eating sharp blades of grass doesn't mean it is reccommended but to try steer them to eat other plants and dirt instead.
That is the way I finally figured it out anyway. I am not necessarily agreeing with the 'author' about not eating the grass but see it as a reminder of sorts to not let them eat 'tons' of it! If the dog is finding and eating grass--They may need it to do a little irritating I am thinking--esp. if they are eating it to help them throw-up.--But I wouldn't want them to eat it all the time. And I am also thinking that the dog should have natural instincts about it too---If the dog is lacking something (silicone, etc) it would pick what would help the best I imagine. That's my take on it anyhow!

[Woolsy]

I'm glad that we are on the same page now that dog's diet doesn't really compose of grass. They only eat grass when they lack something like silicone or they have upset stomach. I guess this would close this topic.

[Todd]

Here's an interesting article I thought I'd share regarding this subject from a vet;

There’s a lot of debate about why dogs eat grass. Some dogs seem to act like mini lawnmowers, eating grass at every opportunity. Others dogs eat grass only occasionally, subsequently throwing it up.

So do dogs eat grass to throw up? This is a debatable issue. This wisegeek author has observed her dog fling himself at the door to get out to grass and eat a few mouthfuls, usually when his stomach is upset. He also appears to do it when he has something stuck in his throat. The end goal of the dog seems to be to throw up.

There actually appears to be two types of grass eating behavior in dogs. Some dogs take a few nibbles, while others eat quickly, barely chewing the grass. Unchewed grass often translates to near instant vomiting. Dogs that are careful grazers, on the other hand, may not get sick from grass.

The latter case suggests that some dogs eat grass because they enjoy it. Most dogs don’t need it to supplement their diets, but because dog diets are primarily made up of herbivores, that grassy taste may be reminiscent of the cattle or lamb product they had for dinner. Some dogs also enjoy green vegetables like broccoli.

If your dogs eat grass on a regular basis, this could suggest dietary imbalance, though many vets might dismiss it. You may want to consider giving the dogs some green vegetables if they appear to want “something green.” Cooking the vegetables first may make them more digestible, resulting in less vomiting.

It’s also important to be careful when your dogs eat grass regularly. Grass from manicured lawns can contain fertilizers and pesticides, which can be toxic to dogs. Instead of allowing “grazing” behavior on lawns, consider providing some doggy grass at home that is not treated with chemicals. Also, if your dogs eat grass all the time, don’t walk them on lawns that have been recently treated with chemicals. Most of these chemicals will break down in a few days, but during the first day or two after treatment, grass-eating behavior could translate to more than tummy upset.

[CorkyMax]

Silicon
Effects: aids the body with wound healing, fighting skin problems and infections, keeps bones, cartilage, tendons and artery walls healthy and supports the immune system.
Deficiency: teeth, bone and joint problems, hardening of the arteries. When dogs eat grass or dirt, they often have a need for additional silicon in their diet.
Toxicity: None known.
Sources: whole grains, beetroot, alfalfa, leafy green vegetables.

[Cait]

Ive always herd it was a old wives tale that they ate grass because they had a upset tummy or they were missing something in there diet so they supplement it with grass

[alliswell]

My dog crops grass like a cow. He eats it with gusto whenever he encounters it. This habit of his doesn’t bother me at all, since it seems to have no ill-effects on him whatsoever - although, when I’m standing outside in the cold waiting for him to relieve himself during one of his infrequent small-hours toilet calls, it’s hard not to hop impatiently from foot to foot while he enthusiastically tears out the mandatory five to seven mouthfuls of grass, chews thoroughly, and swallows, instead of just getting on with the task at hand. Unless your dog’s digestion is suffering unwanted upheavals from his grass-eating habit, it’s not really a problem. Dogs have been eating grass since the dawn of time with few ill-effects, aside from the odd bout of vomiting - and really, this is one of those things that seems to bother owners a lot more than their dogs; most dogs, will simply re-ingest the vomitus and go about their day unfazed. Truthfully, nobody really knows why dogs eat grass. There are a variety of theories as to why animals that are widely regarded as carnivores would willingly consume moderate quantities of vegetation. One of said theories pertains to the fact that dogs are not, actually, carnivores. They’re omnivores, which literally means, “eat anything”. This theory postulates that the modern-day dog eats grass in a deliberate attempt to supplement his diet with nutrients that are missing from his daily meals. The main crux, thrust, and gist of this argument centers around the idea that dogs, as omnivorous animals, are eating too much meat and need to balance this out with some greenery on the side, much as you or I might crave a nice tart salad to go with our steak. If you ask me, this is nonsense. First of all, most of us feed our dogs primarily on kibble, which contains the full spectrum of fully-absorbable nutrients that dogs require. If you’re feeding your dog on meat alone, whether canned or fresh, there may be some substance to this theory – dogs need a wide range of vitamins and minerals for optimum health, most of which are not contained within fresh meat. It’s true that canned meat has some added nutrients; the main problem with canned food is that it’s too soft and jelly-like to maintain healthy teeth and bowels. Dogs fed primarily on canned food are far more prone to developing dental disease at a relatively early age. As far as dog food goes, unless your dog’s on a specific, prescribed diet, kibble should constitute the main part of his diet – you can add a few spoonfuls of canned meat for variety and temptation, if you like. Another popular theory is that dogs use grass as a sort of natural emetic: that, since a nauseous dog lacks the phalangeal structure necessary for the good old ‘finger down the throat’ move, he’ll resort to nature’s bounty as an alternative. It’s true that grass does sometimes make dogs vomit – those tickly stems can irritate the stomach lining, and there have been a few occasions when I’ve seen dogs vomit up a chunk of something that’s proved to be indigestible, and along with the offending article, there’s also been a clump of grass in the vomit too. However – and I’m sorry to pour cold water over this one too – I have to say that this is pure conjecture, and somewhat nonsensical conjecture at that. Dogs are perfectly capable of vomiting all by themselves, without the assistance of grass; I’ve seen too many dogs enjoying a post-prandial mouthful of mixed lawn greens, without any regurgitational side effects, to lend the theory any credence. If you’re worried that eating grass is going to hurt your dog, you can lay that concern to rest right now. The one possible downside is that he’ll irritate his throat or stomach lining, but this issue will only cause him strife for a second or two at most: he’ll either cough the problem away, or will toss his cookies without further ado (which rarely bothers most dogs). Really, grass-eating is nothing to worry about – it’s a life-long habit with many dogs, and if yours does decide that it’s no longer in his best interests, he’ll simply stop eating it all by himself. You may need to keep an eye on him around recently treated lawns, or anywhere where nasties like pesticides, snail bait, and rat poison could be around, since most garden chemicals are highly toxic to dogs. Ideally, you’d be keeping an eye on him anyway if he’s around those substances, but grass-eaters are at higher risk than most since they’re more likely to ingest plant matter that herbicides and other toxic chemicals have been sprayed onto. In addition to this, it’s also best if he’s kept away from those clumps of dried-out grass that lie around on the lawn after it’s been freshly mowed. It shouldn’t be a problem if the grass is mowed by a push-mower; but if it’s been through a gas-operated machine, the grass will be tainted with petrol fumes and grease, which at best will taste horrible and at worst can make him pretty sick. If your dog’s grass eating is really bothering you, presumably this is out of concern for your lawn, rather than your dog, since there’s ample evidence that dogs suffer no adverse effects from frequent grassy snacks. There are a couple of things you can try doing to reduce his desire to supplement his diet with eatables from the backyard – but, because this is one area of dogdom that nobody really knows that much about, the success rate is more hit-and-miss than guaranteed: * Try varying his diet slightly. Unlike humans, dogs do not need a widely varied diet to keep them “interested” in food; they’re creatures of routine, and diet is no exception to this rule. However, since one of the theories that attempts to explain why dogs eat grass is centered around a lack of nutritional variety, you can try introducing various tasty vegetables into his food: most dogs enjoy tomatoes, carrots (either steamed or raw) and chopped apples. Be sure to stay well away from grapes, raisins, and onions, since these are toxic to dogs. * Supervise him whenever he’s around grass. This may not be a particularly user-friendly option, especially for off-lead walks; you’ll have to keep a real eagle-eye on your canine walking buddy to make sure he’s not making a dash for the greenery. Realistically, there’s not really a lot you can do about your dog’s grass-eating habit. The general consensus from the experts seems to be that grass-eating, although somewhat of an enigmatic pastime to us humans, is just ‘one of those things’ as far as your dog is concerned. It won’t do him any harm, and you can be sure that if he’s eating it, he’s enjoying it – so there’s really not a lot to be said for depriving him of that simple pleasure.