Why do dogs eat grass?

Woolsy · 02-07-2010

I noticed that dogs eat grass once in a while. Is it a part of their diet to eat grass? Why do they eat grass anyway?

Yogi · 02-07-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolsy

I noticed that dogs eat grass once in a while. Is it a part of their diet to eat grass? Why do they eat grass anyway?

Eating grass is common for a few reasons. Many times it helps with upset stomach to regurgitate. Helps in passing stool. So long as the grass has no chemicals on it, it is safe and common. My Pinschers sometimes look as if they are grazing when you see several doing it all at the same time. I have seen this for many years and in the long run, it is helpful for them.

CorkyMax · 02-07-2010

Here is a link to a thread done in this forum almost 6 months ago that you might be interested in reading:
dog eating grass

!dogbreeds · 02-08-2010

that is the basic things which dogs usually do .
no need to worry, they just love eating green things.

Woolsy · 02-08-2010

Thanks for the link. I had the feeling that this topic has been brought up already but I was a bit lazy to search for it. Anyway, I'm glad that I don't need to worry about the dogs getting sick when they eat grasses.

Are there any specific grass that they should avoid?

CorkyMax · 02-08-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolsy

Thanks for the link. I had the feeling that this topic has been brought up already but I was a bit lazy to search for it. Anyway, I'm glad that I don't need to worry about the dogs getting sick when they eat grasses.

Are there any specific grass that they should avoid?

Naturally no grass that has been sprayed with chemicals, etc. I am not 100% sure of what grass to avoid if any--Think the dog would know which to leave alone anyhow. Can anyone verify that? I think they do have favorites though--am thinking of couch grass (another name for quack grass?) I grow wheat grass in the house in the winter for them to munch on. Lol, Corky will help himself every so often when his stomach is bothering him. And I throw some in the mini-blender when I crush/pulverize the raw veggies I feed with the raw meat at their supper meal sometimes. (Hey, if anyone else raw feeds-Hope you throw in clove of garlic at times in this blender full of veggies to pulverize!)

Woolsy · 02-09-2010

I thought garlic is bad for dogs? I read from somewhere that garlic and onions will create anemia to the dogs. But I guess this depends on the quantity that is eaten by dogs. How much garlic can we place in a dog buffet that won't hurt them?

CorkyMax · 02-09-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolsy

I thought garlic is bad for dogs? I read from somewhere that garlic and onions will create anemia to the dogs. But I guess this depends on the quantity that is eaten by dogs. How much garlic can we place in a dog buffet that won't hurt them?

Like everything else--there are pros and cons on giving garlic to dogs--(a lot of controversy!!) I have given my 2 dogs garlic in moderation for a good 8-10 years now---no ill effects and hopefully a lot of good benefits. If you want to know about garlic--Put dogs/garlic in your browser. I just did and there are all kinds (pros and cons) of answers there and the experiences that some dog owners have as well. I am sure all your questions on it will be answered! But you will have to use common sense and decide for yourself!

Onions are a no-no for the reason of the anemia that you mentioned. And true, garlic is of the onion family but still some of the properties are different and not as bad. There are many good things connected with the garlic that I will give it to my dogs but not a whole lot!! You may see some info on garlic in a thread I did a while back on foods that are hazardous to your dog--but still hope you put the words dogs/garlic in your browser too! I am going now to find the thread and paste the link here. There are a lot of things in this long list that would be good to know about--many I am sure you never thought about! Wii be right back here with the link in a minute.

Foods that are hazardous to a dog

Woolsy · 02-10-2010

Thanks for the explanation and the link. I really appreciate it!

I read the thread that you have posted and it reminded me of the method of my mother to induce vomiting. You mentioned about giving hydrogen peroxide to the dog for it to regurgitate the bad food inside its stomach. My mother will dilute a 1 tablespoon of sugar with water and that is the one that she forcefully feed to our dog. After a few moments, the dog will regain its strength and throw up the bad food it has eaten. Do you think this is okay for the dog? You have written salt there and not sugar so I'm quite confused.

CorkyMax · 02-10-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woolsy

Thanks for the explanation and the link. I really appreciate it!

I read the thread that you have posted and it reminded me of the method of my mother to induce vomiting. You mentioned about giving hydrogen peroxide to the dog for it to regurgitate the bad food inside its stomach. My mother will dilute a 1 tablespoon of sugar with water and that is the one that she forcefully feed to our dog. After a few moments, the dog will regain its strength and throw up the bad food it has eaten. Do you think this is okay for the dog? You have written salt thereWHERE??!! and not sugar so I'm quite confused.

You have me confused also. Please copy and paste in a reply so I can see what you are referring too.

I sure don't think I mentioned hydrogen peroxide at all! Please tell me where you saw this! I have never given, nor will I ever give that!! If you think you saw that in that thread---Please direct me to which number that is in that long post.---Or better yet copy and paste that info too. Not sure I would ever give a whole tablespoon of sugar either--not very good to give so much 'sweet' to a dog.

Yogi · 02-10-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

You have me confused also. Please copy and paste in a reply so I can see what you are referring too.

I sure don't think I mentioned hydrogen peroxide at all! Please tell me where you saw this! I have never given, nor will I ever give that!! If you think you saw that in that thread---Please direct me to which number that is in that long post.---Or better yet copy and paste that info too. Not sure I would ever give a whole tablespoon of sugar either--not very good to give so much 'sweet' to a dog.

Hydrogem Peroxide is given to induce vomiting when a dog has ingested poison ie: rat or mice. It should really not be used any other time. This is a standard home remedy as most do not have charcoal lying around. Sugar water is directing in a sense into the blood stream sort of like using Kayro syrup. Which is used when a dog is having a hypoglycemic seizure.
I have never really seen it work to induce vomiting but that I guess does not mean it couldn't but would be worried about the sugar intake as you mention Corky/Max, it may be high.

Woolsy · 02-11-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

You have me confused also. Please copy and paste in a reply so I can see what you are referring too.

I sure don't think I mentioned hydrogen peroxide at all! Please tell me where you saw this! I have never given, nor will I ever give that!! If you think you saw that in that thread---Please direct me to which number that is in that long post.---Or better yet copy and paste that info too. Not sure I would ever give a whole tablespoon of sugar either--not very good to give so much 'sweet' to a dog.

I agree that the thread is very long but you can find it here:

http://www.i-love-dogs.com/forums/68560-post4.html

The hydrogen peroxide and salt are found in this part of the thread. I will copy what you have written as you have requested.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Quote:

To induce vomiting, give hydrogen peroxide at 1 teaspoon per 10# of body weight. If your pet doesn't vomit in 10 mins., repeat again. NEVER do more than 2 treatments of peroxide.

About the salt

Quote:

You can also try salt: dilute 1 teaspoon of salt in a tablespoon of water per every 10# of body weight. (Now cautious me thinks this is a lot of salt AND TOO MUCH SALT IS POISON TO YOUR DOG TOO!!---that would be 2 tablespoons of salt for a 60# dog--Don't remember how much salt CAN EVEN BE FATAL but don't think it is a whole lot---I WOULD DEFINITELY FIND OUT BEFORE I WOULD GIVE THAT MUCH SALT--maybe because it is expected to be thrown-up that it wouldn't hurt but I for one would have to find out 1st about it!!!--SOUNDS PRETTY IFFY FOR ME!!

CorkyMax · 02-11-2010

Quote: I read the thread that you have posted and it reminded me of the method of my mother to induce vomiting. You mentioned about giving hydrogen peroxide to the dog for it to regurgitate the bad food inside its stomach. My mother will dilute a 1 tablespoon of sugar with water and that is the one that she forcefully feed to our dog. After a few moments, the dog will regain its strength and throw up the bad food it has eaten. Do you think this is okay for the dog? You have written salt there and not sugar so I'm quite confused.

ops: Sorry, guess I did post about the salt--Guess it has been about 8 months since I posted about it and kind of forgot about it and then I couldn't figure out about the sugar because I knew I would never give sugar and I didn't have any comments on sugar there---You are going to have to talk to your mom about the sugar--What I posted was what it was --no sugar mentioned. The thread was about what was bad to feed/give your dog. While doing some research on the 'poisons' (no-no's!) I came across what to do to try and get the poison out of your dog and thought it was a good thing to post there. I had forgotten about it and I don't like what you have to give to get the dog to throw up---so kind of threw me when you mentioned the hydrogen peroxide and also the salt. And if you will notice at the time I posted on the salt--You can tell the way I felt about it--the comments I made (cautions -to me anyway!) And as far as using peroxide---I guess if it is a matter of life or death to get the dog to throw up and that is the only way you have at that time to do it--Have to do it if no choice! Note Yogi's comments in his post here on the peroxide. Sugar as well---Did your dog have diabetes/low blood sugar when your mom gave the sugar--If the dog was on insulin and it influenced the blood sugar to drop too low--she might give sugar to stop the dog from shock/passing out--going into a coma--which could be deadly. I have diabetes so know something about it. You need something to raise the low blood sugar fast ---In humans the best thing would be orange juice but doubt if you could get a dog to take that---thus sugar water! And I also don't know why sugar would cause the dog to throw up----Like I said --maybe it was to raise the blood sugar and had nothing to do with the throwing up part. Lol, maybe you were a little kid then and didn't know exactly why she gave the sugar? Anyway I wouldn't give my dogs sugar to have them throw-up. I don't see how this would have the desired effect anyhow. But you do have my curiosity up----Can you get the 'scoop' from your mom on things!? The words you used-'will regain it's strength' also makes me think it may of been under a low blood sugar attack which would make it weak and about to pass out.

Yogi · 02-11-2010

Salt is what is used to help with a dog vomiting. Until I saw the other posts on this I had never heard of using sugar as this is more prone to go directly to the blood stream where it would not have much effect on the stomach. Salt though goes straight to the stomach when diluted with water.

Woolsy · 02-14-2010

I should have read this yesterday because I and my mom just talked on the phone yesterday. I will ask her what is her reason why she gave our dogs sugar whenever they are sick. It didn't happened once but many times and there are times wherein I would hold the dog's mouth for my mom to pour the diluted sugar.

I was also shocked when I read about hydroxide peroxide because I think that would poison the dog instead of curing it. I would rather use the salt than feed my dog with hydrogen peroxide. Anyway, thanks for giving those advices because they are really eye-openers.

Yogi · 02-14-2010

The reason behind Peroxide is that it does not stay down and induces vomiting which when this occurs the peroxide comes back up with it.

CorkyMax · 02-15-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogi

The reason behind Peroxide is that it does not stay down and induces vomiting which when this occurs the peroxide comes back up with it.

YEH--That makes good sense--Guess the initial reaction I had was not the right way to think---Just know what it tastes/feels like and that caused my 1st reaction, plus I would never swallow it myself!