Dogs Eating Grass All The Time
It s possible that they simply like the taste.
Dogs eating grass all the time. Some vets suggest dogs eat grass to make up for a nutritional deficiency but even dogs that eat well balanced diets will eat grass. The fact is that even if your dog has a well balanced diet she may still go for the green stuff on a regular basis. The main reason puppies and younger dogs do it is boredom rather than because they re unwell or have a nutritional deficiency. A food containing puzzle toy that challenges the dog will provide mental stimulation and relieve boredom.
Over ingesting them can lead to intestinal blockage and bloat. Dogs eat grass to purge their digestive systems and they may do so for a variety of different reasons including. While most experts consider grass eating an acceptable or normal behavior among dogs some cases are actually not normal. It s usually preceded by signs of nausea such as drooling licking lips and swallowing excessively.
Whether dogs are bored lonely or anxious it s often noted that they grass eating increases as owner contact time decreases. What can owners do for these grazing canines. Many dogs have a condition known as pica which means they eat things that aren t food including dirt feces toys and grass. They tend to eat more grass in the morning most events noted in studies were in the morning.
In adult dogs it could be any of these things or simply because they like the taste or feel of grass. Vomiting may occur directly after eating or anytime thereafter. To ease nausea or feelings of sickness. Such cases entail eating a lot of grasses.
Most experts agree however that grass eating is normal canine behavior and that this type of pica usually doesn t cause too many if any problems. When considering how much grass dogs eat and when it is clear that dogs eat more grass before their usual mealtime. Some dogs may eat grass possibly to protect the esophagus because the grass can cover sharp objects like bone shards when the dog vomits. So even if you re feeding your dog well they might still fancy some fiber or greens.
For anxious dogs a new toy or an old t shirt with his owners familiar scent may provide a modicum of comfort. Dogs eating grass is actually quite common it has been observed in wild dogs too and may be completely natural and this form of pica does not usually cause too many problems. Lots of dogs and puppies eat grass and in most cases this isn t a problem.