Most people who live with a dog have seen him on some occasion eat grass. It is not usually something worrisome, since we have all heard at some time that it is a mechanism that they use to purge when they are not feeling well or simply to purify themselves a bit. This is not said simply because of popular culture. It has been the most accepted hypothesis among veterinarians for a long time. However, the latest studies suggest that there may actually be other reasons why dogs choose to eat grass.
Are they are not dangerous eitherSo we can keep breathing easy. On the one hand, it seems that eating grass helps them get some more lacking nutrients in their diet. For example, it can happen when they are fed with food low in fiber. As for the second option, it is as simple as that maybe they like to eat grass.
The truth is that sometimes they can be seen enjoying sunbathing, lying on the grass while nibbling on some leaves. They seem to like it and there is no reason to stop them as long as we make sure there is no toxic vegetation in the area and no recent use of any kind herbicide.
Why do dogs like to eat grass?
Before looking at why they like to eat grass, it is important to clarify why the previous hypotheses have lost strength. There are several studies that contradict them.
For example, in one carried out by scientists from the University of New Englandin Australia, the case of 12 dogs that they used to eat grass frequently. The objective was to look for a reaction for the action. That is, check if after doing this they used to vomit. And the truth is that, in most cases, nothing happened. In fact, of the few who vomited, most did. after eating a meal.
On the other hand, other studies show that less than 10% of dogs that eat grass appear to be sick before eating. It does not seem to be to purge due to illness or indigestion, nor out of habit, since only 25% they tend to vomit after eating grass.
You may be lacking nutrients
Yes, it is true that they may not be sick, but they lack some nutrient. There is a study that supports this hypothesis, although the results should be taken with a grain of salt, since it was done with a single dog. It is about a poodle that, for seven years, ate grass every day and, immediately after, vomited.
However, when her diet was changed to a diet rich in fiber, automatically stopped eating grass. Therefore, it could be that she was doing it in search of this nutrient.
Maybe they just like to eat grass
It could be that dogs like to eat grass because it is written into their DNA. In fact, according to a study conducted in Yellowstone National Parkin United States, 74% of wolf feces of the park that were analyzed had remains of grass.
They may like its taste or enjoy nibbling on it. Therefore, in principle there is nothing to fear.
When should we be careful?
The ideal is to know the place where we allow them to eat grass. If it is your own garden, for example, we can avoid having toxic plantss and, in case of having used herbicides, we will not let them out.
On the other hand, if it is a park, it can be more difficult to know if herbicide has been used. there is some evidence that do not harm plants and that indicate with a color change if any of these toxic substances have been used. Or, if not, we can find out from the town hall.
On the other hand, if it is in the open field, the logical thing will be that there are no herbicides, but you do have to be careful with the type of herbs, so that there are no dangerous ones. If you want to know which plants are dangerous, both not to plant them in your garden and to avoid them in the field, you can try consulting your veterinarian.
And it is that, to take care of our furry friends, you also have to know a little bit of botany. They would do it for us if they could. What less than respond accordingly?
