Dog Eating Grass and Vomiting – A Helpful Guide

 

Dog eating grass and vomiting

One of the possible reasons is the fact that they simply want to vomit. This theory is not widely accepted since most people don’t think dogs are smart enough to try and treat themselves.

Also, many dogs are able to eat grass without vomiting, meaning the grass would not work as a suitable medicine.

 

Those who subscribe to this theory are often unable to decide whether dogs actively choose to eat grass in order to vomit or whether they vomit because they ate grass.

In this guide, we will examine the reasons why dogs eat grass and the possible remedies to this condition.

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Evolution

There has not been much research done on the reasons why dogs eat grass. However, tracing the evolutionary history of dogs has helped shed some light on the subject.

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The closest relative of the dog is the wild wolf, and this particular animal is known to eat plants. Usually, it will consume grass and other plants when eating herbivore prey.

 

In fact, wolves eat all parts of their prey, including the contents in the stomach and intestines.

It is possible that the species requires plants to meet some of their nutritional needs. Consumption of plants could also help them get rid of intestinal parasites.

 

The grass pushes out the parasites in the wolf’s upper and lower digestive systems. Since dogs are very close to wolves in evolution, they may also require plant matter for these same purposes.

Contrary to popular opinion, dogs eating grass and vomiting does not happen frequently.

 

In most cases, the dog will enjoy a settled stomach after eating grass.

Many dogs with perfectly fine stomachs will eat grass because it is their evolutionary instinct.

 

The Taste

It is also possible that dogs just enjoy the taste of grass. Such raw plants might be terrible for humans, but dogs may simply be eating them because they enjoy the food.

There are different types of grass, and dogs have their own preferences.

 

Boredom

Some dogs chew on grass because they do not have many activities to engage in. When they are in the yard, they will pass the time by eating grass.

It is easy to determine if your dog is eating grass out of boredom. Usually, such dogs don’t have company or any toys to play with.

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They will generally avoid feeding on grass when you take them for walks or engage them in some exercise.

 

Is Grass Dangerous to Dogs?

Grass does not have any negative health effects on dogs. Dogs may just vomit after eating grass, but they will not suffer from any illness after consuming such foods.

In fact, grass can reduce their chances of getting infections since the plant can help eliminate intestinal parasites in their guts. This is because dogs are not able to digest grass or other plants.

 

These foods help push out the parasites, and in some cases, the dog will simply have to vomit the undigested grass.

While eliminating intestinal parasites, the grass can also help to push out elements like feathers and bones from the dog’s intestines.

 

You should note that grass does not offer any nutritional benefits to your canine pet.

 

Dog eating grass and fertilizers

If your dog has a habit of chewing on grass, you should avoid hanging out in places with heavy fertilizer residue. Such chemicals can easily harm your dog.

During spring and fall, you should monitor your dog to make sure he is not eating grass on the lawn.

 

This is because most homeowners use fertilizers to grow grass in these seasons. When working on your own lawn, you should keep your pets indoors since they can ingest the chemicals and poison themselves.

In the first 72 hours of applying the fertilizer, your pet should not be left alone on the lawn.

 

You should note that many fertilizers are quite safe, but it is better to assume they are all dangerous. The only toxic element in fertilizers is the insecticide, and this is not even found in all fertilizers.

When dogs ingest grass with insecticides, they will show signs like vomiting, drooling, and diarrhea.

 

If the dog accidentally ingests the fertilizer straight from the bag, he will show more serious symptoms. For example, they will experience tremors and seizures.

To avoid such cases, you should keep the dog off the lawn until the fertilizer is absorbed into the soil. This could be after 72 hours or when it rains.

 

Are Garden fertilizers good or bad?

You should check the ingredients in your fertilizers when applying them to your lawn. Some fertilizers have very dangerous ingredients and should not be used on grass that might be eaten by dogs.

Some of these ingredients include iron, carbamates, and organophosphates.

 

Carbamates and organophosphates are quite rare as they can cause life-threatening conditions.

If a dog consumes grass that was grown with these elements, he may show signs like severe lethargy, excessive tearing, excessive urination, diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty in breathing, abnormal heart rates, and drooling.

 

Many pets die after consuming those two elements.

Organic manure is not necessarily a better option. In fact, it may be even more dangerous to your dog.

 

In many cases, people grow the grass on their lawn with a mixture of organic and inorganic fertilizers, and organic manure can encourage dogs to eat grass more often.

This is because the grass is mixed with elements like bone meal, and these are some of the best foods for dogs.

 

The dogs may ingest a massive amount of grass and manure, and this can cause gastrointestinal ingestion. In some cases, dogs will have to be examined thoroughly by a vet after consuming manure.

To sum up, the grass itself is not dangerous to dogs. It may make them vomit, but this is only because dogs cannot digest grass.

 

If you use fertilizers on your lawn, make sure you wait for about 72 hours before you allow your dog to eat the grass.

 

Dog Eating Grass and Vomiting. How Can You Stop It

Dogs instinctively chew on grass. There is no reason why you should be concerned about your dog’s habit of eating grass. If you are just uncomfortable with the habit, you can follow the tips below.

 

1. Feed Your Dog More Fiber

You should consider adding fiber to your dog’s food. This can satisfy the dog’s need for plant-based foods.

 

2. Treat the Dog’s Stomach Problems

Some dogs are known to eat grass when they want to vomit. You should observe your dog to check whether they are suffering from any kind of stomach distress.

Whenever they seem to be experiencing a stomach upset, you should give them the necessary medications.

 

Some signs that can indicate that your dog is suffering from a stomach upset include:

• Diarrhea and vomiting
• Excessive gas
• A loss of appetite
• The presence of loud stomach noises
• Dehydration- This is usually because of excessive diarrhea and vomiting
• An unpleasant breath
• Changes in their normal behavior- The dog may lose interest in normal activities like going for walks.

 

Some stomach upsets cannot be cured easily with medications. If you see blood in your dog’s vomit, for example, you should immediately take him to the vet.

You should also check the mucous membrane of your dog to determine the severity of your dog’s stomach upset.

 

Dogs that suffer from serious cases of stomach upsets will typically have pale mucous membranes. Also, such dogs are likely to start drooling.

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Usually, a minor stomach upset can be treated by withholding food from the dog for about 12 hours. You should make sure the dog has access to plenty of water at all times.

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When you eventually give your dog food, make sure you give it bland meals. Ideally, all its meals should be homemade.

You can add onions and garlic to the dog’s food in order to increase the blandness.

 

 

Keep your dog entertained

You should always check your dog for signs of boredom. If it is the cause of your dog’s grass-eating habit, you will be able to see accompanying signs like antsy or restless behavior.

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Bored dogs also cause a big mess when left for some time. This is because boredom drives your dog to seek other forms of distraction.

 

Other characteristics of bored dogs include:

• chewing on useful items like carpets and shoes
• Pawing to grab your attention
• barking a lot
• jumping around the house
• Destroying your property

 

Have some playtime

You can entertain the dog by buying him some toys. Also, you should spare some time to play with them every day. This way, the dog will not get bored and will be able to avoid feeding on the grass.

The best toy to get for a dog that likes eating grass is a chew toy. This could be a rope, bone, or even a ball.

 

Old toys can get tiresome after a while, so make sure you keep changing the dog’s items.

If you don’t want to keep buying new toys, you can simply hide some of the toys and alternate them every now and then. This way, dog boredom can lead to many other unhealthy habits.

 

For example, your dog can start getting in the trash cans. At the same time, a healthy level of activity will keep your pet in shape and will help cultivate a good personality.

Bored dogs will frequently suffer from excessive stress.

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It is important to note that different dog breeds require different levels of stimulation. More intelligent breeds will need higher levels of entertainment as they get bored easily.

Such dog breeds include Border collies, German shepherds, poodles, and golden retrievers.

 

Boredom in dogs

Besides buying toys for your dog, you should consider taking him to new places.

Experiencing a new environment can provide enough stimulation to your pet, and this will help him avoid chewing on grass.

 

General exercise can also help your dog fight boredom. A tired dog is always a good dog. These exercises can be in the form of walks or runs, and the sessions can last for about 45 minutes.

Another good solution would be to take him to doggy daycare. The dog will get sufficient mental stimulation interacting with other pets.

 

Doggy daycare will also help you preserve your property since the dog will not be around the house while you are away.

This will eventually help you save a lot of money in the replacement of furniture and other items.

 

As mentioned earlier, you should feed your dog more fiber if you want him to avoid eating grass. At the same time, you can use the mealtimes to entertain your dog.

A good way to do this is to use a slow feeder. Also, you can choose to serve him food stuffed in toys.

 

Another alternative would be to spread the dog’s food around the house and have the dog look around for the pieces of kibble.

If he is a real food hound, he will spend the entire day looking for the food.

 

Entertain your dog

There are certain TV channels that are meant for dogs. Every now and then, you should let your dog spend some time watching these channels. The most popular dog TV channel is DogTV.

This station is available on Roku, Apple TV, DirectTV, and Amazon Fire TV. Random nature shows are also guaranteed to excite your dog.

 

If you have a single dog, you should consider getting him a playmate. It is important to find him a dog with a complementary personality.

For example, if your pet is an alpha, you should not bring another alpha as they will not be able to get along properly.

 

You can consider getting help from an experienced dog owner before you bring in a new dog to the family.

If you don’t know anyone with sufficient experience in dog behavior, you can simply hire an animal behaviorist.

 

A professional animal behaviorist will even help the new dog integrate well into the family.

With a playmate, your dog will never get bored in the yard, and this means they will never find a reason to start eating grass.

 

Is Dog Eating Grass And Vomiting a Cause for Concern?

Dogs are known for eating things that most people do not consider food, and this is why they will frequently vomit. Normally, dogs eating grass and vomiting is not a cause for concern.

As already noted, dogs are canines and are not able to digest grass. This is why they will often vomit after eating grass.

 

It is important to check whether your pet is vomiting or regurgitating. Vomiting occurs when the dog makes some effort to pass the grass out up the digestive tract.

On the other hand, regurgitation does not involve any effort. These two conditions are quite different and are handled in different ways. They also have different causes.

 

Vomiting is only a cause for concern if it happens frequently. If your dog eats grass and vomits multiple times in a single day, he might end up dehydrated and could hurt his health.

 

Also, you should check your dog for these accompanying symptoms:

• Severe lethargy
• Blood in stool
• Blood in vomit
• Diarrhea
• Loss of weight
• Pain in the abdomen
• Pale gums and pale mucous membranes

 

If the dog has these symptoms, they could be suffering from a serious condition. Vomiting that is caused by eating grass will end as soon as the dog stops feeding on the grass.

It will also not attract the symptoms listed above. The dog should resume normal bowel movements after vomiting the grass.

 

If he still vomits after getting rid of the grass, he is likely to have consumed some toxins. This may be related to fertilizers in the grass, or it may be caused by a separate issue altogether.

Dietary allergies can also make a dog vomit for prolonged periods.

 

It is also possible that the pet is suffering from an infectious disease, inflammatory bowel disease, a metabolic disease, or cancer.

Metabolic diseases include kidney failures, liver failures, diabetes, and pancreatitis. It is better to let your vet diagnose the dog.

 

Chronic vomiting may warrant the enlisting of emergency services.

 

Which is the Best Type of Grass for Dogs?

Of course, it is not necessary to change your entire lawn just because of your dogs.

However, if you are making significant landscaping changes, you can consider planting grass that will be suitable for your pets.

 

Here are some characteristics you need to look out for when searching for a suitable grass species:

• Rapid growth rate– Dogs can be highly destructive. They will pee and poop on your lawn, and the waste will damage your grass.

Many dogs also like to dig in the lawn, and this can damage your grass. For this reason, you should consider growing grass that has a rapid growth rate. This way, the lawn will recover fast from damage.

 

• Deep root development– Grasses with deep roots are not easy to destroy. They recover easily and quickly from any sort of damage.

Also, these grasses can discourage dogs from digging up the lawn.

 

• Adapted to your climate– The best grass for your lawn has to be adapted to your climate and soil.

Such grass types will be more capable of surviving with dogs around.

 

 

Some of the best grasses for a household with dogs include:

• Kentucky Bluegrass– This grass grows well in many different environments. It is also quite hardy and can survive under strained conditions. As an extra advantage, this grass is appealing to the eye.

 

• Perennial ryegrass– This grass is ideal for cool climates. It grows quickly and has a robust root system.

 

• Fescue– There are many different types of fescue grasses, and they are all hardy and good at absorbing moisture. Most of these grasses are also able to grow in shaded areas.

 

• Bermuda– This grass can grow in warm climates, and it does not usually require supplemental irrigation. Bermuda can tolerate the constant abuse by your pets as it can regrow fast.

The grass usually turns brown during winter when temperatures drop below 55 degrees Celcius.

 

• Zoysia– This grass is also hardy, but it requires a long period to grow properly.

If you introduce pets to the lawn before the grass grows well, it may never develop a solid foothold and will be easily damaged. Zoysia is one of the luxurious grasses you can grow in a home with dogs.

 

Which Garden Plants and Weeds Are Dangerous to Dogs?

The grass is perfectly fine for dogs, but it is only one of the garden plants your dog may be interested in.

There are hundreds of garden plants and weeds that can cause toxic reactions in dogs, and it is important to learn about them.

 

Here are some of the dangerous garden plants:

• Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Rhubarb
• Day Lillies
• Crocus
• Tiger Lillies
• Narcissus
• Daffodils
• Clematis
• Morning Glory
• Lily of the Valley
• Foxglove

Some weeds that can cause negative reactions to your dog include:

• Velvet Grass
• Nightshade
• Pokeweed
• Smart Weeds
• Poison Hemlock
• Skunk Cabbage
• Sorghum
• Chokecherries
• Corn Cockle
• Cowbane
• Cow Cockle
• Jimsonweed
• Mayapple
• Day Lily
• Morning Glory
• Monkshood
• Baneberry
• Holly
• Bloodroot
• Buttercup

 

These plants may cause severe reactions in your dog. However, in many cases, the dog will just vomit the plants and quickly recover his normal body functions.

You should note the part of the plant that was eaten by your dog since this will help the vet determine how serious the problem is.

 

Some parts are relatively safe to consume and will only cause temporary discomfort to your dog. Others may lead to severe reactions that have to be controlled urgently.

Some of these severe symptoms include excessive vomiting, diarrhea, heavy breathing and panting, severe lethargy, and depression.

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If you do not know the name of the plant that poisoned your dog, you should carry a sample to the vet. They are more likely to know the plant and the best treatment for your specific cases.

 

Do Cats Eat Grass As Well?

Cats are similar to dogs in many ways. For example, both of these pets have close relatives who eat herbivorous animals. For this reason, cats have a natural instinct to eat grass every once in a while.

Most cats will vomit after enjoying a meal of grass, and this is because they are unable to digest plants.

 

If you own cats that like to eat grass, make sure you don’t use chemicals to grow the grass on your lawn. Certain ingredients used in the making of artificial fertilizers can poison your cats.

These pets are just as destructive as dogs, and this means you will need to plant hardy and fast-growing grass.

 

Like dogs, cats may be driven to eat grass by a stomach upset. When they eat grass, they are able to vomit and release any elements that may be affecting them.

You should note that cats don’t naturally like to eat grass as much as dogs.

 

It is important to monitor your cats to make sure they don’t display other symptoms of illnesses. Such symptoms may point to a more severe condition.

You should take the cat to the vet as soon as he starts displaying severe symptoms.

 

Conclusion

There are many reasons why dogs may want to eat grass. However, no one knows exactly why dogs do it. It is possible that they eat grass to vomit and release harmful elements like fur.

The problem with this theory is that very few dogs vomit after eating grass. Also, dogs are not intelligent enough to treat their own illnesses.

 

There is a good chance that vomiting is just an unexpected side effect of eating grass. The second theory is that dogs instinctively need to eat plants since their ancestors used to eat herbivorous animals.

These ancestors would eat all parts of their prey, including the grass-filled intestines.

 

Dogs are, therefore, naturally driven to consume grass. A different theory is that dogs enjoy the taste of grass. Many cats also seem to eat grass out of boredom.

Such dogs are usually very intelligent, and they need higher levels of entertainment. For example, you may have to keep buying different toys to keep them engaged in their playtime.

It is important to plant a suitable type of grass on your lawn. The type you choose should be hardy and should be specifically adapted to your climate and soil.

Ideally, it should be able to grow without the use of fertilizers. This is because the chemicals are made with ingredients that may poison your pets.