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Myth #3 - "Dogs and cats eat grass when they're sick!"

Nope, they're just connoisseurs of the green stuff, says Marty Becker, DVM, author with Gina Spadafori of The Ultimate Dog Lover and The Ultimate Cat Lover.

Pets love the taste and texture of grass. The newer shoots with a little water on them from the sprinklers or rain is even better.

It's like an all-you-can-eat salad bar buffet!

Sometimes dogs will consume large amounts of grass, which then propels food through the intestinal system, either back up or out the other end, so that may be the source of the myth.

They even sell living "pet grass" at the pet food chains!

My dogs just eat the back yard variety. I try to limit the amount they eat because they do tend to throw it up when they eat too much of it!

Be careful that they do not ingest poisonous greenery. My dog once ate Poison Oak at the dog park and it made him very ill and covered in hives!

paws paws paws

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Posted by Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) on 03/26/2009 07:05 PM

Comments (24)

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24 Comments on Myth #3 - "Dogs and cats eat grass when they're sick!"

MAR

Interesting. I have heard vets say that dogs and cats do eat grass when they're not feeling well, so they can throw up, and therefore, clear their system of whatever is making them feel ill.

I also know that there are house plants that are really bad for a cat or dog's health, even though they like to bite the leaves. It's important to make sure you don't have such plants at home, if you have cats or dogs.

Grass = OK

Chocolate = Not so much.

Laura.........that was sweet! Made me think of my puppie that loved grass! Thanks for the smiles!

Anna Banana, Phoenix, AZ

I know when my dog eats grass she is usually sick. This is their way of feeling better.

Hi Laura~ That is the cutest little puppy! Golden's are so cute, aren't they? Both of my dogs eat grass and they seem just fine, :) Anyway, we had a dog once that ate chocolate and she actually acted like she was crazed for a while, seriously, my husband thought he was going to have to put her down because she acted like she was going to attack( almost rabid like) and bite for a while but then she got better! It was horrible at the time

I found my cat does not like the grow in a pot kind either they prefer to feel it all around them I think. But it's a cleanser of sorts. Just like us if we eat too many green veggies our tummies arent right either.

Now how in the heck would they really know why a dog or cat eats grass:-) I need to ask my dog about that. . .He seems to consume large quantities of the green stuff, every once in awhile.

My dog is always grazing in the backyard, and my cats eat fake grass found in my fake houseplant arrangements. Go figure!

Hi Lara

I enjoyed your post, great looking puppy.

Good luck and success

Lou Ludwig

Hi Laura,

Is that your puppy? OMG how cute!

I'm one of those that always thought eating grass meant my dogs weren't feeling well. I'm glad you cleared that up for me. We now have 8 dogs, yes I said EIGHT. We have a sheltie, a beagle and now 6 miniature poodles, two of which are only 5 weeks old. Like Terry's cats, every single one of my poodles love eating real grass and fake grass. Now I'm glad I don't have to panic. It would be quite an expensive bill if I took all 6 to the vet for nothing.

Thanks for sharing.

Lara - I know whenever my cat escaped from the house she would go straight for the grass. If I did not catch her in time she would eat a whole bunch then get sick.

I heard some rumor that dogs will eat grass whey got stomach problem.

i think dogs eat grass because they are bored, maybe constipated

We laugh and call it "salad". My dog will graze all along her walk on a daily basis if allowed

MAR

Cute puppy, and a great post. I find that my Buddy likes to eat grass occassionally, but I find that he will spit it up. Perhaps he is feeling better when it happens, I try to control his amount. I do need to check the Vet's opinion. I do know he loves to roll and frolic in the grass. It is his 6th birthday today.

Dear Laura,

I love your beautiful little flower child!

Puppies play! Puppies eat!

I have heard that dogs only eat grass when they are sick.

I think a puppy will try anything!

Fun post!

Barbara

my dogs don't eat grass that often but will on occasion. One will specifically eat it when he's not feeling well, like the time he tried to eat a piece of an orange and he immediately regretted it - he ran outside and started chowing down on grass so that he could throw it up. Fun! LOL

Sylvie - I had a cat that foamed at the mouth when she ate my house plant. The cat was fine, but the plant was discarded.

Tad - chocolate very bad!

Anna - you have a great smile! Anything for more smiles :-)

Pat - maybe grass to dogs is like chicken noodle soup for humans?

Vickie - thanks! The picture is my Baxter when he was a puppy. I'm so glad to hear you dog ended up okay. You must have been worried sick.

Heather - grass is a natural flusher.

Myrl - please let us know what your dog has to say. Maybe grass is like a drug for dogs?

Terry - proof that dogs are sometimes smarter than cats :-)~

MAR

Lou - thanks, he's still my baby!

Donna - you have a big heart to have so many puppies!

Robert - she'd probably wait to get sick until you had dinner guests.

Hulting - it seems to help their stomaches.

Greg - maybe eating grass is a way to stay outside longer.

Vickie N - careful what they eat on walks, mine ate Poison Oak ... ew.

Kathleen Ann - happy birthday Buddy! Go roll in the grass!

Barbara - yes puppies will eat everything and anything in their path!

Reba - at least he ran outside ... good dog!

Lara,

Our dogs eat everything ! plants, wood, fabric, furniture, cats, and much more.

Have a great and successful weekend

Lynn - it sounds like you have your hands full!

Hi Lara, I buy organic wheatgrass in flats for my two indoor cats. who now appear to expect it regularly. My dogs love it too, but it doesn't last too long with them, so they are rationed. No regurgitation ever noted with any of the four of them. Even my cat cat who is 22 with no teeth, I cut it up quite small for her and no problem there either.

MAR

Michelle, you have some well loved pets! A 22 year old cat ... wow!

APR

Lara - wow, you certainly did clear up a myth for me. I had always thought that my dog was sick when he ate it. Makes sense now - he's been eating it quite a bit lately and our yard is really green and moist with rain. Interesting!

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