grazing

[lovemyshiba]

Apparently, Abbey and Riley are confused.

They think they are cows. I let them out, and they are constantly eating grass--well, Riley tries to eat sticks and dirt too:rolleyes:

Abbey throws it up usually the next day.
Riley had his first throw up this morning--sticks, grass, and dirt (sorry if that was too graphic). I love being awakened by the dogs--with a kiss. I don't like to wake up to the sound of Riley hurling beside my bed.

Is there anything I can do to stop them from doing this???

[CamCamPup33]

Dogs and cats eat grass for the raw nutrition their diets lack. Dogs and cats instinctively chew and eat grass to obtain the vitamins, minerals and live enzymes provided by fresh, raw whole foods.;) It's a natural craving in an attempt to defend themselves against illness and disease in our ever changing modern world.The ideal diet of fresh meats, grains and vegetables that dogs and cats once enjoyed in the wild have today been replaced by one that often lacks the vitamins, minerals, and -most importantly- the live enzymes necessary to break food down into smaller elements to fuel digestion, storage and release of energy, breathing, vision, blood circulation and reproduction.
With exception of greenery that might be available outside for them to graze on (but which is rarely absorbed because of vomiting caused by sharp, microscopic barbs on blades of grass), poor nutrition is clearly leading to more incidents of allergies, skin problems, cancer, heart disease, liver and kidney failure, and other ailments among the large worldwide cat and dog population.That's why veterinarians, kennel owners, top breeders and pet lovers everywhere are finding that just as humans require health supplements to balance their own diets, dogs and cats may have similar needs.. Some dogs will just graze because they like the taste, but if your puppies are doing it continually and bringing it up after, you should check their diet and be sure you are feeding a nutritionally balanced dog food. The other thing to watch out for ...
Keep an eye on them, dogs have a tendency to eat grass when something is upsetting their stomaches, as it will bind the item that bothers them, and help them to bring it up after. Just make sure you watch Abbey and Riley when they do go outside.. If they start to "graze" just firmly tell them no.. :)

[binka_nugget]

Kai grazes like cattle also! I bought him something at a pet store. I think it's "oat grass". I've also seen "pet grass" somewhere on the net. I figured it's got to be better for him rather than eating the junk in our backyard. I was thinking that it could be the nutrition they're looking for (like amber said) or maybe it's just a habit. I say, look into the oat or pet grass. If kai's going to munch on grass, I'd rather him munch on this stuff rather than the grass/weeds in our backyard. It said that it aids with digestion...so I'm assuming dogs pass it through cleanly rather than greeting you with a warm welcome and "gift" on the floor.

[wolf_Q]

They sell "pet grass" at Petco...

My dogs do the old munch'n'puke from time to time also. Fortunately, it doesn't happen very often...Nebo very much enjoys pruning our trees and mowing the lawn. I don't think it's because he's lacking nutrition or he's bored. I think he just likes to chew up things. :rolleyes:

[ChrisH]

A couple of the dogs who have owned me, Max and Penny, would eat grass now and again, each time it seemed to make themselves vomit.
Bob now is a real grazer, everytime he is out, for a walk or in the garden, he will find himself some grass to chew. Not any old grass either, it has to be a certain kind and he will look around until he finds it. What kind it is, or why, I don`t know, only he does and he is not telling!:D Doesn`t make him vomit though, he just seems to like it, always has, ever since he was a puppy! :)

[pitc9]

Yep....I also have a "cow"

And like ChrisH said, Sierra has to look around for the PERFECT kind of grass to eat! She doesn't normaly puke it up.

Buddy, once in a while he'll eat grass, we are STILL fighting with hook worms with him, so I'm sure there's times his belly doesn't feel well, so that's why he eats it I'm sure.
But when he does he yaks it right up!

[shais_mom]

Shaianne, My RB greyhound was a notorious grazer, as is a breed trait for them. Keegan does this too.
You can buy stuff from pet catalogs I think it is called like Barley or something. It is a supplement that will help them stop eating. I haven't tried it yet, but would like to.

[shais_mom]

Here is a link :
Kinda expensive:

http://www.carealotpets.com/eaccess.asp?varPage=listItemsAcross&Search=RegSearch&ImgFlg=TRUE

[shais_mom]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=13&pCatId=712

[Kona & Oreo's mom]

Oreo eats grass, too, but she doesn't throw it back up. When we are on a walk, she'll take one bite out of every lawn we pass. :rolleyes: I feel like I'm walking a goat!

[Aspen and Misty]

Nova doesn't really eat grass.

I have an idea Emily :D Dig up all the grass and just let there be dirt. Now that would be a fun dog park! They could dig large holes in your back yard with all the neighborhood dogs your've invited over.

O you don't like my idea? Why not? The idea of a hole in your yrad that you could possibly fall into and land in china doesn't sound fun to you? ;)


I would get them some pet grass, mmm mmm.

Ash

[anna_66]

Originally posted by ChrisH
Bob now is a real grazer, everytime he is out, for a walk or in the garden, he will find himself some grass to chew. Not any old grass either, it has to be a certain kind and he will look around until he finds it.

It's the same with our dogs. Just a certain kind of grass, but it never makes them throw up (thank goodness!).

[Logan]

Lilly and Murphy are grazers too! :rolleyes: They never throw up, though. I guess you just have to watch them closely and make sure they don't graze too long! I wish I had an answer. Good luck! :)

[wolfsoul]

Most dogs will eat grass when they feel sick. Like when they ate something bad, they will eat grass to puke it up. I've seen dogs do it after eating things they aren't accustomed to, and then seen them throw up later. It's perfectly normal.

I'd maybe gather a second opinion on the food they eat though. Perhaps it does not agree with their tummies. :)

[ChrisH]

Are Abbey and Riley still grazing and throwing up? Hope not.

I had to mow the weed ridden patch I call a lawn today, and I thought you might like to see Bob helping in his usual way... by dining on the grass at the edges where the mower can`t reach.:D

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/pd59f0ebada3611b1bac8ff35e863efa5/fb67f1a3.jpg

:D