Pets

Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts) Thu Mar 1, 2018, 12:09 AM Mar 2018

Why do dogs eat grass?

Although grazing on the green stuff can make some dogs sick, this might actually have some health advantages.

1st March 2018

Asked by: Pearl Goodwin, Lewes

A 2008 study found that 68 per cent of dogs regularly eat grass but only 22 per cent of them are sick afterwards, so it doesn’t seem to be because the dog is ill. Wolves also eat grass, and it may be that this helps to purge their intestines of parasites. Dogs may have inherited this ancestral behaviour even though most pets are regularly wormed.

http://www.sciencefocus.com/article/nature/why-do-dogs-eat-grass

10 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why do dogs eat grass? (Original Post) Judi Lynn Mar 2018 OP

cats do that too Skittles Mar 2018 #1

Mine does it when he's not feeling well Bradshaw3 Mar 2018 #2

I appreciate my observations are hardly scientific but TomSlick Mar 2018 #3

Next question: Why do dogs love to roll around in slimy dead decayed animals? NBachers Mar 2018 #4

or for city dogs DBoon Mar 2018 #5

masking their scent? dweller Mar 2018 #7

To prove they are so mighty of course. mahina Mar 2018 #8

Yeah, I guess they want to: 1. Leave their scent on the body to claim their "kill" NBachers Mar 2018 #9

I always thought that they needed the chlorophyll. BigmanPigman Mar 2018 #6

I think grass is a good source of fiber meow2u3 Mar 2018 #10

Skittles

(153,160 posts)

1. cats do that too

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Mar 1, 2018, 12:11 AM

Mar 2018

it's nasty

Bradshaw3

(7,522 posts)

2. Mine does it when he's not feeling well

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Mar 1, 2018, 12:28 AM

Mar 2018

TomSlick

(11,098 posts)

3. I appreciate my observations are hardly scientific but

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Mar 1, 2018, 12:30 AM

Mar 2018

I've been around dogs all my life. I've never seen a dog eat grass that it wasn't promptly vomited back up. I assumption has always been that the dog was sick to its stomach and was eating grass as an emetic.

NBachers

(17,110 posts)

4. Next question: Why do dogs love to roll around in slimy dead decayed animals?

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Mar 1, 2018, 12:36 AM

Mar 2018

DBoon

(22,366 posts)

5. or for city dogs

Reply to NBachers (Reply #4)

Thu Mar 1, 2018, 12:40 AM

Mar 2018

why do they like to roll on lawns that have just had fresh manure applied?

dweller

(23,634 posts)

7. masking their scent?

Reply to NBachers (Reply #4)

Thu Mar 1, 2018, 02:04 AM

Mar 2018

✌🏼️

mahina

(17,659 posts)

8. To prove they are so mighty of course.

Reply to NBachers (Reply #4)

Thu Mar 1, 2018, 02:47 AM

Mar 2018

Our Beau preferred dead rats. Not so beau.

I'm going to go eat some grass...

k better now. Onward.

NBachers

(17,110 posts)

9. Yeah, I guess they want to: 1. Leave their scent on the body to claim their "kill"

Reply to mahina (Reply #8)

Thu Mar 1, 2018, 03:23 AM

Mar 2018

and, 2. spread the odor of their "kill" far and wide by saturating themselves with it so others can know their legendary killing status. "Hey, dudes and mates, check out what I did! In yo' face, suckas! Yeah, I smell like stuff I killed all the time." Maybe the smellier "dead things" one in the pack is the one with the most status.

And, maybe, masking their own scent figures in, but the utter abandon they avail themselves to in getting the smell all over themselves (not to mention the slimy particulate) seems to indicate that they want to acquire something, not lose something.

BigmanPigman

(51,593 posts)

6. I always thought that they needed the chlorophyll.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Mar 1, 2018, 01:48 AM

Mar 2018

meow2u3

(24,764 posts)

10. I think grass is a good source of fiber

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Mar 2, 2018, 11:48 AM

Mar 2018

Otherwise, doggie might become constipated.

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