Does anyone know why dogs eat grass? I know cats do it to make themselves sick.Mine graze constantly like little cows. It doesn't seem to do them any harm, but could they be deficient in something in their diet?

It's one of the big mysteries of the dog world - lots of ppl think they know the answer, but there has been so little research done of it that it's surprising, considering that we're all pretty curious about it. A while ago I was lucky enough to meet and spend an afternoon with someone who's doing her PhD thesis on grass eating. She would have liked to do it on the 'big question' of Why? *but* there was so little previous research on it (ie, none!) that she had to do preference (how they chose the grass), normal quantities consumed, that kind of thing instead. Until that work is done, there's nothing to use as a base of stats to work from to identify why.

Anyway, she told me that her view is that they just do it cos they like it.

In my observation it does seem to be associated with times they're a bit off in the stomach, but as they can make themselves vomit anytime they want to, I'm not convinced that they use it as an emetic.

I think it is because they like the taste of it. Ceejay and Izzy have their preferences which grasses they like, but they are both graze happy with grass. Always eating it and they are very healthy. What I worry about is Izzy loves eating the grains of the chook food, weird dog. It goes straight through and you know that she has been eating it because of the evidence left behind (if you know what I mean).

They also like tomatoes, carrots (raw), broccoli and strawberries (especially Izzy).

So eating grass is not harming them in any way and is not necessary a sign that they are in ill health.

Wonders will never cease, a PhD in grass eating even! Well, mine just like it I guess, and they like a bit of variety too. They are particularly partial to what my mother has on her lawn, and head straight down the back as soon as we get there. Not all dogs do it, I don't think. My sisters lab doesn't.Funny, because mine are not real keen on vegies. I wouldn't have thought their digestive tract was very good at breaking down the cellulose in grass, but I've never seen it undigested at the other end.

Sometimes I look out the window, and there are the pair of them grazing away quietly for ages. It is very cute to see. So long as it's not doing them any harm, and their general nutrition is good, it's fine I guess. I'd just love to know why.

Personally, I was surprised there hadn't been some work done on it before. Considering how we all wonder about it.

hey kooliemum do you ever sleep 2.43 am now that's late/early my lights are out by 10.30 and ok i am awake by 3.30 am but i just potter around the house or stay in bed if it's cold and watch T.V

lol. Working night duty has really really messed up my sleep pattern.

My little Tibetan Spaniels love to eat grass, but are more prone to one spot especially, maybe it is sweeter from there or something, who knows? but you can bet they have their reason for choosing it whatever it might be....

I don't think she told me what the species preferences she found were, but the person I spoke to did I think find quite distinct preferences in the type of grass they liked. And I think, if I remember right, that they were different from what had been suggested as their preferences previously (in which work I don't know, cos like I said, I don't think any real work had been done on it).

Our chi's have days where they love a bit of grass and seem to have a preference for prarie grass, which isn't a pasture species as such, but seen as a weed. BUT it has persisted here and there through the drought. I think it must be a bit sweet as the horses love it and will clean it up before the rye grass etc. I have seen the end results of the grass episodes and it arrives in long strands and seems to be used as fibre. I have only occassional seen the koolies partaking, but they seem to like the prarie grass as well, don't wait around for the results though - they are like atom bombs compared to the chi's little indescretions. Koolies can really produce a stinker and can fart with best beer swilling male. IMO