Is it OK for my dog to eat grass?

Question

We have a four-year-old, mixed, neutered male dog who is our child! He resembles a Basenji, but of course is too large and barks. He has this habit of frequently eating grass. Our veterinarian says he is healthy, and we shouldn't worry because some dogs just eat grass as a habit. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer

Grass eating by dogs and cats is considered normal by most veterinarians. Dogs in the wild do the same thing to supplement their diet with vegetation. I would only be concerned about access to grass that has been treated with herbicides, insecticides, or fertilizers that might cause illness. If chemicals have not been used on the grass, your pooch can graze away!

The Companion Animal Behavior Program at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is currently conducting a study of grass and plant eating behavior in dogs (and cats). Many theories as to why dogs eat plants have been proposed. However, this is the first scientific study to investigate this common behavior.

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Coprophagia - Eating Droppings


Answer Why does my dog eat dropping? What can I do? The technical, more polite name for what you are describing in your dog's behavior is coprophagia. It is a very common problem. Actually in most canines it is a normal behavior. Of course, mothers consume their pups' droppings until they are old enough to get away from the nest to eliminate, but dogs will eat other dogs' feces and even that of other species. It is a little more unusual for them to eat their own, but it still happens.

Assuming other health concerns such as vaccinations and parasite elimination have been taken care of by your veterinarian, and your dog is on a well-balanced diet, then the idea that it comes from a vitamin deficiency can be ruled out.

At this point, your dog's habit of eating feces should be approached from a behavioral perspective. The more a behavior occurs the more likely it will be repeated. That means physically preventing it from happening helps your dog forget about it. Whatever you do, it will take some time to modify the behavior.

That means letting your dog know that it is bad through a loud, firm, scolding voice. You can use this method when your pet sniffs or shows interest in feces. It helps to have your pet on a leash when outside to give you some physical control over movement as well.

Products such as monosodium glutamate (seasoning salt) added to a pet's food makes the feces less desirable. A more direct approach includes putting tobasco or bitter lemon on the feces itself. Some pet owners simply clean the yard every day to remove any temptation.

Eating Problems

Question

My young dog pokes at his food and sometimes cries during mealtimes - what can I do to help him eat normally?

Answer

It may just be your dog's personality. Assuming that your dog is healthy and your veterinarian has examined him and not found any medical reasons for his behavior, try changing things. For instance, put the dog dish up at his chin level; he may not like to lower his head. Change the bowl (different color, higher or lower sides, etc.), or try a different kind of food.

The most important thing is whether or not he is eating enough to maintain a healthy weight in spite of the behavior. If he is, then you need to decide if his behavior is upsetting enough to warrant trying to change it.

What do I do if my pet develops a food allergy?

Answer

To determine whether your pet has a food allergy, you'll need to see your veterinarian. Once your pup is diagnosed with a food allergy, you can give him some relief by finding a diet that contains only "novel" food sources, for example things that your dog has never eaten and therefore probably hasn't developed an allergy to. The diet should also contain as few preservatives and additives as possible, to eliminate the possibility that the additives are causing the allergic reaction.

There are a wide range of diets that you and your veterinarian can evaluate together, ranging from prescription diets to homemade lamb and rice, catfish and potato, or even pinto beans and potato diets. The most important thing is that you and your veterinarian work together to find a healthy, balanced diet that will keep your dog itch-free and happy. It may take some patiencedit can take a long period of trying various food combinations to find the one that works for your dog.