Why do dogs eat grass? Contrasting scientific explanation

You commonly have the belief that Dogs eat grass as a way of provoking vomiting. However, among the wide variety of materials that exist in the network, this issue is almost never addressed based on the scientific research in this regard, and which they exhibit more clearly how much there is in this. In this article we will analyze the main evidence that have been discovered in a reliable way, as well as some Recommendations made by experts To take into account when our pets register this type of behavior.

What studies are there?

If you have a pet - even if you do not have it - you have probably noticed that sometimes dogs eat grass or grass, although perhaps you did not know that this may actually have several meanings and origins.  

Extensive investigation of the University of California About the subject, he began investigating the results of 47 dogs belonging to the same amount of veterinarians; Of course, only dogs were included that had access to areas with grass or herbs, and that could be usually observed by their owners. The first important fact is that 79% of veterinarians acknowledged having detected their dogs chewing and ingesting some type of grass; This is not any figure, it would mean that Dogs eat grass in 4 out of 5 cases regularly! This, at the outset, already showed indications that it is a behavior quite common and normal in dogs, as much as to begin to rule it as a pathology, disease or rarity.

Do they do it for discomfort?

The fact that only 8% of those interrogated declared having noticed any indication of discomfort prior to herbal intake, and just a 12% pointed out that vomiting had been presented some. Although experts wanted to delve even more, and launched an online call to participate in a scientific study to find more data about why dogs eat grass. More than 3,000 people sent request, but in the end they were 1571 dogs those who described with their respective caregiver.

In this study, herbal intake was also recognized as something quite common; 68% of the owners acknowledged having detected their dogs doing it -although there were also less the capacities to fully ensure it-, and also agreed with a percentage of the 8% of cases where indications of discomfort were presented, while The vomit was present in the pets of 22 percent of the interviewees. From these data, the presence of the grass as the type of grass that is most frequently chewed and engulfed by dogs -around 79% -. Another remarkable finding is that no relationship was documented Between the fact that dogs eat grass and their Sex, its race or its type of diet. However, a notable bond was found in relation to their age. It was detected that Young dogs had a greater tendency to eat Both grass and other herbs, in addition to the fact that the intake preceded by a discomfort was also less frequent, and consequently the posterior vomit. The reason for dogs eating more frequently in young people, alluding to have a more curious behavior, where they like to experiment with new edible flavors, in addition to serving even as a kind of relaxing.

That dogs eat grass is normal

In conclusion, the scientists indicated that Eating grass was not an indication that something was wrong with the health of dogs, but a normal habit, which quite possibly comes from the genetic information of their ancestors, the wolves, who have developed this habit of anciently in their natural state. The wolves have eaten grass and herbs both to calm anxiety when they do not have to eat, as well as to purify themselves of bacteria.  

This also coincides with another subsequent study conducted by researchers from the University of New England in Australia, who claim to have conducted the first scientific experiment -the previous one was based on witness information -for which they recorded in detail the behavior of 12 dogs in a period of 6 days. After analyzing the results, the scientists, in the same way, concluded that The fact that dogs eat grass is not associated with any condition or disease, and on the contrary it seems to be a normal dog routine.

When do dogs eat grass and what causes?

Although, something discovered by researchers is that, in fact, grass intake was more frequent before eating than after doing so, which is why it was also more related as an anxiety issue and even as a way to appease hunger, which would be much more common than they do for purgative purposes. They also noticed that this behavior was carried out more frequently in early stages of the day, which was also associated with a lower satiety. Even so, it is also recognized that the grass in the dog's intestinal walls encourages the emergence of gastric acids, which is ultimately those that generate vomiting. In addition, in reality this plant material also facilitates worm drag, which, combined with the intestinal contractions produced by the grass fiber, allows Encourage the evacuation process, which is generally not expressed by vomiting, but through better digestion. 

So, is it good or bad for dogs to eat grass?

In conclusion, we can affirm that grass intake is a totally normal behavior in dogs, and which in most cases occurs as a way of calming anxiety, although it also has digestive and purgative purposes for dogs. Only on the occasions when dogs eat grass suddenly and with great speed and vigor, it could be a more urgent discomfort that the dog could do to try to expel something in their body, so in these cases the consultation with the veterinarian is not more likely to consider other symptoms. For this reason you do not have to scold your dog when he eats herbs, it is only recommended Be careful in unknown land, both for the presence of poisonous herbs and toxic fertilizers, which would be the only risk factors in these cases.

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