My two lab bitches, 8 and 4 have taken to chewing grass everywhere we go. It just seems to have got worse in the last couple of weeks and I wondered if anybody else's does the same? I'm always frightened that chewing grass will make them sick, or am I just being paranoid?

Please help!

I was always told they chew grass to clear any hair etc.. (hairballs) out of their stomach by making them sick.

Chewing grass in itself won't hurt your dogs. Unfortunately, blades of grass has rough sides that can irritate their stomachs. Also, residue from pesticides, urination, & other icky stuff isn't healthy for them.
There are products out there that you can add to their food to replace it. I used it long ago when my dogs went through the eating-grass stage. I'm trying to find one of the brands for you. In the meantime, it does become a contagious habit. Instead of grazing cattle, you have grazing dogs :D
toodles

Hi Sara, you are right about it becoming a contagious habit. I have a grass grazing lad and now the pup is following suit. It doesn't generally make them sick though. They nibble the lawn usually but if Sam is eating grass with the intention of making himself sick he tends to go to the edges for the long bits !!
Nice subject hey :(
Sara :)

Here's a website with some good ideas for dealing with the topic of grass eating:
http://www.petplanet.com/ppc/_AAM0QIrJ8800/
ContentSystem/article.html?CSID=9008
good luck

Thankyou all for the advice, it has put my mind at rest.

Max does this too - although usually to engage a game of chase - he'll grab a tuft of grass in his mouth then do a play bow. He also eats soil, leaves, tissues, newspapers and hosepipes :rolleyes:

My dogs always seem to eat more grass at this time of year when it has just started growing - has anyone else found this?

Christine

Yum, soft fresh new grass.... tender with the spring aire.... Doggy connaseurs (sp?) ;-)

At this time of year grass shoots are fairly high in sugars so they are natuarlly sweeter, so proabably more attractive :-) I know my girls prefer the shoots of Cocks foot or other more 'broad leaved' grasses and sprouting wheat is particularly sought after (my garden used to have a chicken run, so there is a good source of sprouting wheat, which I leave long especially for them :-))

Iam going to look for a url on this subject . I know I have one somewhere . I believe this is the reason why lots of dog owners are going back to a natural diet. mari

JC dogs eat grass for a number of reasons they lose their trace elements and lime and their digestive system wont work unless they have them . They eat grass and other plants , they seem to know what they are missing, Mattie is right . the grass makes them vomit to rid the digestive system of foriegn bodies and some toxic acid. DOGS that eat poo are doing it because they lack those trace elements and lime . You are lucky your dog can eat grass otherwise you would have a problem . best wishes Mari

Are there any food supplements which have trace elements and lime built into them and I will try my labs on those and see if it stops them chewing so much grass. They have a real habit of chewing sticks as well!

Thistle (lab) eats lots of grass and it doesn't seem to do her any harm so I've never given it a second thought. She has started eating more in the last few weeks.
Jane

Hello, I am new to the forum and have had great fun reading all the posts and have learnt lots too - Thanks! Will be coming back all the time!!
Just for interest, our malamute Shadow has been eating grass ever since we got him about 3 months ago, but only in one place at a time.
We think we worked out why now though - he sees something moving in the grass (ant/fly/spider etc) and tries to catch it. He then gets all confused because it's gone and so goes on to pulling up and eating all the grass in one patch, just in case it's hiding......He then carries on to the roots (he eats them) and then the mud underneath (he eats that too!!), until he gets bored or decides he wants to jump on you with muddy paws!
We now have a lovely garden, landscaped mal style i.e. minefield!
Thanks again,
Lou

Welcome to the forum Lou :-)

Thank you! Have been on here far too much today already - should be working, but dogs are so much more interesting!! :D

My lab always eats grass when he's sick -- usually b/c of some bacteria in his stomach. If they're both doing it, they may be passing something back and forth to each other. You might want to take them to a vet to check them out.

Think they maybe be either better or too late for the Vet by now Crazydog. They were doing this in April last year!! ;)

If it helps, for the past 30 years all my dogs have grazed as if they were sheep, and have never come to any harm from it! They particularly love young wheat or couch grass. They are fed on a very mixed diet - dog food (wet and dried) and table scraps, so it can't be a vitamin/mieral deficiency.

My (non-veterinary) advice would be to leave well alone if they are otherwise healthy.

My dogs have always loved grass :) and Deer droppings :(

Sheep poo is fab (according to the dogs, I hasten to add!!!!)