I was wondering if anyone can help, my young sam seems to be constantly eating vegitation when we are out for our walks, this can be anything from grass, dock leaves (which he spits out) weeds etc, do you think its something lacking in his diet? he is fed James Wellbeloved along with some Nature Diet, do you think he needs some raw veg as well? I dont want to think he is trying to tell me something and I am not picking up on it. Any suggestions would be a great help. Many Thanks

My staffy always does this in the spring when the fresh shoots are coming up and we usually refer to it as her being at the salad bar. 

i used to worry about my lot doing this too but they are all healthy and on a good complete food
they also get chicken wings and apples and carrots,
they do the same in the garden and out on walks straight to any grass they can find
they are like a herd of cows chewing the cud :) lol !!

Hi Sampap

Out of several dogs over the years, I'd guess it's been a 50:50 split between those which eat grass to bring on sickness and those which 'graze' for pleasure :)

Two of my current three residents are definitely more of the 'in it for kicks' type - being rather fussy which sort of grass they have an interest in and thoroughly enjoying that ultra special variety when they happen upon it.  Clearly none of it grows in our own garden (but then little grows in there LOL) because the only time any have ever chewed on that it's been warning sign of an upset tum pending!

Feeding as you are and also providing your dog seems fit and healthy, carrying good weight, appropriate coat texture and amount of it for breed etc then TBH it's unlikely to be anything to concern you and more just something he enjoys :)

regards, Teri

Thanks Teri, yes he is fit and healthy and just enjoys it to be honest. I just picked up the supplement that was in Dog World last week re Nutrition and there is a great article by Jane Lilley and it actually mentions exactly what he is doing ie enjoying the spring roots etc but I think I may start to add some raw veg to my dogs diets, any suggestions? or do you think I may be overdoing vitamins considering I feed a complete food anyway? 

Some dogs love veggies others not so keen so it's up to you and him too :)  Raw carrots are often enjoyed just to chew on - good for teethers and also for teeth cleaning rather than chews etc.  - and have the added advantage of helping to fill up greedy eaters that don't need extra Kcals :)

If feeding any veg as part of a meal, then for nutritional purposes it should be raw and pulped in a processor first and include leafy greens such as spinach.

Fruit is usually enjoyed too - our lot favour bananas, apples, strawberries and melon - add to yoghurt and whizz in fruit smoothies (better tended than the family :-o )

regards, Teri

My sprollie and my 14 month old pup are grazing at the moment on the young shoots and pup is on orijen with arden grange meat and potato wet food so she is getting plenty of veggies anyway.  My WSD is the one to only eat grass when he feels unwell and then he panics to get out into the garden quickly to mow the lawn for us.

Mine are all doing it with a vengeance at the moment, there I am with ball in one hand and frisbee in the other and they're all on the edge of the field grazing. Must be new shoots or something tasting really good at the moment.

In addition to the carrots that my dogs eat I was also advised by a behaviourist to give parsnips as a low cal treat that will help fill the dog up.  They are not as cheap as carrots but go down ok for an occassional treat.

>or do you think I may be overdoing vitamins considering I feed a complete food anyway?

Dogs tend to take what they need from the diet that we feed them and normally pass through what they don't need.Whether that diet be species appropriate or not.

My breed are very prone to eating grass, especially when pups. I was alarmed at first but soon learned to ignore them as they were mainly doing it for attention and then later, for pleasure. My previous breed used to eat grass purely when they had an upset stomach/ or feeling urrgh, but my current breed does it periodically and is very rarely sick. In saying that, my boy has just had a very long operation with biopsies taken from all over his body and he has been eating grass like it's going out of fashion! But that is due in part to him being on very high dose AB's which of course upset the good bacterial balance in his gut but I am trying to counteract that by feeding high dose pro-biotic. I also periodically give natural yoghurt mixed with natural charcoal when they appear to be a bit off balance.

As far as feeding veg is concerned, I tend to steam it for a few minutes to break down the fibrous content so that digestion is easy and stick it through the blender. Or, providing salt hasn't been added, I often give them left over veg from our meal. The only things I don't feed are onions, raw potato/peel. Callia will often sit and munch on a raw brussel sprout, swede, broccoli, cauli flower, you name it, she loves it ;-)

A couple of mine are really enjoying ' spring shoots and grass' at the moment. Seems to be sniffing out the best bits in the field and on walks.
Not being sick just enjoying. I have always had dogs who have done this, just some of them not all.

The only negative I've found with my dog eating grass is when it doesn't come out cleanly the other end dangling poop on a long blade of couch grass :rollseyes:

ooh yes, yuk, known as the dash and grab in my family! lol

And known as Klingons in mine :-)

My two shepherds are real grazers too. They especially like the new shoots of 'sticky willy' that are springing up.
They also nibble my cistus bush leaves on occasions (rock rose).  I found out later that it's good for joints.

> The only negative I've found with my dog eating grass is when it doesn't come out cleanly the other end dangling poop on a long blade of couch grass :rollseyes:

hangy poo's! yes our boy does this to and gets scared of them and tried to escape his own bum...

My girl is a big time grazer... she eats grass like a horse! She will run through a patch of long grass and munch a whole mouthful... or if feeling more lazy will sprawl on the lawn and graze while lying down. She also loves fruit and vegies.... funny girl. It doesn't seem to have any adverse effect, aside from some funny side glances from fellow dog walkers!

My oldest girl barked to go out at 1am so I got up thinking something was wrong - she never wakes at night.
So she went out ate some grass  / shoots running down the side of the garden. Came in, had a drink and took up her 'space' and went back to sleep. I'm not falling for that midnight feast trick again .........

I'm not falling for that midnight feast trick again .........
Bet you do LOL

OH did last night, I didn't hear her, honest!! LOL

Pip is eating grass like mad again - 1st thing this morning I let her out in the garden to have a wee etc and she bolted across the garden and promptly stood there for ages eating grass.  I was a bit concerned tbh as the vet had said it's a sign something isn't quite right but reading your comments has reassured me.  By the way - she's famous now, take a look:

http://www.ardengrange.com/pet-food-reviews.asp

Yes always carry kitchen roll for that eventuality!! Bit like wet wipes for the kids.

And to think I came on here today to post about this very subject!

My dally constantly eats grass, and it makes his poo horrid. Occasionally he is sick pure grass, but mainly it all goes through. So we shouldn't stop him then, just let him carry on doing it?