I know all dogs will munch on grass, but mine seems to be chowing down on it like it's going out of style! The only thing that worries me is she's been having trouble pooping because there is so much grass! She manages to push it all out, but the consistency isn't right and I can SEE the grass in it. I try to watch her and get her to stop eating so much of it, but I can't be on her 24/7... Does anyone know why she's eating so much? She still eats her regular dog food and drinks as usual; acts normal, etc. Is she looking for some nutrient in the grass that's not in her food? I really don't want to be put in a situation where she gets an impaction (she's had a sand impaction before, poor thing), or she has strings hanging out that she can't push through... :(

Any help is appreciated!

My vet told me dogs don't get constipated. Now she is one the best in Durham county.

My dog eats a lot of grass and she is a normal healthy nine year old puppy. Sometimes she passes the strings, as you say, which look a lot like undigested grass (we walk a lot and I pick up after her as I am supposed to in town) so I know what her bowel movements look like. Hers are well formed and brown but occasionally there is a loose stool. I don't worry about it because I know her like a book and know what she eats.

If your dog is eating, defecating, urinating at regular intervals and seems happy, then why worry.

Just why some dogs eat so much grass is hard to say. With the way many of them eat fecal matter, I wonder if they are choosing feces contaminated grass? If it really seems to be interfering with her digestion, I would continue to do the best I could to limit it. Could you keep her pasture mowed?

The problem is mostly when we are on our daily walks. She doesn't hang out in the yard too much by herself (she is a lab, after all!), but when we are at the park she eats it like there is no tomorrow. I'll try to limit how much she eats until her poop goes back to looking normal and see how things go from there.

Tickle it's interesting your vet says dogs don't get constipated. I've personally seen my mom's dogs go for several days without a bowel movement. The sand impaction I refer to in my post, however is different than constipation. We were at the beach and the ball she plays with got covered in sand and she obviously swallowed a lot of it. Poor thing had poop that came out looking like wet sand for about a day and would cry every time she would go! :( We fixed that problem with wet food at steak fat to get things flowin' again, so to speak!

When a dog isn't having bowel movements, it is best not to give it a laxative unless directed by a vet. It could have a blockage.

Some animals, especially dogs, get in the habit of eating gravel, stones, dirt, bones, or plants. This does not usually indicate a dietary deficiency as many owners suspect, though we do not have a good explanation for this unusual dietary behavior. Stools produced can be sharp or painful to pass, often leading to straining ,discomfort AND CONSTIPATION. It was stated that a vet in canada advised k9s don't get constipated. I would love to have been in that conversation, and mumbled an enlarged prostate gland is a common feature of the older male dog.The gland sits just below the colon and can press on the colon serving to narrow it. Neutering usually solves this problem, though sometimes something more serious like a prostate tumor is present. An enlarged prostate is often palpable rectally though the size of the prostate is better assessed with a radiograph. Mega colon, kidney failure. An internal obstruction may be causing the problem. For example, animals hit by cars often suffer a fractured pelvis. These usually heal without surgery but can heal such that the pelvic canal through which stool must pass is narrowed. Constipation may not result for years after the initial trauma. An old fracture is generally obvious in a radiograph of the abdomen. If signs of constipation have been present for 6 months or less, pelvic widening surgery is an option. I could go on with more. The point is yes they can become constipated. I would in conversation with your vet mention the intake of grass, and see how he/she feels about Laxitone as indicated. I RX. It very often especially for long haired pets.

DocWill

From past experience dogs tend to eat grass because of tummy trouble. Use the grass to aid in regurgitation. Please check with your vet.

Another answer is that she may be missing something in her diet. Please check with your vet.

A lot of times dogs eat grass because they have a tummy ache. The grass makes them throw up (most of the time) so you might need to chage his/hers diet. We have 8 dogs, and we feed them lamg and rice. I hope your dog does OK! :)

It is difficult to say why dogs do many things. I think to throw up is greatly over rated as a cause of eating grass. As much as I see dogs eating grass, I can't believe their stomach is bothering them that much. I think they eat grass because it is there and they enjoy it, or as I suggested earlier, what may be on it. As for throwing up afterwards, they may just not connect the 2 or be much less concerned about throwing up than we are. We have to clean up the mess from throwing up or loose stools, not them. I can't see that they are worried about it.

I am a small animal first aid, and took a small animal class. So from what the vets have said, and the books, dogs tend to eat grass when they have tummy problems. And I no dogs don't give a sh*t 'bout throwing up, they do it when the have a tummy ache, NOT to watch us clean it up. I think I no what I am talking 'bout, but thanks for the "correction"

Thanks for the opinions, everyone.

I've been trying to keep her from eating so much grass on our walks now, and her poo is looking more normal. I did a little web research on the topic, and got info ranging from "they do it because they like it" to "they do it because their stomach is upset". I find it hard to believe her stomach is upset that much, so, at least in this case, I'm leaning toward "she likes it". She never throws it up, so that's another reson for my assumption. My additional web research also said there is no proven nutrient the dog is missing in their diet, so that quiets my mind a little too.

Thanks again, everyone!

Jill I also did some serious book diving into this whole grass conspiriusy, and found no known deficency as a result of the craving. I did find a silly article on egyption k9's consumed folage to what was described at delayed digestion from lack of food. What every that means. I have heard many fellow colligues agree they eat it to settel a upset tummy. I haven't thus far found that in text. Reminds me a lot of " my dogs nose is,.,." and the only reliable sign of a dogs nose being related to its health is bleeding. So I guess later tonight I will post it on VIN, Veterinary Info Network shared by Vets, to see if that reviels anything. I still think dogs eat grass because they can. Lol who knows.

DocWill