Sometimes we notice certain strange behaviors in our dogs whose purpose we cannot understand. An example is the custom of eat grass, something that most dogs do and that gives rise to various theories. Probably the best known is the one that states that dogs "graze" to purge themselves, although there is no scientific evidence to prove it. Many experts indicate that this is a myth.
The lack of studies on this subject and the fact that dogs do not always vomit after eating grass, sow doubt. The reality is that today the reason for this behavior is unknown; however, they are shuffled some possibilities, in addition to the purge.
Other theories
There are other explanations that, like the previous one, are not confirmed by the scientific community.
- Behavior inherited from your ancestors. It is one of the most popular arguments regarding this behavior. Their ancestors, wolves, ingest grass through herbivorous animals, prompting dogs to consume grass.
- Lack of nutrients. If the animal does not obtain all the necessary nutrients for its organism through its usual diet, it will try to find them in other ways. One of them is the consumption of grass.
- Nice flavor. We must not discount the fact that the herb is delicious for dogs.
Lack of scientific studies
Despite being a very common behavior, hardly any studies have been done on this issue. However, it is worth highlighting an investigation carried out in 2008 by scientists from the Davis University of California, led by Karen Sueda, Benjamin Hart and Kelly Cliff, and published by the scientific journal Applied Animal Behavior.
The first part of it consisted of performing a survey of 25 veterinary students, of which all indicated that their dogs ate grass frequently but only 8% said that they vomited after it. The researchers continued to interview 47 more owners; 79% of them recognized this habit in their pets, but only six of the interviewees observed vomiting. They expanded the data by interviewing 1.571 more owners, of which 68% indicated that their dogs ate grass frequently, although only 22% vomited afterwards.
Therefore, the study concluded that this behavior is not associated with any disease or stomach upset, or with a lack of vitamins. Researchers were inclined to think that it is an instinctive behavior inherited from their ancestors.
Should we let our dog eat grass?
In principle, it should not harm the animal's body as long as the grass comes from a natural environment. However, in excess it can cause gastrointestinal problems. Also, we must avoid toxic plants and herb treated with pesticides.