My dog has turned into a cow?

[kdow]

Not in terms of weight/size, but suddenly our 'walks' are less walking and more 'meandering from patch of tasty grass to patch of tasty grass'.

I've had dogs in the past who ate grass, but mainly as a limited activity - maybe once every couple of years they'd go out, eat some grass, shortly later vomit up something disgusting, and then show no interest in grass again. (Until the next tummy upset, presumably.)

Pirate is doing it fairly regularly, so I'm thinking that maybe it means there's something he needs to be getting more of in his diet? He does really like cooked broccoli - I could just add a few bits to his bowl every night at dinner? Anyone have any ideas?

(If we had nice lovely pastures, I wouldn't be too bothered about the grass eating, but as it is there doesn't seem to be much prime grazing in our yard, and I worry about what might've been sprayed on stuff we come upon on our walks. I don't really want him grazing on grass seasoned with weed killer.)

I haven't really come to the 'take him to the vet' point of proceedings because he seems otherwise quite healthy and happy, and he was just at the vet not too long ago for the dogs' annual heartworm medication dispensing check up. (He hadn't really started the regular grazing at that point, or I would've mentioned it.)

ETA: He gets EVO chicken (the small bites stuff since that's what the other dog prefers) as his kibble, and then normally gets some people food also. (By people food I mean a few pieces of chicken breast, cooked vegetables if he's interested in them and they're not bad for dogs, an egg scrambled and split between the two dogs, that sort of thing. Not fatty or salty scraps.)

The dogs are pretty picky about their kibble, so I'd rather supplement the EVO with vegetables or something if I have to rather than switch them to something else entirely. (Although I am getting a sample of Wellness CORE for them to taste test.)

[gloriginger]

Yeah, I'd add some greens to his diet. I give my dog canned green beans, she won't eat many other veggies, but she does eat green beans. You could also give him source for doggies.

What I was told is that they actually need grasses...as in the wild when the get a kill- the first thing they do is eat the intestines, which are filled with grasses...also interesting to note that prey animals create vitamin C when they are stressed- where most predators (humans included) cannot create Vit. C. I give my dog 1000 mg a day. It helps with building connetive tissue, soft tissue etc.

[Mara]

Sweet jebus, I thought I was the only one whose dogs had developed goat tendencies!

I try not to let them do it much, mainly for two reasons. One is that drontal is expensive, and grass-chowing can result in whipworms (for one). We've been through this twice with Simon.

The other reason is that eating lots of grass can result in what I call "dangling poo syndrome". Dog eats grass - dog system is not designed to digest plant material - dog has BM, with grass strands, hanging from rear end. I prefer to not have to deal with this consequence!

Mine are picky about their grass. Only fescue-type grasses, nothing that grew from sod.

[My2cents]

My beloved dog (now deceased) got jealous when I hand grazed the horses and would 'graze' along side JUST in case he was missing out on something delicious.

[kdow]

Sweet jebus, I thought I was the only one whose dogs had developed goat tendencies!

...

Mine are picky about their grass. Only fescue-type grasses, nothing that grew from sod.

It's only the one dog, too. Foxy just looks at Pirate like he's nuts when he starts grazing. (You can almost hear her saying "what are you doing? We have places to go, things to smell!")

And yes, there are clearly specific types of grass which are up to standard, and types which are not. (For example, those fancy wheat grass pots you can buy for your animals? TOTALLY not interesting. Wouldn't even sniff it in the store.)

[CatOnLap]

Mine too. in fact, they fight the horses for the freshest hay out of the bales. Wierdos.
They get plenty of veggies along with their kibble but the dangling poo syndrome still happens.

[Petstorejunkie]

you can also buy oat grass seed (or if you feed whole oats, well there ya go!) and plant a grass patch of safe grass for your dog.
DO NOT BUY the grass at the pet stores. it's usually wheat grass and may cause allergies (havent tested the theory but why chance it?)
It could be that the evo being rich and high protein is difficult for yoru dog to digest. you could try adding some probiotics sprinkled on the food and see if that helps as well.

[kdow]

you can also buy oat grass seed (or if you feed whole oats, well there ya go!) and plant a grass patch of safe grass for your dog.
DO NOT BUY the grass at the pet stores. it's usually wheat grass and may cause allergies (havent tested the theory but why chance it?)
It could be that the evo being rich and high protein is difficult for yoru dog to digest. you could try adding some probiotics sprinkled on the food and see if that helps as well.

They've been on EVO since last August, so it seems kind of a long time to be seeing digestion type problems related to that? And everything coming out the other end seems, er. As it should be. :)

Interesting idea about the oat grass seed though. I have a nice wide container I used for growing lettuce in on the deck last year that'd probably do nicely for a contained grazing area, and then at least I wouldn't have to worry about there being something sprayed on it. :)

[Auventera Two]

My dogs eat Fromm and they also get the canned Fromm with salmon and vegetables, duck and vegetables, etc. every night. And one of them still grazes regularly. It doesn't seem to hurt anything. He also eats whole carrots for treats so I guess he's just a veggie lover. He will eat onions, olives, pickles, potatoes, anything that falls on the floor during cooking. :lol: The other two look at him like he's insane.

[kdow]

My dogs eat Fromm and they also get the canned Fromm with salmon and vegetables, duck and vegetables, etc. every night. And one of them still grazes regularly. It doesn't seem to hurt anything. He also eats whole carrots for treats so I guess he's just a veggie lover. He will eat onions, olives, pickles, potatoes, anything that falls on the floor during cooking. :lol: The other two look at him like he's insane.

Yeah, that was pretty much Pirate (the grass eater) when we got him. He's getting pickier, though. :)

[vacation1]

Maybe it's just the time of year - juicy new grass? My dog has seasonal interest in greens, mostly violet leaves and the leaves of some scrubby tree/bush whose identity I don't know. Since we have a yard full of both and we don't use any pesticides, etc., she's safe in the yard.

[Mara]

Maybe it's just the time of year - juicy new grass? My dog has seasonal interest in greens, mostly violet leaves and the leaves of some scrubby tree/bush whose identity I don't know. Since we have a yard full of both and we don't use any pesticides, etc., she's safe in the yard.

Mine definitely kick it into high gear come springtime. They especially love it after a rain, when it's nice and wet.

[Pancakes]

My dogs eat Fromm and they also get the canned Fromm with salmon and vegetables, duck and vegetables, etc. every night. And one of them still grazes regularly. It doesn't seem to hurt anything. He also eats whole carrots for treats so I guess he's just a veggie lover. He will eat onions, olives, pickles, potatoes, anything that falls on the floor during cooking. :lol: The other two look at him like he's insane.

He should not eat onions. They can cause Heinz body anemia and serious problems in dogs.

[kdow]

He should not eat onions. They can cause Heinz body anemia and serious problems in dogs.

What about chives? (I know they have the onion/garlic-y smell, but I'm not sure if that means they have the same compound in them that causes the problem.) I have a pot which is currently on a windowsill, and it just occurred to me to wonder if I should make SURE it stays up where he can't graze on it. (Since knowing him, he'd love the 'extra flavored' grass.)

ETA: I knew about the onions/garlic already. :)

[Lilykoi]

I always thought my pup picked up the habit from my mare. When my dog was just a few months old she was at the barn with me. She would graze with my mare. She eats carrots too! Its never seemed to be a problem, except for the occasional Klingon (I know what you mean Mara!) It does seem to cause her much horror and humiliation. I guess she hasn't made the association because she's still doing it at 9.

[Pancakes]

What about chives? (I know they have the onion/garlic-y smell, but I'm not sure if that means they have the same compound in them that causes the problem.) I have a pot which is currently on a windowsill, and it just occurred to me to wonder if I should make SURE it stays up where he can't graze on it. (Since knowing him, he'd love the 'extra flavored' grass.)

ETA: I knew about the onions/garlic already. :)

Eh, I would avoid it, just in case. I can look it up later.

The onion comment was more aimed at the poster I quoted...

[MrWinston]

I think grazing is totally normal for some dogs. I've had dogs that never showed an interest in grass and some that routinely graze. They do seem to be very interested in the fresh spring grasses. I wouldn't worry about it at all, except of course for the unfortunate "elimination" issues.

[horsetales]

Mine never did until we had the farm and they found timothy. The love laying next to me munching on timothy while I fill the water trough. They eat the yard fescue if they want to vomit.

[Guin]

Both my big dog and little dog have been munching on the nice spring grass during our walks. I think it's healthy! When the grass dries out later on in the summer, they don't bother with it. Everyone wants a nice fresh spring salad. :yes: