Why is my dog eating the grass roots?

Question

Each year at this time, she finds a patch of grass and just lays down and carefully pulls the roots up and eats them and then puts the grass tuft back in place. I have tried giving her dog vitamins thinking she was lacking something but they didn't do anything. She also starts eating any paper she can find.

I have never seen a dog do this before. She is a 7 year old German Shepherd and in great health with the exception of occasional grand mal seizures. I had her checked for the seizures and the vet said she will have them her whole life and not to worry unless they get more frequent.

The vet I go to doesn't know why she eats the roots. Best guess is that she is finding some nutrient there she is lacking and told me if I brought a sample of the root, he could have it tested to see what it contains for about 600 bucks.

I'm hoping someone here knows why she does this and what she is lacking if she is lacking.

She isn't eating the grass, only the roots and she isn't constipated. She is quite regular and has normal movements.

She has been doing this for the last two weeks and now I have a huge patch of lawn that is destroyed. She eats so much of it that she barely eats her normal food.

If she just likes the taste, why does it ONLY happen at this time each year? And why the cravings for paper? I had to start closing my office door because she was getting up on my desk and eating bills! BTW Companies don't believe the "My dog ate the bill" story. I got quite a few chuckles when I asked for new copies to be sent.

I even tried giving her rawhide bones which are normally her favorite thing of all time and she won't touch them. Normally she will chomp away at them until they are completely gone before getting up. She will spend 4-5 hours eating them. But now, nothing.

Answer 1

Hey there thank you for taking the time to find the answer for your dog!!

To start with I had dogs and animals or every pet you can possibly think of as a hobbyist! I treat them not as animals I treat them like as if he/she is one of my family! Your dog us eatng grass because that's their natural behavior and also of they are constipated ,truth but weird. It seems that the nutrients that they get from natural plant is powerful than preserved vitamins! It helps them get the nutrients directly from the grass!

It is nothing to worry about!

Good Luck!!

Answer 2

On the days when my German shepherd ignores his usual food, I wait for about 8 hours to see if he restart eating. If not, I collect a handful of grass tufts and offer it to him. The dog shows his happiness on seeing the grass and will start eating them just like goats.Then within half an hour , the dog vomits the grass two/ three times and restart eating the food which he ignored earlier.
Incidentally, if the dog has loose motions, I feed him leaves of the bamboo grass, after pounding it into a paste. I found it is a great cure.

Answer 3

dogs do it whilst their tummy is disappointed. The grass will help him vomit, and he will sense greater ideal. as quickly as, I left my dogs unattended with this low-fee leather-based-form leash and he or she chewed it up and swallowed a bite. She ate various grass the following day and threw all of it up. It gave me particularly a scare on the commencing up, via fact the 1st time she threw up, it replaced into purely grass. So, i did no longer comprehend what replaced into incorrect. till she threw up a 2nd time and the bite of leash got here out. yet there is something that's making me ask your self. Your dogs is continuously ingesting the grass, meaning he in all probability gets an incredible variety of tummy aches. Hmm...

Answer 4

Dogs eat grass because it's how they clean their inside of their stomach. When dogs eat grass they vomit back up and grass helps them when they get constipated. She is not lacking any vitamins. Trying feeding her different brand of food she maybe getting sick of the same food all the time.

Answer 5

I was told ounce, that their taste buds are completely different then ours. So things you would think have no taste might be delicious to them!

I also was told that they eat grass because it makes their tummy's feel better.

But thats ridiculous 600 to test the root!

Answer 6

everytime my dog eats grass, his stomach is bothering him. maybe she likes eating the roots because they are different from she normally eats,or she just likes the taste of fresh grass roots. anyway, as long as shes not getting sick, she should be fine.

Answer 7

My dogs love to eat grass, and supposedly it is good for their digestive system. My westie eats toilet paper rolls after stealing them from the bathroom cupboard and he is still alive, so don't worry too much...

Answer 8

My dog used to eat grass, but I switched him to Canidae dog food and he doesn't eat grass anymore.

Answer 9

he aint something wrong and the grass will help throw it up to get it out of its system. also, malnutrition.

Answer 10

THERE ARE ALOT OF REASONS:
-TO SETTLE A UPSET STOMACH
-NOT LIKEING DOG FOOD
-NOT ENOUGH ATTIONTION
-NOT BEING FED ENOUGH