Why do dogs eat grass and then throw up?

Some dogs regularly graze without vomiting as a preference. They just seem to like to eat grass. Other digs will just occasionally quickly eat a larger tuft seemingly in order to vomit – I suspect they may have an upset stomach and are self-medicating.

Both types of dogs should be monitored so that they are not ingesting newly-placed insecticides, etc. especially the dogs who regularly graze.

We don’t use pesticides so he can graze to his heart’s content. Although I wish he won’t, cleaning his snout isn’t fun for me or him.

grass souths an upset stomach

@DrBill how does it soothe his stomach? Not questioning you, I’m genuinely interested.

you can get some info HERE

Dogs cannot tell us why, but some one theory is grass acts as an antacid.

It will prevent “dry heaves” if they need to throw-up but can’t because there is not enough content, the grass fills the void, then they can vomit and discharge the offending substance.

Cats also nibble on grass and then heave. I can see the undigested grass when Milo lets go, usually on one of my oriental rugs. Heaven forbid he should pick a spot outside; is a plot of 20 acres too limiting for one picky feline?

vvYa should have waited one more minute. And isn’t it also a city in Ghana?

aren’t acreas those lil poiple flowers?

@gailcalled Our other dog was the one who puked 2 feet from the linoleum and that took me a week of soaking and scrubbing to get up the stain. At least the poodle comes right up to us and gives a heave and then runs for the back door. He’s a considerate pup.

@DrBill Thank you for the link to the article. It confirmed what I suspected.

My dog will always eat grass when she has an upset stomach. I think they know that the grass will make them vomit and the vomiting will make them feel better.

My two dogs will eat grass when they have a tummy upset. I think they eat it so they will be sick, then they will feel better.

@tranquilsea: At least the quantity of cat mess is much smaller than that of dogs’. (Having trouble choosing my words here.) And I have, in over two years, never seen a hairball, in spite of the white hair on all my clothes and lying in clumps as the weather warms.

@gailcalled That’s true. I haven’t had cats since I moved in with my hubby as he is allergic to them. In many ways I miss them.

We bought a poodle to cut down on animal hair but now we have my mother’s Jack Russell, who sheds all over the house.

My dog some years ago got into the compost pile. That was the foulest mess ever!!! We happily sacrificed a blanket to soak and scoop into garbage. It never occurred to me that that might be interesting!