Why do cats and dogs eat grass?
You may have noticed that your dog or cat tends to snack from time to time. This may seem an unusual choice for a snack, especially for catswho are carnivores. So why do our animals eat grass?
“There are a lot of theories,” said Dr Jamie LovejoyA veterinarian at Stack Veterinary Hospital in Syracuse, New York. “We see an eating behavior of grass in dogs and cats, and these are two species that technically do not have the equipment to digest a lot of grass.” For example, eating grass species tend to have Special intestinal bacteria which helps to break down the hard cellulose of the Grass, and many herbivores have several stomach bedrooms and a longer digestive tract To break down plant material.
A commonly repeated theory is that pets eat grass to adjust a stomach ache, said Lovejoy. “Most of the time, he comes out, he comes out a little unchanged, either by vomiting or defecation,” she told Live Science. “And so I think that inspires a lot of stories of old women.”
However, research suggests that the disease can only represent a small percentage of cats and dogs eat grass.
In 2008, The researchers asked several groups of dog owners About the eating behavior of their pets. Out of 1,571 responses from owners to a web survey, 68% said their dogs ingested plants daily or weekly, but only 8% said their dogs frequently showed signs of illness before eating plants. Two similar Surveys on cat owners published in the journal Animals In 2021, only 6% of cats in the first survey and 9% in the second survey appeared badly before eating grass, although 27% and 37% vomit frequently. In the second survey, 71% of owners saw their cats to eat plants at least six times.
The 2021 study also tested the idea that cats eat grass to help expel hair balls. Previous research had suggested that Long hair cats more often vomit hair balls that felines with short hair. However, the study revealed “no obvious difference” in the frequency of the eating behavior of the grass between the two groups.
In relation: Why do cats vomit so much?
The researchers observed Grasing in wild canines and felines Also, which suggests that it is an innate behavior. Scientists have hypothesized that wild cats and Wolves eat grass to clean their parasitic intestinesSo maybe pets do the same.
“I think it’s a bit of a theory that is difficult to test, at least in the United States … because most of our pets really have these high worms,” said Lovejoy. “So it would be difficult to see.”
Although the grass has “no apparent nutritional value”, according to the author of the 2008 study, some scientists have applied that dogs and cats may consume grass for micronutrients like vitamins B, said Dr. Lori TellerClinic teacher at Texas A & M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.
However, this is probably not the case for most pets according to a well-balanced diet, unless the dog or cat has underlying health problems.
“If you have a healthy pet that gets a well -balanced diet and decides from time to time to eat grass, snack on cat, things like that, then [there’s] Absolutely nothing to fear, “told Live Science.” If they are voracious for these plants, or eat them constantly, or eat them constantly, then vomit, then I would certainly look for an underlying problem. “”
Scientific studies on grass in cats and dogs are relatively rare, due to a lack of funding, said Lovejoy. Domestic animals rarely have major health problems by eating a lot of grass, and veterinary research tends to focus on how to deal with more serious problems.
“I think many of these questions are somehow technically unanswered,” she said.
But Lovejoy’s current theory is simple: above all, our pets eat grass because they want – maybe they like the taste, want a certain stimulation or explore their environment.
“There is no reason why cats and dogs want or choose to eat grass,” said Teller. “There are probably as many reasons that there are different types of grass. Some dogs and cats like that.”
Although the eating behavior of the grass is mainly harmless, animal owners should know that certain plants are toxic. Lovejoy recommends checking the American company for the prevention of cruelty to the list of animal plants toxic for pets. Plants treated with certain chemicals can also be dangerous, so people must be aware of their use of pesticides and fertilizers. If pet frequently vomit or have abnormal stools, Teller recommends making a trip to the veterinarian.
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