Nearly all dog eat grass some of the time, and some dogs seem to love it. Yet despite the behavior creating few ill effects, it is something that seems to concern many dog owners.

If you are one of those worried by this, read on and we’ll try to find out what dog behavior experts have to say on the subject.

Why Your Dog Needs His Greens

Unlike cats, dogs are omnivores, meaning they cannot survive on a diet of meat alone. Dogs eat all kinds of vegetable matter, and as grass is so readily available, it stands to reason that it forms part of the diet of most wild canine species. It may even have medicinal properties that they need.

You’ve probably noticed how your dog heads for the nearest patch of grass when he’s feeling under the weather. The experts can’t agree as to why this is. Some believe they eat the grass to force themselves to throw up, others think that throwing up is a consequence of eating grass.

Is Eating Grass Dangerous For Dogs?

Lots of dog owners worry about this, particularly as their dogs often throw up the grass they eat. There’s really nothing to worry about, eating grass is a natural canine behavior and something that wild dogs have always indulged in.

A recent study found that where dogs had access to grass a high percentage of them (up to 79%) ate grass and/or other plant matter. The study also showed that dogs prefer grass over other plants. No evidence was presented to suggest the dogs that routinely ate grass were in any way less healthy than those that didn’t.

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?Most dogs that eat grass show no outward symptoms of being ill before they do so. In fact, the dog owners surveyed reported that in 90% of cases their dogs were not ill before eating grass. And it seems unlikely that dogs eat grass to make themselves throw up – less than 25% of dog owners surveyed noticed their dogs vomiting after eating grass.

What is quite possible is that grass provides dogs with much needed fiber. In fact, many dog owners report that once they add a fiber supplement to their dog’s food, the dog stops eating grass altogether.

Does Grass Have Any Health Benefits For Your Dog? So eating grass isn’t bad for a dog, but does that make it good?

Grass offers very little nutritional value. Cattle and other herbivores that rely on it as their primary source of food have to eat tons of the stuff just to get the nutrients they need.

So the small amount consumed by a dog probably has virtually no nutritional value. Having said that it must provide some benefit, as vegetable matter is important in an omnivorous diet.

Why then do they sometimes throw up after eating grass? The experts can’t give an answer to that one, but all agreed that eating grass poses no danger to your dog.

Find out more about why do dogs eat grass, dog grooming, dog health and other helpful dog advice at dogsanddogtraining.com.

Dog vomiting is quite natural canine behavior. All dogs do it, and some do it frequently, and for a number of reasons.

So before you grab your car keys to rush the dog off to the vet, stop awhile! In most cases, there is no need for concern. Vomiting is just a natural way in which dogs remove unwanted matter from the body.

But that’s not to say you should ignore vomiting completely, because at times it can point to a more serious issue. You’ll need to watch for other symptoms like, lack of appetite, diarrhea, depression and lethargy.

If these symptoms accompany the vomiting then the safest course is to take your dog to the vet. Most likely though, the problem will be something minor.

Here are some common reasons why a dog may throw up;

Eating too much or too fast – Let’s face it, some dogs eat as if they’re afraid their food bowl is about to sprout wings and fly away! If this describes your dog, then feeding him smaller, more frequent, meals may reduce the recurring instances of dog vomiting.

Consuming Grass – Nobody really knows why dogs eat grass, but many of them seem to love it. Some experts believe they eat grass to induce vomiting, while others say that eating too much grass makes them vomit. Either way, eating grass often makes a dog throw up.

Eating the wrong foods – A dog will eat just about anything, so it’s up to you to ensure that your dog gets a healthy diet. Dogs that live on junk food and table scraps are always going to throw up. Ditto, dogs that make a habit of raiding the trash.

When should I be worried?

Usually, vomiting is down to one of the 3 reasons I mentioned above. But if it becomes a recurring problem, say once a day or more, you’d be well advised to make your dog checked by a vet.

Also look out for other symptoms, like those mentioned earlier, as well as other unusual signs. Be particularly watchful for blood in the vomit or any strange coloration. If you see this, get your dog to the vet right away.

There may also be a more immediate cause behind your dog’s vomiting. For example, the dog may have eaten a poisonous plant, a household poison, or even a large amount of chocolate. If you think this make be the case, get the dog to your vet immediately.

How To Prevent Your Dog From Throwing Up

Dogs will always throw up, but with a few commonsense measures it is quite easy to reduce the frequency of your dog’s vomiting.

Start by feeding your dog a healthy diet. Cut out all table scraps and junk foods and ensure that your dog cannot get into the trashcan. Feed your dog more frequent, smaller meals and add a fiber supplement, so the dog is less inclined to eat grass.

In most cases, these simple steps are enough to sort out the problem. If however, your dog continues to throw up, you should speak to your vet.

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Dog vaccinations have come under a lot of scrutiny in recent times. Some experts are of the opinion that annual booster shots should be dumped in favor of a three year cycle. Others contest that annual shots as a must to ensure that a dog is protected against communicable diseases.

Whatever the truth, the fact remains that millions of dogs around the world receive vaccinations against the most common canine diseases, and only a very small percentage show any adverse reaction.

The current crop of vaccines we have available may not be perfect, but they do protect your dog against the major diseases. An unvaccinated dog on the other hand is almost certain to become ill at some time, so why risk it? Until there is evidence to support the view that vaccines are ineffective or dangerous, it is definitely a good idea to have your dog vaccinated.

Vaccines offer protection against the common communicable canine diseases. These include distemper, canine hepatitis and kennel cough. A puppy will normally get his first shots at age 6 to 8 weeks. Thereafter, there will be a follow up series of vaccinations lasting until the pup is 15 weeks old. After that there’ll be annual (or 3 yearly) boosters, depending on what your vet advises.

It is common practice to administer the core vaccines in combination. This is commonly referred to as a five-in-one and protects against the following diseases;

Canine Distemper: Distemper is a highly contagious and usually fatal disease. Left untreated it causes seizures, convulsions, heart failure, and respiratory failure. It is transmitted by a healthy dog coming into contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected dog.

Canine Hepatitis: Usually spread by the saliva, urine or faeces of an infected dog, this diseases attacks the abdominal organs and is usually fatal within 10 days.

Leptospirosis: This is a serious bacterial disease that is transmitted by coming into contact with the urine of an infected dog. It causes extensive damage to the digestive tract, the liver and kidneys, and has a very high mortality rate.

Parainfluenza: A highly contagious form of kennel cough that is normally spread through physical contact but can also be transmitted through the air.

Parvovirus: An extremely contagious viral disease that has a particularly high mortality rate among young and old dogs. Parvo mainly attacks the intestinal tract, lymphoid tissue, and immune system, usually resulting in death if not treated.

As well as the core vaccines, your dog will usually need a bi-annual rabies shot.

Why Dog Vaccinations Are Important

Dog vaccinations are important for a number of reasons, chief of which is the health of your pet. But there are many other valid reasons for vaccinating your dog, some of them required by law.

Whether you want to enrol your dog in obedience courses, take him to doggy day care, or put him in kennels, you’ll have to provide a vaccination certificate. Ditto if you want to take your dog with you on your travels, or book into a pet friendly hotel. In addition, proof of vaccination is a licensing requirement in many cities.

While all of these are valid reasons to have your dog vaccinated, the most important of all remains the health and well-being of your pet.

To learn more about dog vaccinations, dog behavior, dog health and other helpful dog advice visit http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com