Anyone who has a dog or a cat at home has surely seen them eating grass. In our eyes it seems something inappropriate, strange or even scary, because it makes us think that maybe they are sick. Scientists wondered why pets do this, and the answer they found brings us great relief.
Positive World tells you the results of a recent study and why you shouldn't worry anymore if you see your pet eating grass. At the end, you will find a very useful bonus on this topic.
False myths banished
There is a false myth that dogs and cats eat grass as a method of purging themselves to relieve indigestion. This myth was supported by the remains of vomit that were later found in the garden or inside the house.
However, it appears that purging is not a valid explanation for this behavior. It is also not true that they need to eat grass to incorporate missing nutrients into their diet, or that the intake causes them to vomit.
The truth behind grass intake in pets
According to the results of a survey published by the journal Science , eating grass is a common behavior among cats. To conduct the research, more than 1,000 cat owners were asked to observe them for 3 hours a day.
71% of those surveyed watched their cat eat grass at least six times. While 91% said that the animal did not appear to be sick before eating and only a quarter of the cats vomited afterwards. Therefore, vomiting is occasional, and not the primary target of weed intake in cats.
In the case of dogs, one study revealed that 68% of the 1,571 dogs investigated ate grass and other plants on a daily or weekly basis. While the rest did it once, or less, a month. Of the group that ate grass, only 9% appeared ill before ingestion, and 22% vomited afterward. It was also found that the sex, breed and type of diet of the dog have nothing to do with the frequency or type of plants consumed.
Only one difference emerged: puppies eat plants more often than adult dogs, but showing no signs of disease either before or after ingestion. In conclusion, eating grass is a normal behavior in domestic dogs. And the preferred herb is grass.
It's just about animal instinct
The study presented by Dr. Benjamin L. Hart et al. Concludes that it is not true that both cats and dogs ingest grass because they are sick, to induce vomiting as a purge, or to compensate for a deficit in their diet.
It is an instinctive behavior that pets carry from their wild ancestors , who did it to keep intestinal parasites at bay. The scientists also revealed that cats eat more non-grass plants than dogs and that puppies eat more often because their immune systems are developing.
Bonus: which herbs and plants are toxic and which are harmless to pets
Now that we know why pets eat plants and herbs, the question arises: are all the plants in the garden edible and harmless? Most are, or cause mild symptoms. Others, on the other hand, are toxic and dangerous.
According to the Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA), some of the plants that can cause serious effects in dogs and cats are:
- Azalea : among the symptoms it causes, there is depression of the central nervous system and cardiovascular collapse.
- Leek : the active principle present in this plant produces , among other things, anemia.
- Kalanchoe : causes vomiting, diarrhea and abnormal heart rate.
- Castor bean: produces excessive thirst, tremors, shortness of breath and seizures, among other symptoms.
- Aloe vera : generates vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
There are many more. You can find the full list here .
On the other hand, there are plants and herbs that both cats and dogs can ingest without problems. Most of these plants are easy to grow, even in small spaces. For example:
- Catnip - Also called catnip or cat basil, it can be found naturally in gardens or vacant lots.
- Germinated catnip : it is marketed in seeds that germinate in a few days. They can be made from oats, birdseed or wheat.
- Bamboo : it is growing rapidly and grows well indoors.
- Aromatic herbs : Basil, thyme, rosemary or sage used for food are also safe for pets.
When you saw your pet eat grass, did you think it was sick? What other reasons could you think of to explain this behavior?