jraeyre wrote:
<<The Veterinarian I worked for told me that when Dogs and Cats eat grass it is because of something they are lacking in their diets.>>

That Vet is either an idiot or a liar since that is not true.  It could be that the Vet was a well educated clinical vet who didn't study animal behavior.


Dogs eat grass because they can and they like it.  It makes them sick because they can't digest it.  The time lapse between episodes is based on how much they like the taste, how hungry they are and how long it takes them to forget it made them sick the last time.



Jra


So now you know more than Veterinarian's?

For CATS!

Why Do Cats Eat Grass?
by: Drew Pilton


Some cat owners make the mistake of preventing their cat from eating grass. There are various
reasons for this, one being that they think it makes their cat ill or upsets their stomach. This is an
incorrect assumption and in fact the eating of grass followed by regurgitation is a perfectly
natural behavior for all cats.

Cats do not possess the ability to separate meat from fur bones or feathers before eating like
we do so they have to eat the digestible parts along with the indigestible parts. When the cat
has finished digesting what he can the rest has to be removed from the system. To try and pass
this through the digestive tract could cause obstruction and severe illness so this is where grass
eating comes in.

The habit of eating grass triggers the natural process of regurgitation of indigestible foods
including its own fur balls which would otherwise obstruct the system. This can appear to us
humans as if the cat is being violently ill but this is not the case and in fact is very beneficial to
the cat.

What about other plants and vegetables?

Cats cannot produce the enzymes needed to break down plant matter. Even when pureed or
powdered, vegetables simply pass through the digestive tract without leaving any of their
nutritional content. This alone is not harmful to your cat, but when undigested plant matter
mixes with highly digestible food such as meat, indigestion and other complications may occur.
Grass is an exception however; some cats compulsively eat grass when you leave them
outdoors. This will cause them to regurgitate the indigestible matter, including raw vegetables.

If your cat is unable to get access to grass he may attempt to eat your house plants instead.
This could be dangerous because some house plants and flowers are toxic to cats, so if you have
a house cat like a Ragdoll cat for example you should provide a regular supply of potted grass to
prevent him looking elsewhere. And most importantly do not punish your cat for regurgitating on
to you carpet because he will not know why you are punishing him. Regurgitation is an
involuntary action of your cat’s stomach so he could not stop it happening even if he tried.
Cleaning up after the occasional regurgitation should be an accepted part of being a loving cat
owner as they are only doing what comes naturally.


About The Author

Drew Pilton is the writer of 'The Complete Ragdoll Cat Keepers Handbook, to find out more visit:
http://www.ragdoll-cat-care.com


FOR DOGS!

Why do dogs eat grass - Professors House

www.professorshouse.com › ... › Dog InformationHealthArticlesCached
One reason dogs eat grass is because it makes them sick! Dogs that use grass to binge and purge do so because of a build up of bile in their stomachs.

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