What to do if your Dog is Eating Plants
When your dog eats plants, be aware of what plants they have ingested. If you suspect that the plant is toxic to your dog seek veterinary care immediately. It is always best to know what plants are growing in your dog’s environment and remove any that are potentially poisonous.
Dogs that are suffering from a nutritional deficiency would benefit from being fed a higher quality food or a nutritional supplement. Speak with your veterinarian about what food would be best for your dog’s nutritional needs.
Mild nausea and gas may not set off any alarm bells, however, if the situation becomes more serious and your dog is exhibiting symptoms including excessive bloating, vomiting or pain you need to consult your veterinarian. There may be an underlying cause that needs to be addressed.
Bored dogs do not make good pets, they can become destructive and an overall nuisance. Be sure to provide plenty of interesting toys for your dog as well as training and social interactions that are stimulating and fun for them.
Dogs that are experiencing boredom and are eating the leaves and flowers of plants because they have nothing better to do are not happy dogs. You will need to ease their boredom by playing with them more and giving them more exercise. Fetch is a great way to get your dog moving and give them that one on one attention that they need. Rotate their toys each week so they do not become bored with the same old toys. Look for interactive toys, food puzzles and activities that will challenge their brain and make them think.
You can prevent your dog from eating plants by removing any plants in your yard and home that your dog has shown an interest in. Research your plants and know which ones, if any, are toxic to your dog.
Provide plenty of opportunities for your dog to play, exercise and interact with you and/or other dogs. This will prevent your dog from becoming excessively bored. Have enough toys that can be regularly changed so your dog does not become uninterested in the same old toys. Always have an upbeat attitude during your time with your dog and provide plenty of positive reinforcement.
If your veterinarian diagnoses a medical condition that is causing your dog to eat plants, the cost of treatment will vary depending on the diagnosis and your demographic. You can spend anywhere from $300 to $2000 for diagnostic tests and treatments.
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Why Eating Plants Occurs in Dogs
Taste
Some of the ornamental plants that we use in our landscaping or put in our homes are actually very tasty to our dogs. When you are deciding on your landscaping and houseplants, be sure to research each plant carefully to ensure that they are not toxic to your dog.
Nutritional Deficiency
There is a wide range of commercial dog foods on the market for you to choose from and they should all be nutritionally complete. Ensure you are feeding a complete diet rather than a filler or a complementary food. Some dogs with underlying medical issues, such as IBD or EPI, may not be absorbing their food as they should. This can lead to deficiencies over time.
Nausea
Generally, dogs will chew on grass to alleviate nausea by inducing vomiting. This will help them feel better, but if you notice that they vomiting excessively you need to take them in for a check-up with your veterinarian. There may be a more serious underlying problem that needs to be diagnosed and treated.
Gas
Gas is simply a sign of gastrointestinal upset and if your dog is feeling gassy they will try to lessen the uncomfortable sensations they are having. They will alleviate gassy feelings by eating certain plants, causing them to have a bowel movement or vomit. Be aware that certain commercial dog foods and treats can cause your dog to become bloated and full of gas.
Boredom
Dogs that do not have stimulating interactions often will become bored and will look for things to do. They may eat plants as a way of occupying themselves. Provide your dog with plenty of interesting toys and allow them to have plenty of exercise time. Some dogs that are high energy or high intelligence would benefit greatly from interactive or puzzle toys.
Why Dogs Eat Grass, Leaves, and Other Plants
The real answer is that we don’t know for sure why dogs eat grass and other greenery. There are several hypotheses, so let’s look at some of the more popular ideas out there.
We do know that a dog’s digestive system is able to handle plant materials since they are omnivores. That means your dog can eat meat as well as vegetable matter and both are important for meeting his nutritional needs.
Some experts hypothesize that’s why dogs will instinctively seek out greenery to munch on. We do know that wild dogs are also omnivores, and as such, they also eat plant material. So it may be that by eating grass and leaves, your pet dog is simply doing what comes naturally.
Many people, including some veterinarians and other animal nutrition experts, think your dog eats leaves or grass because he has a deficiency of some vitamins, minerals, or other nutritionally important foods like roughage. The problem with that idea is that most modern commercial dog foods have a lot of plant materials in them so it shouldn’t be a problem.
As long as your dog’s diet is healthy, it’s unlikely eating leaves or grass is due to any kind of nutritional deficiency. It’s more likely that it represents ingestion of some natural dietary component. In other words, it’s something they instinctively do as part of a natural high-quality diet.
This could become a problem, however, if you’re using commercial dog foods that have low-quality ingredients. Many commercial dog foods contain fillers that have little nutritional value, and if the dog food you’re using has too many fillers and not enough high-quality ingredients, your dog could develop a nutritional deficiency.
One test a mentor of mine at the Bel-Rea Institute for Animal Technology advised many years ago for hard dog food is simple to do — just put some of your dog’s food in water and let it soak overnight. You can just use a little bit to do this.
In the morning, if you see a lot of feathers and other odd-looking debris floating on top of the water, that indicates a low-quality protein source like chicken feathers and beaks instead of the actual meat.
If this is the case, you might consider changing your dog food brand for something with higher quality protein. You can also speak to your veterinarian about which dog food brands are the best for meeting your dog’s nutritional needs. Once your dog is getting enough high-quality food, there should be no reason for him to turn to eating leaves for additional filler.
Another problem dog owners have is if their dog is getting a lot of human snacks and treats, and as a result, he skips his dog food. After all, who doesn’t want to leave room for dessert? If that’s the case, he may be eating leaves or grass as filler or for certain nutritional needs.
As a rule, it’s best to avoid giving your dog human food since your dog’s digestive system can be sensitive to many of the food items humans like to eat. Your pet’s health is important to you, and while you might like to share (and it’s difficult not to give in to those pleading eyes), it’s better for your dog if he sticks to healthy dog treats and food items specifically formulated for his digestive system.
Of course, it’s also important to make sure he’s getting enough food. That varies according to how big your dog is, so it’s best to speak to your DVM to learn more about how much you should be feeding your dog.
How can I stop pets or animals bothering my plants?
Some dogs are finicky eaters, demanding only the finest in life. On the other hand, some dogs will chew anything and everything. Your shoes, your furniture, and even the remote control might seem appetizing to chow hounds. If your dog is prone to the occasional dietary indiscretion, a term used by veterinarians in reference to dogs eating nonfood items, you may think taking your pup for a walk might help curb this behavior. Contents
But what happens when your dog turns his attention to leaves, sticks, pine cones, and even flowers? If you’ve ever frantically searched “how to keep my dog from eating plants,” this is the article for you. We’ll give you the rundown on why the world is not your dog’s salad bar, and teach you how to stop his snacking once and for all.