One of the most common habits among dogs is eat grass, who often vomit soon after. There are many opinions regarding this strange behavior; While some claim that it is natural and even beneficial, others believe that it can be harmful. In any case, there are many factors that can trigger this behavior.
First of all, we must know that eating vegetables is a practice inherited from their ancestors the wolves, who can resist for days eating exclusively grass. This helps them to spit up and vomit, and with it, cleanse your stomach. "It acts as an irritant to the stomach wall: it increases the secretion of acids and the thickness of the digestive wall and, in the end, it leads to vomiting", explains veterinarian Adrián Aguilera.
This behavior may be motivated simply by the evolutionary instinct, although sometimes it has its origin in very different causes. One of them is stomach pain; If the animal suffers from poor digestion or discomfort, it will try to induce vomiting to alleviate the discomfort. Another theory states that an insufficient diet leads dogs to acquire this habit. In fact, wolves routinely consume plants looking for a source of fiber.
At first, eat grass it does not have to be harmful to our dog. However, it is necessary to take certain precautions, since this intake entails some risks. For example, the grass may have recently been treated by pesticides and chemicals, easily causing poisoning in the animal.
On the other hand, this habit is sometimes a symptom of a digestive disorder, especially if the dog compulsively consumes vegetables. In that case, it is necessary to go to the vet to find out what is happening and find the solution. It can also be a sign of some behavior problem; anxiety or boredom are two good examples of this.