guy
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eating grassmine eat grass and then are sick - yellow bile like stuff - stains the carpet!
Anyone any ideas why dogs do this?
They are on one meal a day - green tripe with added fresh meat ~(if available). No cereal.
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Ghilliegumdrop
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I always was told that they do it to make themselves sick and get rid of the bile buildup...but there is also another thought that they need something in the grass that they aren't getting in their food. Incidentelly down in Wales the vet that Ghill has just been to [at a cost of £164.03] has a sign on the counter saying if your dogs are eating grass, snails and/or slugs there is a danger that they will pick up lungworm and other baddies. So be aware 
Jan
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Victoria
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Dogs like cats will eat grass cos well, basically, they may need worming. For example couch grass aka dog grass, twitch, crab grass is a recognised herbal emetic and intestinal cleanser for the canine and feline. Any cat or dog who will seek out these herbal remedies for themselves must be applauded for they have not yet lost their natural instinctive knowledge of such things. A dog consuming snails and slugs is not allied to grass eating.
I take their eating grass as a que for a need of a vermifuge from my lot... 
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Ghilliegumdrop
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It is if there are slug and snail eggs on the grass, and I was just passing on the message from the vet as a warning.
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Annie as admin
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In that case, mine must need worming immediately after being wormed.  All three of them have some grass before breakfast, lunch and dinner and any other time there happens to be any around.  They aren't sick with it, they don't choke on it, they sometimes watch me with the Brittany eye roll as they are doing it, in case it's a 'naughty step' misdemeanour, then take to their heels in case I want to chase them afterwards.  I think they just enjoy the taste. It doesn't seem to matter what variety it is either as I have about 20 different grasses in the garden and the field. Don't have any slugs or snails crawling up the stalks that I can see.
Annie
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Victoria
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If your dogs are continuously eating grass inspite of being wormed then they have a need for intestinal cleansing. A short term review of their diet may be required perhaps even a fast.
Dogs will eat insects (Farley Mowat in his book Never Cry Wolf discusses the diet of wolves so this fact is scientifically recognised) but slugs and snails with their slightly saline composition may indicate a need in the dog. Kelp powder administered once a day will suffice or by adding salt to a 'boil up' of greens and meat.
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Annie as admin
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Thank you for that, Victoria. But actually my dogs are all eating very healthily and rarely need to see the vet, they are fit and well and work very well too as well as always being in show condition. The only insects I see them eating os the occasionl fly which dares to enter the house! I will bear this information in mind should I ever see any deterioration in their overall condition so thank you again. However, I do not really think their grass eating is related to their overall health - I think they actually like the taste of it. My friend's dogs browse on rape as well as grass.
Annie
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Ghilliegumdrop
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Ghillie likes cauli, broccoli,cucumber,mushroom, tomato and lettuce so she's into green [and other colours]. There are lots of other fruit and veg that she eats as well as grass. I don't think she is out of condition or unhealthy just because she likes to eat a mouthful of grass every now and then..
I have a feeling that the sign at the vets meant to watch out when your dog/s ate grass just in case there were any slugs or snails on the grass as they [the vets] had had cases of lungworm presented to them. I'm not sure we should need to read anything sinister into this, or start a debate on the merits or otherwise. of grass eating. My vet has not had any cases reported to them so it most probaly is a localised event ie Wales. 
Jan
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honeys humans
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hello everyone - its been a while but i couldn't keep away from the BCGB forum for long lol
my parents have a young ESS in cornwall which had 1/3 of a lung removed because of lung worm. apparently there's been a sharp increase in the number of cases especially in the south west and wales. it went undetected for some time because up until now it was fairly uncommon and vets weren't used to seeing it. i think main symptoms are coughing, fast breathing and fatigue - plenty of sites out there with info.
nice to be back
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Annie as admin
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Welcome back, Mike. Hope you are feeling better now, and stay well
Annie
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honeys humans
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thank you annie i've missed this lovely friendly place
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Ghilliegumdrop
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Like I said beware that there are no slugs or snails about on the grass that the dogs eat as they carry the lungworm eggs. If you go out at night, when the grass is damp, you will see them marching over the lawn. Must admit I take great pleasure in slinging them over the fence onto the road so the birds can eat them the next morning.
Jan
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guy
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| Ghilliegumdrop wrote: | you will see them marching over the lawn. Must admit I take great pleasure in slinging them over the fence onto the road so the birds can eat them the next morning.
Jan |
Won't they have marched off the road looking for grass before the birds get up in the morning? 
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Ghilliegumdrop
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By the time they hit the road and bounce a couple of times I don't think they are in a fit state to march any where. Any way they would have a job getting back over the fence
Jan
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Annie as admin
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I must be missing something in my life I have never seen a slug or a snail marching anywhere Mind you, I will be watching out for any lurking ones when I go to France on the 16th.
Guy, when are you and Julia going over? Are you going to the aptly named 'foreigners night' If so ,I'll be looking for a dance from you, Julia permitting
Annie
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Ghilliegumdrop
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My God, the womans desperate
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