Dogs eating grass

[Buttons2]

Hi all, well I just did some research about why dogs eat grass & if it should be of concern. Rags likes to graze on our walks in the woods, since he hasn't thrown it up yet (that I've noticed), I've decided he must just do it for the flavor. Never saw him do it much this winter so I'm thinking it's part of spring for him? New grass probably has chlorophyll in it perhaps?

I know my cat chews grass to cough up furballs, she brings it right back up.

Has anyone got any comments about this?

And time for flea meds on our pets! Hate using that stuff but fleas & ticks are sure not a good thing!

Buttons

[ainee]

G'day Buttons2,
I've known from when I was a kid, that dogs and cats eat grass for medicinal purposes - so it's ok - they know when they need to eat it and when they don't. I've seen our farm dogs eat grass often, especially when let loose after being tied up for a day or two being rested after working the sheep.

Fleas - I found this little gem in a magazine years ago -
"Our dog had fleas and we had run out of shampoo. So we soaked a shoelace in eucalyptus oil and tied it around his neck. By the next day, he was completely flealess."

I haven't tried this on the dogs, but I rubbed a piece of cotton wool with eucalyptus oil on, around our cat's ears and around his neck - the next day there were no more fleas.
The cat doesn't like the smell, nor the vapour of the eucalyptus oil in his eyes, but his ears were free of fleas for a few weeks. I guess he got the fleas from the rabbits he catches in the bush.

ainee.

[joy]

hi buttons and ainee. yes my dog eats grass and so did our cats. then often you would see where they had spit it back uip. so obviously they had a reason as i know my animals weren't dumb.

that is a good tip about the eucalyptus oil. i imagine it is much safer than some of the things we put on them. my husband sprays down our yard every spring with something and i have to try and remember to stay inside or i get strange redness and more on feet. now that i already have enough problems with rashes, etc. i really do need to stay inside and keep my dog in as well.

[Buttons2]

I've got that bottle of tree tea oil from when I tried it on Rags a few weeks ago, might it work the same way? Smear some on the dog collar? Cat refuses to wear a collar so won't work for her.

also, I've known for years that brewer's yeast mixed in the dog or cat food will repell fleas but not sure about ticks? I don't buy the stuff anymore but could get some I suppose.....I don't like the idea of the chemicals but they do seem to work (for what they cost they sure ought to!)

I'm using the tree tea oil on my toenails now, will report back on how good it does with my ingrown toenails, foot doc actually told me to do this,I love the smell of the stuff....

Ainee, what does a tree tea look like? Does the entire tree have an odor? I'd love to live down under except for the snakes you have would be my worse nightnmare!:D Well, at least you have sunshine!

Later,Buttons

P.S. I get all stuffed up around eucalyptus or I'd sure try it! Neighbor has a small tree in her yard,I love the look of the leaves though.....

[ainee]

G'day Buttons,
First of all, I hate snakes to - we get an odd one near our house every year and see many on the road - dead, as well as alive. They are everywhere in some degree - experts say that most snake bites are caused by people when trying to kill the snakes. So it's best to give them a wide birth and stay out of their way. But like the kangaroos, you don't see them jumping or snakes slithering down roads and streets in built up cities and towns very often.
We have tea trees growing in our bush and by our little river. They grow up to about 10 feet or so tall - over 3 metres - have many long thin branches from the base, have small leaves - I can't remember exactly what they smell like - you know, if it is close to you, you sometimes take it for granted.
I don't know if tea tree oil would work the same as the eucalpytus oil for fleas, but it's worth trying. I know Mum uses eucalyptus oil on her old sore toes sometimes.
Yes, I love gum trees to. There are many different varieties - many had flowers on this year after we had a few inches of rain in our little corner of the world. There are many areas in Australia still affected by one of the biggest droughts in many years. I don't have a flower garden, so put a few gum branches in a vase in the lounge room - they dry off and look dead after a day or two, but I like them.
I found this info in a magazine - for algae in a garden pond. The lady writing said she tied 3 used teabags and a small pebble into a stocking and placed it in her pond. Within an hour, the algae had dissappeared. Four weeks later, there was still no algae. She said it was simple, cheap and effective. She didn't say if there were fish in the pond.
There are probably many more old simple remedies around for healing and other uses. I must see if I can find some - if I find some, I will post them here.
It's the beginning of Autum here - and yes, the sun is shining - the nights are getting colder, but the days are tops.
Have a nice day
ainee

[Cry Tears]

aren't smokin it!
Its just horrid when they eat grass....it makes them puke it back up each and every time! Silly dogs!
Why they eat it is beyond me cuz it just makes them sick.
I've tried all sorts of tricks in hoping to go "natural" for flea tick control. Yeast flakes, tree oils, peppermint....and all. Fleas and tics eating away!
What really stopped this maddnes with the flea infestation, Frontline!
Wonderful stuff! I will ALWAYS use it because its stopped a lot of suffering for my animals...and haven't seen fleas around here for 5 plus years!
I use it only once a year and not need it as suggested every few months.
Its really great stuff.
Our vet is into holistic and natural health for dogs...he uses Frontline on his pets....He has one of Satin, our black labs, pups....but he's a huge guy, 5 years old. Wonderful dog!
Why let your animals suffer with flea's....then they get infested, maggots in the skin....they itch, and suffer.
I'm so glad I found Frontline....or even Advantage...its good stuff.
Call the company and ask them about Toxins...you may be very surprised!
Hope this helps. Cheryl
Hey...check out the pix of new Foal Lilly. She's soooo cute!