Will a diet change help?

Re: Will a diet change help?

Steph Worsley — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:59:11 GMT

Have you done a full GI blood work up including folate/cobalamin? just a thought to check for any deficiencies

Re: Will a diet change help?

Chris Geddes — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:28:18 GMT

Hmm. Personally I would seek the opinion of another behaviourist.

Of course a small about of grass eating is fine (except my collie doesn't like passing out ever one blade the other end; He stops running around and lies down until I walk over to him and pull it our for him....but I digress....)

Given this, obstruction must be very rare. However, as your dog has had it once...

If you really really trust the behaviourist you saw I would consider muscle, but I would avoid if at all possible - other owners think you have a vicious and the dog can't mooch around smelling backsides etc as well!

Re: Will a diet change help?

gemma83 — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:01:38 GMT

They both have a completed diet.

They have advocate monthly and have been wormed recently.

Vet health checks all fine. Though spoken to a behavourist is the past and they said could be one of 3 things:- lacking something from the food their on (prob not as on complete food), to make himself sick or some dogs just love the taste of it.

Has been advised that if he keeps doing it I must have to muzzle him on walks.

Thanks for your replies.

Re: Will a diet change help?

Chris Geddes — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:11:51 GMT

I agree with Katie's comprehensive reply!

Two dogs - sounds behavioural.

Worth worming though as can cause pica....as you can nutritional deficiencies, but this extremely unlikely in dog on commercial diet.

I wouldn't put money on changing food helping but worth a go - doesn't cost anything (unless you move up a price category!).

Re: Will a diet change help?

Katie Mansfield — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 09:34:32 GMT

I'm speculating here cos I'm not a vet / behaviourist, I'm an SVN. Grass provides fibre - is there a possibility your dogs are lacking fibre in the food they're currently on? (I would say unlikely if they're on a regular diet, tinned or dry). Are they being fed the recommended amount for their weight? Have you tried increasing it slightly?

My other thought is (if it's not a dietary deficiency problem) could it be behavioural with one dog having started it and the other copying? Just a thought cos my old dog had a behavioural coprophagia problem (delightful lol) and when we got the puppy she copied.

I think if it was my dogs my first port of call would be getting both a vet check to make sure there's no health issue for the grass eating, worm them both (if you haven't already) and then if that didn't work seek behavioural advice.

Good luck,

K x