Sherlock, a rather distinguished-looking Irish Setter, and his companion, Watson, a squat but scrappy English Bulldog have been quite an inseparable pair, ever since they were puppies together. They don’t seem to notice the differences between them – breed, size, face shape, and all that. In fact, the two behave somewhat like littermates, playing together and sharing food, beds, and toys quite freely. Sherlock, of course, is in charge, which Watson seems to be fine with.
Why Do Dogs Eat Grass (And Then Throw It Up)
This pair of pooches demonstrates a mystery behavior that most, if not all dogs seem to share. A practice that people cannot help but wonder about: both Sherlock and Watson like to eat grass, and both have been known to throw up after consuming the green stuff. Upon close examination of their grass chomping habits though, you would notice that neither throws up every time he eats grass – just sometimes. So, do Sherlock and Watson throw up because they eat grass; or do they eat grass in order to cause themselves to throw up? Well, who better to learn from than a dog named Sherlock, and his sidekick friend Watson?
Because They Like It
So, Watson is chewing on some grass. One of the possible intentions with which he is going about this is that he actually enjoys the taste of grass – many dogs do in fact. Just like a dog who eats garbage or dead animals, he is doing it simply because he wants to, because he enjoys it. It may not taste good to you, but kibble and milk bones probably don’t either.
Because They Need It
Some researchers and vets would argue that dogs need greens, like grass, in their diet. A dog in the wild is an omnivore, partially by proxy. If Sherlock, for example, were a wild dog, and were to eat a small animal like a mouse or a rabbit, he would also ingest the stomach of the creature, which would be filled with partially digested greens. Grass, for this reason, is a natural part of a dog’s diet, and so Sherlock and Watson eating the grass isn’t actually a problem – it is their version of a salad.
Because Their Tummy Hurts…
Many people associate dogs eating grass with dogs throwing up, because it is common, when a pooch like Watson is having indigestion, he will intentionally eat to try and ward off his bad stomach. What does grass do to help? Well, for example, when Sherlock eats grass when he has a bad stomach, the grass gets tangled in the contents of his stomach, thereby taking the irritant with it on the way back up. It is, in truth a very efficient way to start feeling better quickly.
So They Throw Up Because…
Watson and Sherlock do not actually throw up just because they eat grass, but rather, for a handful of other reasons associated with the practice. The first and simplest explanation is that Watson may eat way too much grass, or Sherlock may eat it too quickly, not chewing enough before expecting his stomach to process it. Not chewing the grass well enough, or just being too full can cause a dog to throw up, just as it can cause a human to throw up.
The biggest danger you face when a dog, like Watson or Sherlock, eats grass is that the grass may not be safe to eat at all. If it is covered in pesticides, lawn treatments, or weed killers, of course it will make him sick. These chemicals can make other animals and humans sick, too. To prevent your pooch from getting sick, either ensure that he is not eating contaminated grass, or if that is for some reason impossible, substitute other safe greens in his diet like string beans or cooked broccoli. “Elementary, my dear human,” is what Sherlock would tell you in regards to the whole thing, if he could speak that is.