Why Dogs Eat Grass
n Some people say their dog eats grass to help himself throw up when he has stomach upset. Others say their pet simply enjoys the activity. Who’s right?
Both. Some dogs do seem to eat grass with a passion from time to time, followed by vomiting and then appearing perfectly relaxed. It’s like they know what they need. Others munch casually, like cows. They just seem to like the activity rather than engaging in grass chewing as medical therapy.
It has also been theorized that grass chewing by dogs helps balance their intestinal flora; eliminates parasites from their gastrointestinal tract; and provides nutrients and/or fiber. Whatever. It’s safe, and you shouldn’t be concerned — as long as the grass your dog dines on has not been treated with pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals that could prove harmful.
Dogs Have Night Blindness, Too, and There Seems To Be a Cure
n Some people don’t develop night blindness as they age; they are born with it. It’s the same for dogs, and now a team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine appears to be on to a cure. Through a single injection of gene therapy, they targeted a group of cells deep in the retina that enabled dogs with the congenital condition to see better in dim light. Specifically, the dogs were able to navigate a maze in near-darkness with relative ease, whereas they would not have been able to do that previously.
The hope is that this pilot study will lead to a similar therapy for people with night blindness.
Cannabis Poisoning on the
Increase in Dogs
n More and more people are giving various forms of cannabis to their pets to help ease symptoms of arthritis and other painful conditions. But cannabis poisonings in dogs are on the rise, according to a survey of veterinarians across the U.S. and Canada. Symptoms of cannabis toxicity in dogs include urinary incontinence, disorientation, and an abnormally slow heart rate.
It is not clear from the survey results whether the dogs were poisoned by cannabis intended for human consumption or for their own consumption for medical reasons. What is clear is that cannabis is not a benign substance.
Compounding the concern is that cannabis products for dogs are not well regulated. If you decide to try cannabis on your dog, choose a product made by a company that can provide lab results showing a) that the supplement contains what the label says it does, in the stated amounts and b) that the product is free from contaminants.
In addition, discuss the amount that might be right with your dog’s veterinarian. Otherwise, you’re dosing in the dark.
