Eating grass, roots and earth: looking for minerals?

[kjdonkers]

Our 2 sisters Lela and Binti love to eat grass (also in the goose poo packaging), and lots of it. Binti is also aficionada to reed roots and earth (in modest quantities). The other day they devoured some spinach leaves someone had tossed out.
They get good quality food and treats, but might this have to do with a mineral deficit?
Any input welcome.

[Terry]

I call our Basenjis "goat dogs" because they love to chow down on the grass and weeds - that is often the first thing they start doing when we let them out in the yard, even before going potty. Ours get green beans with their food regularly, broccoli is also a big favorite, as is spinach - but not lettuce! I think they just like the flavor.

Terry

[DebraDownSouth]

Most research suggests that they don't know why. It appears dogs eat grass and things because they taste good. That said, we had a Rottie (so one huge guy) who had to have surgery due to blockage from grass, so you really do want to limit the amt. I give mine a little herb salad stuff a few times a week when I have one and they love it, love lettuce all of it. And they'll still eat a little grass. I wouldn't worry about mineral or other deficits.

[YodelDogs]

Every Basenji that I have ever had has enjoyed grazing grass, especially the new grass in the Spring. I don't think that eating grass has anything to do with nutritional deficiencies. Mine also enjoy almost every kind of vegetable I give them. Tomatoes are a favorite but they also like lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, green beans, carrots, etc. I sometimes use baby carrots as treats instead of dog biscuits and I give teething puppies cold carrots to soothe their gums. Raw veggies are great for dogs in modest quantities, of course. Now fruit is another story. They will eat apple slices but that's about it. Grapes are fun to play with but once they get squished they walk away from them lol.

[eeeefarm]

My guy eats grass to induce vomiting if he has a queasy stomach, and in the spring he seems to like to graze on the fresh spring grass. I discourage the practice as much as I can, because it is likely to result in vomiting if he gets too much. Interestingly, I have not yet had a Basenji that likes lettuce, although all of mine have enjoyed broccoli, green peppers, asparagus and a number of other vegetables. My current boy doesn't like green beans, but my previous dogs all did.

[vickilb]

My female B LOVES the crunchy ribs of lettuce. My BRAT boy isn't quite so sure about this, but I don't think his first Mommy fed him lettuce. My female will also root/dig in the yard and eat roots & dirt. She does enjoy grass too but, boy oh boy, digging in the dirt is fun!!!! Just chalk it up to Bs being unique and just a little crazy!

[nobarkus]

Mine eats the grass and the dirt with it, especially if it's damp or wet. He'll just jam his nose in the grass and pull up a chunk and eat it. When we go to the park and the grass is laying on top from the mower he'll scoop up and eat as much as possible. Rarely does he throw it up. It just comes out the other end, stringy poop. He'll just eat mud too without the grass.

[kjdonkers]

Thanks, sounds like we have normal B's after all....

[Chealsie508]

I must be the odd man out...Oakley doesn't touch grass or dirt...he sniffs it but hasnt yet tried to eat it, but we know dogs who do it EVERYTIME they get the chance!

[MacPack]

MIne dig little holes and lick/eat the dirt both at the beach and at the dog park, fortunately not in our yard! They also graze on various grasses, especially tender spring greens. They also like almost all cooked veges, not many raw. The boys eat oranges, bananas and watermelon, most anything but Nicky is not a fruit eater. She will eat a half cup of dirt, when she finds just the right flavor!