Quote: Michael_Wise

 Quote: Theresa MacDonal

 Quote: Michael_Wise

 Quote: Amy VandeWeerd

Wow..... Why the explosion?

Apparently, Theresa's talking German Shepherd took offense to me suggesting grass eating was stupid.

I'm not saying it cannot be a symptom, but when not = why the aggrevation
to cooked chicken bones & antifreeze dude

Seriously, Theresa! This sentence doesn't make any sense!

I'm going to stop now because I'm starting to worry that something may be wrong. This is getting more incoherent the longer it goes on.

I'm not sure if something is wrong, or if we are hitting a language barrier that I was unaware of.

that's the escape I would take take too ==

Don't worry Michael, I won't be back
turd & all

But Leerburg is an awesome website = my dog is proof

I'm sorry for that, Theresa. I probably went too far after you called me an asshole.

I shouldn't have followed you when you took the conversation from dog's to name calling.

Go back and read the entire thing in context. You totally missed what I said.

Thought we were having fun. Hope everything is OK with you, though. Sleep whatever this is off, and think about it tomorrow with a clear head.

Wow.

At least I got my giggles for the night.

Wow is right, grass can be so controversial. I’m with Connie on this one, in that the verdict is still kind of out.

My dogs all nibble on the odd bit of grass. Spring is noticeable when the new shoots sprout. Me, I think it’s an organic novelty at that time, in our yard. Not something they do daily or on outings. Since the last discussion, citing some interesting studies, I’ve paid extremely close attention to their consumption.

If any one of them was eating it on a daily basis or in any quantity with obsession, and most certainly if they were vomiting or had diarrhea in any form, especially bloody, they would be in the vet faster than you could say bluegrass.

I rank it right up there with allergies. Like humans, all dogs are different. From what I’ve heard some dogs don’t do well on raw or Orijen for that matter (what most consider a quality kibble), diarrhea, weight loss.

Like Mike says, their diet is up to us, what us we expose them to and allow them to eat. Their pallets can be pretty indiscriminating. And it’s up to us to figure out what is going to enable them to thrive.

I don’t think grass is on that list but for some dogs, I also don’t think the odd nibble will hurt them.

Theresa, I’ve been on the receiving end of Mike’s grass opinion too. It is his opinion based on his experience; a very strong opinion that he tends to express with a lot of passion while driving his point home. Also an opinion that’s very enlightening to a lot of owners with dogs that have an issue with grass. Not a problem I’ve had, yet, but am all the wiser for the knowledge that he has shared.

It would be a shame for you to close the door on this excellent resource just because of a little grass cut. Again, as Mike says, I hope you re-read his post in the context it was meant to be expressed.

And as for poor Tanka in all this, I also think Mike’s analysis of problem is a good one. An upset stomach and the licking pretty much go hand in hand, especially if there’s no visible mouth trauma.

Thank you, CJ for the topic redirect.

For air licking, I would look at the whole picture.

If they are just sitting there and all of a sudden start air licking, and don't readily respond to their name or other stimuli, I think seizure.

If the air licking is accompanied by grass eating, I think upset stomach.

Accompanied by roached back, excessive panting, or overall distress, time to consider your dog might be starting to bloat.

If the air licking started in a new place, or around new people or dog's, probably the outward signs of stress or anxiety.

It could be a whole list of things.

Excellent post!!

Talk about informative and all inclusive. Totally validating the 4 stars in my opinion.

Ditto on the 4 star opinion! When I'm ready to move to raw full time for my pups, I plan on cyber stalking Michael.

My personal reasons for not letting my dog eat grass:

It's known to cause upset, like Michael and others have stated.

My dog eats super long pieces when he can... and then they don't come all the way out the other end. I end up with an 80 pound brindle blur flying through my house, with a 1' piece of grass hanging out his bum. Not a pretty sight. My carpet, and walls do NOT appreciate it. Neither do I. I know it's anthromorphizing, but Koenig looks awfully embarrassed after the episode, and as I'm pulling grass out of his butt.

<giggle*snort> Who needs soaps when you have Leerburg?!! LOL!

Ok, i was gone for a day. I agree on the graass thing. Tanks has done extremely well on Origen in the maybe 8months he has been on it. Big improvement over his last food. I would like to go raw, but it is not the right time for it, and that is a whole other topic.

I think it wil be hard to stop it being an ingrained habit that he sees nothing wrong with doing. But that does not mean I am not going to try, or at least cut it down.(no pun intended) he doesn't get diarrhea from it, int he normal amounts he eats, nor does he, except for the rare occassion, throw it up. Yes, we do have to stop every now and again on a walk and get grass out of butt, and yes I think he seems kind of "embarrasses" too, although I don't guess it's exactly that. Since he had off and on runs for the best part of his first year, checking butt before re-entry to the house is a habit.

Guessing from all other factors, I think the air licking ws upset stomach too. is there not a book or a dvd that one can get to learn all this stuff? I wish.

As for the way this post went, opposing views, healthy argueing, yes, but when it takes 10 minutes to wade through the name calling, why not change over to PM's or start a new I don't like your opinion topic? It's easy to see when this needs to happen, right around the first exchange. No one was exchanging any useful information. That is just MHO. Maybe that's not the way it works.

As for who doesn't have a german sheperd. ??? Last time I checked, this was a training site, not a german sheperd site. I have a rottweiler. He is pretty darn smart. Having opposing views is great, cutting on other people's dogs, maybe not. Again, JMHO.

Thanks for all the really helpful info. It is greatly appreciated.