Why does my dog eat grass? There are many possibilities and theories surrounding this question but no one knows for sure.  Some people believe it’s instinctive.  Wild dogs once fed mainly on herbivores which would have ingested grass, making it a natural part of their diet.  Some dogs may simply enjoy the taste.  Others believe that it is so the dogs can remediate an upset stomach – the theory is that the dog eats the grass to induce vomiting.  It is unknown if dogs eat grass to make themselves vomit or if it is because of the grass that they vomit.   No matter the reason, eating grass is normal behaviour unless it is in excessive amounts.

How do I give a pill to my pet?  You may be required at some point to medicate your pet in the form of either a pill or liquid.  Dogs are easier to trick into taking pills than cats.  The pill can be hidden in a small amount of canned food or in a treat – your dog will ingest the pill without knowing it.  Certain commercial treats called Pill Pockets, available for both dogs and cats, are designed to hide pills with their easily moldable texture and pocket design.  Offer the hidden pill just before a regular meal to increase the chances of success.

If the treat trickery does not work, especially with cats since they can be picky, you may be required to physically pill your pet.  Based on the size of your pet, sit on your knees or stand behind him/her to prevent him/her from backing up.  With your dominant hand, place your thumb and forefinger on either side of your pet’s face.  Applying gentle pressure to the space between the upper and lower jaw will force your pet’s mouth open.  With the pill ready in your other hand, deposit the medication as far back on the tongue as possible and allow them to close their mouth.  With their head slightly elevated, massage your pet’s throat until they swallow.  Liquid medications are dispensed with a syringe or dropper.  Insert the dropper or syringe between the teeth and cheek at the back of their jaw.  While tilting the chin upward, slowly dispense the medication.  Remember to give your pet time to swallow especially when administering a large dose.

Should I give my pet milk? It may surprise you to learn that dogs and cats are lactose intolerant. Both dogs and cats lack the proper enzymes to be able to digest cow’s milk.  Therefore, feeding milk can result in diarrhea and stomach upset.  When feeding a newborn kitten or puppy, it is important to purchase the proper formula from your veterinarian and avoid giving cow’s milk.

What do I do if my dog is eating poop?  This is referred to as coprophagia.  There are many theories as to why dogs might eat their own or other animals’ feces.  A mother will eat her puppies’ excrements as a form of protection from predators.  Coprophagia has not been linked to a poor diet; however, in rare cases, it could be related to a medical reason, such as starvation or malnutrition from parasites.  Dogs may also do it out of anxiety, learned behaviour from watching other animals or as a habit picked up as a puppy from playing with and tasting everything.  In some cases, dogs just like the taste.

Prevention is important to reduce the risk of parasitic infection.  The best way is to always clean up feces as soon as possible.  Ensure your dog is on a leash to decrease accessibility to feces or use baby gates or barricades in the house to prevent access to locations where stool might be available (litter boxes, puppy pads). Other options include adding pineapple juice or a product known as Forbid to the animal’s food.  These products create a bitter and unpleasant taste in the stool when it is ingested.  It is important to perform frequent fecal analysis on your pet and give regular deworming to decrease the chance of intestinal parasites.