Health Benefits of Wheatgrass For Pets (Especially Dogs)

Wheatgrass is got from the young grass of triticum aestivum – wheat plant.

It can be cultivated both indoors and outdoors.

It is very simple to grow, you can use wheatgrass at home by growing it in a tray of soil, and harvesting the leaves before it matures.

Wheatgrass provides many nutritional benefits for both humans and animals for it is rich in iron, magnesium, calcium, selenium vitamins A, E and B12.   Thus people also give it to their pets.

Wheatgrass provides many health benefits for dogs such as aiding in digestion, improving blood flow, helps with detoxification and reduces the risk of your pets contracting cancer.

Wheatgrass is full of minerals, enzymes, and vitamins that help in the deconstruction of proteins by the body.

Wheatgrass has anti-inflammatory properties too.

We often see our dogs trying to eat grass when they are playing or walking outdoors.

This is a throwback to their ancestors – the wolves. Dogs crave the minerals found in the grass when they are sick.

Grass helps to soothe upset stomachs. Wolves out in the wild capture and eat herbivores whose stomachs are full of grass and other greenery.

Feeding your pets with homegrown wheatgrass is a good addition to their daily diet.

Organically and hygienically grown wheatgrass is free of pesticides and other chemicals. It is safe for our pets to eat and full of vitamins.

Store-bought pet goods are often lacking in nutrients.

This dietary imbalance can be overcome by feeding pets wheatgrass.

Wheatgrass can also help improve the coat of your pets.

This is especially true of dogs that have skin conditions like open sores.

There is no set dosage for the skin condition, but users have seen benefits by using 1 ounce of wheatgrass juice for 20 lbs of the weight of pet. It is best to start small - give small quantities and then increase.

Many pet owners who are environmentally conscious are keen on feeding their dogs ‘live foods’ like wheatgrass that contain enzymes.

Enzymes are vital to maintaining normal digestive and metabolic processes in our pets. These enzymes are lacking in dried or canned foods that are deeply processed.

Wheatgrass for Benefits for Pets

The different benefits of wheatgrass are also enjoyed by other pets. It is safe for most pets to consume – cats, dogs, hamsters, birds etc. In fact pets can digest the fiber in wheatgrass easier than humans can. The following are some of the benefits of wheatgrass that our pets can enjoy:

• Very safe
• Nutritionally complete
• Provides stamina and energy
• Cures some illnesses
• Fights free radicals and therefore risk of contracting cancer
• Rejuvenates blood
• Delays aging signs
• Helps maintain optimal weight
• Detoxifies the body
• Repairs DNA
• Cures skin conditions
• Cleanses the blood
• Improves circulation
• Regenerates the liver
• Deodorizes the body

How is Wheatgrass good for Your Dog?

Here is a couple of reasons why wheatgrass is good for your pet.

1. It is rich in antioxidants

Wheatgrass works as an antioxidant for human and our canine pals alike.

It has a balanced blend of superoxide dismutase (an enzyme which removes free radicals from the body) and Vitamin-E.

It is a natural detoxifier and is important for the dogs as their diet contains lots of fats and the oxidation of these fats results n the formation of the cancer-causing free radicals.

Being a plant, it also has an ample amount of chlorophyll and carotenes which are proven to be the best anti-oxidants.

2. It improves digestion

Many of the dogs, males and older dogs especially, are more prone to developing stomach problems like bloating.

Such conditions can be treated at early stages by giving healthy fibers to your dog.

Wheatgrass has a high amount of healthy fibers which not only helps your dog with constipation but also helps in the growth of good microbes in the intestine and hence prevents bloating as well.

3. It protects from infection and boosts immunity

Ticks and fleas are the things that dog parents encounter very often.

These unwanted creatures not only are difficult to get rid of but also lead to certain after effects.

They usually decrease the immune system of the dog during infestation making them susceptible to many other infections.

Wheatgrass comes to rescues here as well.

It has a certain amount of Vitamin C which helps to enhance the immune system keeping many diseases and infections at bay. Vitamin C also helps in iron absorption and blood clotting.

4. It provides essential nutrients

Through its high chlorophyll content, it helps in the prevention of gum diseases and eliminates bad breath in dogs.

Chlorophyll has certain phytochemicals like flavonoids and enzymes that are not present in other food items.

Chlorophyll helps remove the toxins and bacteria from the gum.

Wheatgrass contains certain nutrients which keep the brain cells healthy. It has folate and a certain amount of

Vitamin K which helps in the production of neurotransmitters.

It also helps in the breakdown of glucose and hence provides instant energy.

Ways to use Wheatgrass for your Pets

Fresh Wheatgrass is hard to find, so it is best to grow it in the garden to your house or in the kitchen garden, seeds are available online and in the market.

Wheatgrass can be chopped into smaller pieces and given as a training treat. Do not give wheatgrass as a main meal.

It can be included in the diet as a dressing.

Many dogs might not like the taste of it at first so it can be mashed with the food or the most favorite treat.

It can be made up into juice and can be added to the water or given as a thick concentrate.

If you are growing it in a lawn, it would be best to grow it in the spot that your dog goes to the most. Do not add any growth enhancers or pesticides to the plant as they act as neurotoxins.

Many companies that make dog food provide products that have wheatgrass or its extracts.

However, it is always good to feed the natural ones as the company-made products have lots of fillers and preservatives that are unnecessary.

Buy or cut fresh wheatgrass, blend it in a meat grinder or food processors and include it in daily food.

Some pets may like to chew on it plain and this provides extra fiber. There are many ways to use wheatgrass for your pets.

A small water bowl with some fresh wheatgrass juice added to it provides the greatest benefits.

If your pet has an open sore or wound, you can make a poultice with the pulp of wheatgrass, apply it to the wound and close it with a clean bandage.

You can even use wheatgrass juice to clean the wound.

Precautions

Make sure you find out what the right quantity of wheatgrass is to feed your pet every day.

Just as humans suffer from indigestion, nausea or vomiting with excess wheatgrass, your pets will also suffer from similar reactions.