Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

Why does my dog eat grass?

If you are a dog owner, or regularly walk someone who owns a dog - then there's a huge chance that you've seen dogs eating grass before. If you haven't before then you'll probably start noticing or seeing a dog eating grass as it's a common behaviour. But the big question we often ask ourselves is - why does my dog eat grass? Is it because they are poorly, do they want to be sick or just love the taste? It can be concerning or strange when your dog eats grass, rest assured we'll be diving into why dogs eat grass, the reasons that dogs eat grass and where you need to stop it or not!

A survey of 1,500 dog owners found that nearly 70% said that their dogs ate plants every day, or at least once a week. This behaviour was found to be especially common in younger dogs. Dogs are omnivores, so eating both plants and meat comes naturally to them; and it’s not just pet dogs that eat grass either, as grass eating has been observed in wild dogs too.

So let's dive into why dogs eat grass! 

Why does my dog eat grass?

Firstly, it's important to note that eating grass is very common and a typical behaviour for dogs - so you don't need to panic if your dog does start eating grass.

• Eating grass is not always linked to a health issue or that your dog is trying to get the nutrition it needs.
• Remember a dog might just love the taste or texture of grass - don't always just assume it is because they want to be sick or are poorly.
• It has been noted that some eat grass because your dog is bored and wants something to chew on.

However, it's important to still exercise some concern if your dog is eating grass and you should consider speaking with a vet if your dog is not eating their normal food, eats excessive amounts of grass, vomits after eating grass or seems like they are unwell.

 

What causes dogs to eat grass and what are the reasons?

So we've learnt that it is a common behaviour for dogs to eat grass and that we don't always need to worry too much about it, but what are the potential reasons that dogs eat grass? So let's dive on rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrinto the potential reasons that your dog might be eating grass.

 

Diet & Nutrition Deficiency

A common view when dogs start to eat grass is that your dog is that this is because they are not getting enough nutrition in their usual diet. Now this is not always wrong, the VCA hospitals share that sometimes a dog will eat grass because they are lacking in certain nutrients, vitamins or minerals and that they are trying to correct that deficiency. Definitely review your dog's diet and ensure that the food you are feeding them is highly nutritious and complete - alternatively, speak with your vets for their opinion too.

Your dog may need more fibre

Grass is a good source of fiber for dogs that will aid digestion and help them pass stools. It could well be that your dog is deficient in fibre and is using the opportunity to eat grass to increase their intake and help them digest and process the food that they are eating. Review your dog's food to ensure that it contains vegetables, grains and other great sources of fibre that your dog should be eating. Low fiber in a diet can cause gastrointestinal issues and make it harder for dogs to digest food in which case ensure choose food items with enough fibre to supplement your dogs diet. Fibre is also involved in the stimulation of natural bowel movements too! Ensuring your dog has a nutritious diet is vital to care for your dog well.

Grass may help dogs get rid of parasites

Some research has shown that if a dog regularly eats grass then it may flush out or purge parasites that are in their intestines, now this may be a response to make dogs vomit or the actual effect of grass on the parasites directly when inside the digestive track all together. This study showed that parasites and grass do effect one another.

Other researchers have suggested that some dogs may regularly eat grass to help flush out any parasites that may be in their intestines. The undigested grass could help to clean out the gut by wrapping itself around any parasites and removing them as the grass passes out of the digestive tract.

Eating grass to be sick

If you asked your grandparents why a dog eats grass, we bet they'll say it's because they feel unwell or need to be sick - it's a common belief that dogs eat grass to stimulate them to begin vomiting. However, in 2008 a survey of around 1,500 dogs found that less than 1 in 10 showed signs of being unwell before eating grass and only 25% were sick after eating dogs. This suggests that it's typically more common for dogs to not eat grass as well as to vomit or when they are poorly.

Is it a dog's instinct to eat grass?

As we know, dogs descended from wolves before they were selectively bred to create the dogs we know and love today. However, when dogs or wolves were in the wild they would often not get their full optimal diet and may go through periods of hunger - therefore they may have eaten grass to support them through periods when food was scarce. In addition, they are likely to have lived on a primarily meat-based diet that lacks fibre so it may be instinct to eat grass to support a low-fibre typical diet. Therefore it could well be a dog's genetic instinct to eat grass when they can as they historically would not know where their next meal is coming from - similar to how we as people will eat when we are not hungry.

Your dog might just love eating grass

We cannot forget that sometimes our dogs will do things because they like doing them. Whilst we often think of days as carnivores - it is normal for them to eat plans too! Your dog might love the taste that grass brings, they might love the texture of chewing grass and finally, they could just love the small grass gives - dogs have a much stronger sense of smell than humans. Can you really judge a dog for doing something that they love?

Grass can act as an antacid

If a dog hasn't eaten then the acids and bile that the stomach releases to digest food can build up. Stomach acid and bile are very irritating to the lining of the digestive tract therefore sometimes dogs may eat grass to absorb the acid and prevent it from irritating their tummies. It has been shown that grass has antacid properties also so helps to neutralise stomach acids - this has a double effect if a dog has an empty stomach and helps to ease their discomfort.

Dogs might eat grass when they are bored

Dogs often will have huge amounts of energy and want to be continually entertained with new things to have fun with. If your dog is alone and doesn't have far to explore then they can get bored pretty damn quickly. If your dog hanging out in the back garden on their own eating grass then they may just be bored (and a little bit hungry too). We recommend reviewing how much you are walking/exercising your dog and assessing if they have enough time off the lead to run and explore. Socialising your dog with other dogs too is a great way to burn energy and ensure they want to rest more when they are at home. Bordedom can definitely lead dogs to eating grass!

Is eating grass bad for dogs?

So we've spoken a lot about other reasons, besides being sick, that dogs might eat grass however I'm sure you are wondering whether eating grass is actually unhealthy or bad for your dog. It's important to remember that most dogs eat grass and it is considered a perfectly normal behaviour. It should be noted that grass does not really have much nutrition so it's unlikely to give them anything, but if your dog does eat grass here and there it's unlikely to cause them any harm. It's vital that you do not allow your dog to eat grass that has been treated with fertilisers, herbicides, chemicals or pesticides. There is a risk that if a slug or a snail has moved over the grass then they could get lungworm this is a curable disease that most pets will recover if treated early.

Ensure that you are regularly worming your dog and if your dog seems unwell then you should speak to your vet as soon as possible to get an idea of any health concerns. You can buy worming products for your dog at good pet stores or your veterinary clinic. 

Should I stop my dog from eating grass?

As mentioned, if your dog eats grass every now and then, then you should not be worried provided they seem well in themselves. However, if you see a sudden change in behaviour or they seem unwell alongside eating grass then you should stop them doing this and have your dog assessed by a veterinarian to ensure they are healthy.

How to stop your dog from eating grass

If your dog usually eats grass and seems well, then don't worry about stopping them however if you do feel the need to stop this behaviour then you can be extra vigilant when you are on walks and perhaps consider keeping your dog on the lead until you've had the dog assessed by a vet professional. Consider only letting them into the garden when they are on the lead to prevent grass eating until you have established that nothing else or other health concerns are happening. You can also use puzzle toys, games and activities to distract the dog and prevent them from eating grass. Finally, consider taking them on longer walks or walks that are more stimulating such as runs or with other dogs so they are less likely to eat grass.

What should I do if my dog eats grass?

If your dog eats grass as a one-off, then it's probably fine to not worry about it - it's common for dogs to eat grass. But if you notice a dog eating lots of grass obsessively or they seem unwell then you should take your dog to the vet to be assessed for any underlying health condition. Your vet will be able to advise on why they think your dog is eating grass and whether it is something you should be worried about.

When should I seek medical attention if my dog is eating grass?

We cannot stress enough that is it common for dogs to eat grass, however, we do highly recommend that if you are worried or concerned then speak to your vet. However, if your dog is also showing other signs of illness or changing behaviour such as:

• Not eating the normal dog food that they would usually eat but eating grass instead.
• Eating grass obsessively and do not stop.
• Vomits or has diarrhoea before or after eating grass.
• If you notice a problem with their eating or bowel habits.
• If your dog is a puppy.

 

Never take risks with your dog's health and if you are concerned speak to your vet urgently! It may be your dog requires treatment to stop grass eating and veterinarians are the best people for the job!

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