Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Many veterinarians admit that dogs eating writer is an expected behavior, yet nan reasons down it are complex.

While immoderate dogs whitethorn devour writer owed to deficiencies successful their fare — lacking successful vitamins, nutrients aliases fibre — various causes punctual this behaviour contempt writer offering minimal nutritional value. Keep reference to uncover insights into this intriguing habit.

Table of contents

• Four reasons why dogs eat grass
• Do dogs eat writer erstwhile they are sick?
• Is it good for dogs to eat grass?
• Should I return my canine to nan vet for eating grass?
• Why Do Dogs Eat Grass FAQs
• Summary of Money's Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Four reasons why dogs eat grass

Dogs eat tons of things they shouldn't consume. Known arsenic pica, nan persistent thrust to eat non-food items without nutritional worth tin lead to a big of dental and gastrointestinal issues. In fact, digestive problems caused by swallowing overseas items rank among nan apical pet insurance claims revenge by canine owners.

Fortunately, veterinarians work together that grass-eating is mostly harmless. It can, however, beryllium an parameter of thing else. Here are nan 4 reasons why your canine mightiness beryllium eating grass.

1. Natural instinct

Dogs are omnivores and their chaotic canine ancestors might've eaten writer arsenic a earthy measurement to free themselves of intestinal parasites. A dog's digestive strategy struggles to break down grass. As it passes done nan dog's tummy and intestines, nan fibrous texture immunodeficiency successful cleaning retired immoderate unwanted parasites.

Domestic dogs whitethorn not request to free themselves of parasites this measurement anymore. Still, nan behaviour persists because it's instinctual. This mentation besides explains why younger dogs eat writer much often: younger dogs are much apt to get intestinal parasites than older ones.

2. Nutritional deficiency

Dogs mightiness besides eat writer if they’re lacking a nutrient-rich fare aliases to amended digestion since writer is precocious successful fiber.

One study observed an 11-year aged poodle who ate writer daily only to vomit soon after. This problem persisted for years. The veterinarians advised nan proprietor to adhd much fibre to nan dog’s fare to spot if it would help. Once nan canine switched to a high-fiber diet, nan proprietor reported he stopped eating writer and throwing up.

3. Curiosity

Dogs are known for exploring nan world pinch their mouths because why not? Grass isn't an exception. Your canine mightiness nibble connected writer retired of curiosity, because it’s nosy aliases simply because they for illustration nan taste.

4. Boredom aliases anxiety

Dogs request regular beingness and intelligence stimulation successful nan shape of workout aliases play. When they don’t person it, they whitethorn find different outlets to merchandise nan pent-up power — excessive licking, destructive chewing and yes, eating grass. It could besides beryllium an worry consequence successful that they chew connected writer to calm their nerves.

Pet parents whitethorn unknowingly reenforce grass-eating behaviour by intervening aliases calling retired their dogs while eating grass. Dogs whitethorn construe this engagement arsenic a reward for their behaviour and will apt do it again. After all, they're learning they get your precious attraction whenever they do it.

Do dogs eat writer erstwhile they are sick?

Many canine owners deliberation dogs eat writer erstwhile they don’t consciousness bully to settee their stomachs and induce vomiting. However, immoderate studies propose this isn’t nan astir apt mentation for nan behavior.

One illustration is simply a study that surveyed 1,571 dogs connected plant-eating behavior. Of nan dogs, only 9% were sick earlier eating grass, and 22% often vomited after. This study, on pinch others of a akin nature, suggests that not emotion good isn’t a wide logic they devour grass. However, it whitethorn still beryllium nan motive for immoderate dogs.

The logic immoderate dogs vomit aft eating writer is commonly believed to beryllium because blades of writer tin tickle their throat. Some different things tin origin vomiting arsenic well, which we excavation into below.

Is it good for dogs to eat grass?

Grass itself isn't harmful, but eating it could expose your canine to toxic chemicals and parasites. Eating a batch of writer could besides lead to constipation and digestive problems owed to its precocious fibre content.

Pesticides and herbicides

Grass treated pinch pesticides, herbicides aliases fertilizers could harm dogs and lead to pesticide poisoning. Symptoms see drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, tegument aliases oculus irritation and problem breathing.

There's besides a imaginable nexus betwixt herbicide-treated lawns and an accrued crab risk. The Humane Society highlights two studies that recovered a higher consequence of lymphoma successful dogs exposed to 2, 4-D herbicide, nan main constituent successful products specified arsenic Trimec, Triplet, End Run and Q4. More investigation must beryllium done to scope a definitive answer, but successful nan meantime, it’s amended to beryllium safe than sorry.

Read nan merchandise instructions thoroughly if you use these chemicals to your yard. The wide proposal is to let each pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers to afloat barren and support your pet distant from nan area for astatine slightest 2 days.

Fecal matter

When dogs devour grass, they tin besides ingest feces from different animals, perchance contracting various illnesses.

Parvovirus, commonly known arsenic parvo, is simply a perchance lethal microorganism transmitted via animal droppings. Animal discarded tin besides incorporate eggs aliases larvae from intestinal parasites for illustration roundworms, heartworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms.

You tin minimize these risks by keeping up pinch your pet's vaccination schedule and taking them to nan vet for regular deworming and parasite screenings.

Should I return my canine to nan vet for eating grass?

Pet owners don't request to interest astir their dog's grass-eating behaviour if different signs of unwellness don't travel it.

Call your veterinarian if your canine shows immoderate of nan pursuing signs successful conjunction pinch this habit, arsenic immoderate of these further symptoms whitethorn bespeak aesculapian conditions aliases different tummy issues, specified arsenic pancreatitis aliases inflammatory bowel disease.

• Lethargy
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Lack of appetite
• Sudden aliases excessive grass-eating behavior

Compulsive grass-eating — particularly if this puts your canine astatine consequence of choking aliases damaging their digestive strategy — mightiness besides require nan input of a master specified arsenic a veterinary behaviorist.

Summary of Money's Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Various reasons could thrust your canine to nibble connected roughage.

Some do it because they're bored, anxious aliases under-stimulated, aliases simply because they for illustration nan sensation of grass. Others whitethorn eat writer because their chaotic canine ancestors did it, and nan behaviour is inherited genetically. Dogs whitethorn besides edifice to grass-eating if they don’t person a balanced fare aliases moreover to alleviate nan discomfort of an quiet stomach.

Most vets work together that eating writer is normal canine behavior. However, you should telephone your vet if you announcement immoderate further signs of unwellness (lethargy, deficiency of appetite, diarrhea). The aforesaid applies if you judge that grass-eating is related to different behavioral problems for illustration worry aliases compulsiveness.