Do you frequently find your dog eating grass? Does the habit of your furry companion consuming grass concern you? Curious about why dogs are motivated to eat grass? You’ve arrived at the ideal spot.
Here, we’ll provide you with all the answers you need for a better understanding of the reasons why dogs eat grass. Moreover, you will get to know some important tips on how to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. So can dogs eat grass? And what does it mean when a dog eats grass? The following are some of the most common explanations:
Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
Although no one knows the specific answer to the question, ‘why does my dog eat grass?’ there are different theories that try to explain the grass eating behavior of your four-legged friend. Vets agree that some cases are normal while others require the pet owner’s attention. Here are some of our findings.
Suffering from An Upset Stomach
Your dogs may eat grass when he has an upset stomach and wants to vomit. In such situations, it helps your pooch to get relief. Approximately 25 percent of pets will start vomiting immediately after consuming them. Therefore, when you see your pet making a difficult swallowing motion and continuously consuming grass, don’t ignore it.
In such cases, dogs might be suffering from gastric reflux or inflammatory bowel disease. If you see your pet consuming grass and trying to vomit continuously, then make sure to take him to the vet so he can get proper medical attention.
Many vets agree that consuming grass can help settle their upset stomach, especially if acids are accumulating. In fact, most dogs will get relief after consuming them.
Simply Enjoys the Taste and Texture
If you’re still wondering, ‘why do my dogs eat grass’, another reason why they may be ingesting grass could be because he enjoys the taste and texture. Most pets actually enjoy consuming grass because of its incredible taste.
Keep in mind that dogs love eating some weird things that humans do not like. So, you shouldn’t be worried about dogs eating grass unless it actually harms them. That why despite everything, you should not voluntarily give your dog grass to eat.
Feeling Bored, Anxious, and Neglected
Keep in mind that your pup’s day revolves around your activities, seeing you leave and eagerly waiting for your return. While most pups enjoy the outdoors most, some experience boredom when left alone for extended periods of time and opt to do something just to have fun or to pass time. Ingesting grass, which is readily available, keeps them busy when they are alone.
Pets also crave attention and might try to win their master’s attention by engaging in unacceptable behaviors such as ingesting grass if they are bored, anxious, or neglected. Whether your pet is bored, anxious or lonely, owners report that grass-eating tendencies increase as their human interactions reduce. Therefore, using positive reinforcement methods is of the utmost importance.
For bored or anxious pets, dog owners should try and provide them with the best dog chew toys to enhance their mental stimulation. More energetic dogs will benefit from longer walks and quality playtime.
Is Eating Grass Safe or Dangerous For Dogs?
Most veterinarians confirm that allowing your dog to eat grass is safe and does not pose any health risk. However, always monitor their eating habits to ensure there is no rapid increase. This is because it could be a sign of an underlying issue. Also, be sure to supervise any teething puppy since ingesting too many leaves or twigs could lead to a blockage, sometimes with fatal consequences.
Moreover, watch out for any lawn chemicals like fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, which could end up hurting your beloved pet.
For any dog frantically eating grass or house plants, it’s advisable to introduce cooked vegetables or natural herbs into their diet. Otherwise, as long as you are watching out for the kind of grass your pet eats, there’s nothing abnormal or wrong with the behavior.
When Should You Take Your Dog To The Vet?
If Fido throws up after ingesting grass but seems to be doing fine, chances are they have already dealt with whatever was troubling them. However, if your pet continues to vomit after ingesting grass, you should consult your vet. If you have a reason to believe that this is not normal behavior, contact your vet right away.
While most experts consider grass eating an acceptable or normal behavior among dogs, some cases are actually not normal. Such cases entail eating a lot of grasses. Canines with pica or compulsive disorders can eat a lot of grass and the consequences can be disastrous. Over-ingesting them can lead to intestinal blockage and bloat.
If your dog eats too much grass, take your pet to your veterinarian to rule out the loss of blood into the GI tract or any other underlying issue. Otherwise, if your furry friend just occasionally chews on grass, let them enjoy it. Before you let them loose on your garden, make sure it isn’t treated with hazardous chemicals [1].
If you think the habit is getting out of control, contact your vet for a professional opinion.
Tips on How to Stop a Dog from Eating Grass
Although most experts agree that there’s nothing wrong with dogs eating grass, there are a few things you can do to stop your dog from consuming them.
The first thing you need to do is to add more fiber content to your pet’s diet. It is widely believed that dogs eat grass and leaves to induce vomit due to irritation from the leftover acid that accumulates in their tummy. Dogs also eat them to ease an upset tummy.
However, grass adds little, if any, nutritional value to your pet’s diet. Therefore, be sure to introduce more fiber into your pup’s diet by feeding them steamed carrots or broccoli at home on a daily basis. You can consider organic pet grass for dogs to eat for more vitamins, minerals, and roughage.
Secondly, monitor the level of grazing. The troublesome tummy upset often linked to grass grazing may lead to inflammation of your pup’s esophagus and irritation from the stomach contents.
Finally, give them dog food containing greens. Giving your dog foods that contain greens like spinach is highly recommended. If your pet’s grass grazing is caused by a nutritional deficiency, these dog food will help meet that need.
Hopefully, by taking these steps, you should be able to stop your pup from ingesting excessive amounts of grass. Dogs should be given proper nutrition at all times. Although clean grass is not dangerous for dogs, it doesn’t add much value to your dog’s overall health. Follow the above steps and help your dog to stop consuming them once and for all.
How Can I Get My Dog To Stop Eating Grass?
If you’re worried about your puppy eating grass habit, there are a few things you can do to keep the habit in check. As we’ve mentioned earlier, a nutritional deficiency may be causing your pooch a stomach upset, so changing their food intake or eating habits can help improve their behavior.
Be sure to ask your vet for advice on the best food to feed your puppy to help improve their digestion. Also, note that you should switch your dog’s food gradually to avoid making the situation worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stop my dog from eating grass?
No, although grass adds little to no nutrients, it may not harm your dog – provided there are no hazardous chemicals sprayed on the grass itself. You can help protect your grass eating dog by using non-toxic products on your garden or lawn. The bottom line is that dogs require roughage in their regular diet and grass can be a good source of fiber.
How can you tell if a dog is not feeling well?
You can tell if your dog if not feeling well if he shows symptoms such as lethargy, trembling, whimpering or crying, abnormal posture, breathing trouble, swollen abdomen, refusing to eat, and/or diarrhea.
What can I give my dog to settle his stomach?
Although it is best to consult your vet before giving any home remedies to settle your dog’s stomach issues, you can try giving him ice cubes to keep him hydrated; bone broth to soothe his stomach; canned pumpkin to help with digestion or seek help from a veterinarian.
Conclusion
No matter the reason why your dog eats grass, it might not be an ideal snack for them. Although they are not dangerous for dogs, the pesticides and herbicides sprayed on the grass can be unsafe for your pet. Moreover, when plucking grass, your canine friend may consume intestinal parasites such as roundworms or hookworms that thrive in fecal residue from other canines.
After considering the reasons why dogs may typically eat grass and potential grazing solutions, it’s clear that while consuming them may not be dangerous for your dog, he still doesn’t need to eat it. If in doubt, consult your veterinarian.
