Why Do Dogs Eat Grass, And How To Prevent It

Your dog begs you to let him stay outdoors and then eats a mouthful of grass…just to throw it up. Or maybe your dog acts as an expert and hunts for the right kind of grass to eat which has no side effect afterward. 

You might see and baffle about this indifferent behavior of your dog, but just to let you know, one survey found out that grass is the most commonly eaten plant among dogs. But the question here is why do they eat grass? 

Well, there is no one answer to support this, but we have a few explanations for this behavior of dogs. Different dogs may like to eat grass for various reasons, but understanding why your dog does that may help you address the behavior. 

So, let’s take a sneak peek into some of the reasons due to which your dog eats grass. 

 

#1. They Find it Tasty

Your dog might eat every piece of food he finds under the dining table (even after eating his meal), so why not grass? Being natural scavengers, canines tend to search for nutrition everywhere they can find. It might be possible that your dog might like the taste of the grass, or it could be providing him with the nutritional requirement which his regular diet is not, especially fiber. 

Prevention: Many people notice that the grass-eating behavior of their dog immediately stops after they are given a high-fiber diet. So, if you think that this might be the case with your dog, then consult a vet and make the necessary changes in his diet. 

 

#2. Stomach Disorder 

Some experts say that grass serves the purpose of self-medication. When your dog starts feeling tummy troubles, he might switch to eating grass to seek much-needed relief. 

Stomach distress is more likely to be the reason behind your dog eating grass if he suddenly starts doing so or if he feels anxious to eat grass and often extends his neck and make swallowing motions, vomiting afterward. To be precise, it does not happen that often since less than 25% of dogs do vomiting after eating grass, and around 10% of dogs exhibit signs of illness beforehand. 

Prevention: In a few cases, stomach disorder among dogs can be a sign of a consequential condition, (rather a medical condition), including inflammatory bowel disease, gastric reflux, etc. So, you must consider paying a visit to the vet and seek the right advice. 

 

#3. A Feeling of Boredom 

When dogs get bored, they indulge in the habit of eating grass to pass their time. So, if you notice that your dog starts eating grass when you don’t take him out for a walk or does not involve much with him, then it is a sign of boredom. 

Prevention: Sometimes, the solution to prevent your dog from eating grass can be as simple as accompanying and taking them out for a walk or providing them with a chew toy.

 

#4. Instinctive Behavior

Another reason for your dog eating grass is instinctive behavior. This is often seen as a deliberate attempt to induce vomiting after they have swallowed something that does not make them feel alright or causes the feeling of illness in them.

Dogs that eat grass to induce vomiting usually swallow grass without chewing. It is said to be believed that unchewed and long pieces of grass tickle the throat of dogs and induce the feeling of vomiting in them. 

Prevention: Since dogs may sometimes eat grass to get rid of the feeling of illness, make sure you take them to the vet at the right time. 

Is Grass Safe to Eat?

If you see your dog eating grass, then make sure you keep a check about which type of grass is being eaten by your four-legged friend. Make sure you keep them away from eating the grass that has been treated with fertilizers and pesticides. Also, make sure you check the products you use for taking care of your lawn to ensure that they are safe for your pet. 

Stop Your Dog from Eating Grass

If the grass eating behavior of your dog has started to trouble you, then there are a few things which you can do to curb the habit. As mentioned earlier, your dog may switch to eating grass to fulfill the nutritional deficiency, so you may make changes in their diet that may eventually affect their behavior. 

Also, make sure you visit your vet and seek suggestions on how to improve the condition without having any adverse effect on the dog.

Prefer reading: 5 ways to stop your pet from eating grass. 

 

How to Know if You Need to Pay a Visit to the Vet?

Grass eating habit among dogs is quite common, and many dog parents ignore the same. On the other hand, many start bothering about such behavior being exhibited by their dog. Well, if your dog eats grass and then vomits it out, then they probably might have taken care of whatever was bothering them. But if this behavior is persistent, then you must go and see a vet. 

Also, occasional grass eating is not that serious a concern, but if your dog does the same regularly, then you must immediately pay a visit to the vet to see if they have pica. 

Pica is a condition in which animals tend to eat items that are not considered as food. Dogs with pica may feel drawn to clothes, feces, dirt, etc. and if left unchecked, then it may lead to medical conditions like digestive issues and nutritional deficiency. 

You may also read about pica in dogs and know everything related to the symptoms, causes, and treatments. 

 

Final Say

Overall, grass-eating behavior/habit among dogs is nothing much to be worried about, but there are a few things you can do to make the situation easy for yourself and your loving ball of fur. 

So, if you ever find that this grass-eating habit is turning into a concern, make sure to visit your vet timely and provide the required medications (or any other form of treatment) to your dog. 

Also, if you are a proud dog parent and have a say on the grass eating behavior of dogs, then free to drop a comment in the comment box below.