Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

You may have seen your dog in the yard nibbling away at the lawn occasionally and wondered why a dog might do such a thing

. Dogs' wild ancestors weren't solely hunters, they were also scavengers. If they couldn't catch their dinner, they would have to root around for whatever was available, dead or alive, fresh or spoiled, buried or rotting in the sun. Because they weren't as good hunters as other animals, they have evolved to not be picky about what they eat. This included eating vegetation if meat wasn't around.

It is also said that dogs can crave certain foods, including grass. Dogs are instinctually driven to eat grass, as they are omnivores and even though good dog food should provide the balanced nutrition they need, they may still have cravings for greens. It's also not uncommon for dogs to crave or be willing to eat other green vegetables such as broccoli or spinach.

One of the things that is often noticed about dog's grass eating habits is that dogs often vomit when they eat grass. Some people mistakenly think that this means that grass makes dogs sick, but researchers lean toward the opposite conclusion - that dogs want to eat grass when they have upset stomachs to help settle it. Either way, there is something in grass that stimulates a dog's need to retch.

Scientists have noticed that healthy dogs do not throw grass back up and they also eat it differently. Dogs with settled stomachs will slowly nibble grass and savor the taste. Sick dogs that have upset stomachs will wolf it down, leaving the leaves of grass mostly intact. It is suspected that these intact leaves tickle the dog's stomach, which is what stimulates the vomit reflex. So it can be said that dogs eat grass for two reasons 1) a healthy dog may simply like the taste of grass or 2) a sick dog may need to gobble down some grass to cause him to regurgitate something bad he's eaten.

Though it is not totally proven at this point, some veterinarians also speculate that dogs eat grass because they are not getting enough fiber in their diets. If your dog seems to crave grass often, you may consider switching him to a premium dog food or a food for "seniors" which usually contain more fiber. If this is a little expensive for your tastes, you can also try putting some bran in your dog's food or offering him some raw or cooked green veggies. Veggies can also be blended with chicken stock to make them more appetizing for doggie palates.

Eating grass is totally normal for dogs, as they have been doing this for decades, so you shouldn't worry too much if your dog gobbles some down. The only concern you should have is for your dog around your lawn if it has recently been treated with insecticides, chemical fertilizers, chemical herbicides or any other artificial lawn treatment. While these chemicals don't take too long to be a non-threatening, if they have been recently applied to your lawn they could very well make your dog pretty ill.

by: Tristan Andrews

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