Does your dog consider an overgrown lawn a delicious salad bar? Why do some dogs seem to love “mowing” the grass with their teeth? And is it safe for dogs to eat grass? We’ve got the dirt on grass-eating dogs and what this behavior means. Below is a list of some frequently asked questions.
“What triggers a Dog to eat Grass?”
BOREDOM
Sometimes dogs eat grass simply out of boredom. This behavior is especially common in puppies and young dogs, who have higher energy levels. To alleviate your dog’s boredom, give them a toy that matches their play style and make sure they get plenty of exercise every day.
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
Although we can speak to our furry friends and they can understand us, we have a hard time understanding what they’re saying to us. Because of this problem in communication, we have a hard time knowing what are dogs may need. This brings us to another reason why dogs eat grass. It is believed dogs may eat grass because of a nutritional deficiency in their diet.
Grass contains minerals, vitamins, & fiber. If you notice that your dog eats a lot of grass constantly, you may want to bring them in to see a vet to determine if there’s something wrong with their diet.
UPSET STOMACH – INDUCE VOMITING
Without a doubt, witnessing a dog eating grass and then vomiting is a worrying sight. Chances are, nothing is seriously wrong with a dog that eats grass and then vomits. Just like people, dogs get upset stomachs. It is believed that dogs know if they are not feeling well that eating a large amount of grass can induce vomiting.
Dogs typically gulp their food down quickly without fully chewing and sometimes the blades of grass will tickle the back of their throat. This triggers the gag reflex ending up in vomiting, not necessarily a sign of sickness. Whether the vomiting is induced intentionally or not, your dog will likely be back to its old self soon afterward.
However, if he or she starts eating excessive amounts of grass very suddenly, and you notice other behavioral changes, it could be a sign of a deeper stomach issue that won’t be solved by eating grass. Contact your veterinarian for advice, and consider taking them in for a checkup. Better safe than sorry.
GENETICS
Dogs were wild animals at one time, similar to wolves, before becoming man’s (& woman’s) best friend. When they were in the wild, they would catch prey and eat them raw. It is believed that grass was a normal part of wild dogs’ diets because the prey they were catching were herbivores and would have grass in their stomachs.
Therefore, dogs eating grass now may be an homage to their ancestry roots.
Should You Be Concerned If Your Dog Is Eating Grass?
It Really Depends on the Grass.
Unless your dog is eating large amounts of grass constantly, grass appears to be a very normal food for dogs to ingest.
The concerns around dogs eating grass isn’t with the grass itself but what the grass may be treated with.
Lawns that are coated with chemical-based pesticides and fertilizers can be toxic to our fur babies.
The reason you should be concerned about pesticides, fertilizers or toxic chemicals used to treat grass is because they are cancer causing agents for both dogs and people alike.
Essentially, if you don’t use any chemical agents on your lawn, your dogs are in the clear and can munch away.
Are There Ways to Prevent Your Dog From Eating Unknown Grass?
It is a best practice to avoid letting your dogs eat near industrial buildings or roadways, where it can commonplace due to commercial maintenance that these areas can be treated with chemicals. If you plan on taking your dog on a walk in one of these areas and want to prevent them from eating grass, playing with your dog ahead of time or feeding them so they have a full stomach before the walk can be very helpful.
Did you know that about 10% of dogs can be allergic to some types of grass. Click here to read a great article about atopic allergies.
More likely than not, your dog is going to eat grass because that’s what dogs do.
And a dog eating grass is a normal part of their behavior and diet.
The concern is to help them avoid ingesting grass in areas that have been treated with chemicals.
