Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

Dogs do the strangest things that are beyond our comprehension…

I sometimes find my dog munching on grass and plants even though I feed him the best kibble on the market! So, I wonder to myself if the food that I'm buying for my furry friend is not up to the mark.

I’ve also seen other dogs---regardless of their breed---have a go at some grass.

So, just like you, I decided to Google why dogs eat grass to understand my dog a little better. In this blog post, I will help you figure out why your dog eats grass and explain this peculiar behavior in detail.

Without further ado, let’s get started, shall we?

Here we go!

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass? Are There Any Benefits That I Should Know Of?

Pica Dog Behavior

Is Eating Grass Safe for My Pooch?

Should I Stop My Dog From Eating Grass?

In Conclusion: Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass? Are There Any Benefits That I Should Know Of?

Did you know that it is quite common for dogs to eat grass?

Most veterinarians won’t raise their eyebrows if you tell them about your dog’s munching habits. In fact, 79% of dogs like to munch on grass and other vegetation in their area.

But, why is that so?

There are a few reasons why your furry friend is munching on grass.

A few experts feel that dogs eat grass to make themselves vomit when they aren’t feeling well. However, others suggest that dogs aren’t intelligent enough to treat an upset stomach themselves.

Research backs that up.

Less than 10% of dogs are actually sick before ingesting grass. Moreover, eating grass doesn’t always make a dog throw up. In fact, less than  25% of dogs throw up after munching on grass.

Some experts believe that dogs compensate for a low-fiber diet by munching on grass to improve their digestion and have healthy bowel movements. Others believe that dogs like eating grass to eat worms.

The chances are that your dog might simply like the way grass tastes!

You never know.

Pica Dog Behavior

Pica is an eating disorder found in dogs and is characterized by the dog eating things that aren’t edible. In some cases, Pica is triggered by a nutrient deficiency in dogs. Other times, dogs chew things out of boredom---especially if they’re younger.

Is Eating Grass Safe for My Pooch?

This is one question that almost all dog owners have.

Is eating grass safe for my dog? Should I stop my dog from eating grass?

If your dog has been munching on grass out of boredom, you can distract your pooch by taking him out, playing with him, giving him a fun new toy that’ll keep him engaged for a good few hours, etc.

This has worked out rather well for most people.

If your dog isn’t grazing on grass out of boredom, chances are that he’s trying to take matters into his own paws and fix an underlying issue.

In this case, we recommend that you tweak your dog’s diet or take him to the vet to determine whether or not your furry friend has a nutritional deficiency. If your dog’s diet is low in fiber, that could be a problem for him.

Should I Stop My Dog From Eating Grass?

Experts believe that grazing in dogs is not harmful or something that you need to be worried about.

However, you shouldn’t let your dog eat grass if you suspect that the grass has been treated with insecticides, herbicides, and pesticides as these can be toxic to your dog---especially if ingested.

This could lead to a lot of problems down the line.

So, stop your dog from eating treated grass.

If the grass that your pup is munching on hasn’t been treated, you don’t have anything to worry about!

In Conclusion: Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

Did we cover everything you needed to know on the topic?

Dogs do a lot of things that might seem weird to us---like smell each other’s butts, mark things by peeing on them, chewing on anything and everything, etc.---and, eating grass, is one of them.

Like a lot of things about our canine friends, we don’t really know why dogs eat grass.

The reasons include the following:

• Relieve themselves of gastrointestinal upset
• Using it to add bulk to their stool when eating a low-fiber diet
• Boredom
• Pica disorder
• The dog just likes how the grass tastes!

You shouldn’t be worried if your dog eats grass. However, we do recommend you stop your dog from eating grass laced with pesticides, insecticides, and other chemicals that may be harmful to them.

Do you have any questions or concerns? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!