Why do dogs eat Grass?

Sep 10 • 1 minute read

Why in the world does my dog eat grass when I feed him a perfectly good balanced diet?

Well I’m glad you asked. There are a lot of theories out their about why dogs love those long slender blades of greeny goodness. Many veterinarians will say that dogs eat grass to help alleviate GI symptoms, their way of trying to sooth an upset stomach. Some believe that there are nutrients in the leafy plant that pets crave. Some say they eat grass because they’re bored, and some say they just like it. The truth of the matter is that all of these are true because dogs are naturally omnivores. Eating meat and vegetation is a normal an natural part of the diet.

When is eating grass something I should be worried about?

When the grass is treated with some kind of chemical fertilizer or pesticide. Not only can dogs ingest these chemicals by eating the grass or other vegetation in the treated area, but they can also ingest it by cleaning their paws after walking in a treated area. The good news is that most of the time public areas that have been treated are required to display a warning sign so that you will know to be cautious.
If your pet is vomiting. A lot of times when pets eat grass and then vomiting it becomes a chicken or egg question. Did they eat the grass because they had an upset stomach and felt like they had to vomit or did eating the grass cause them to vomit. Either way it’s a good idea to have them seen by a veterinarian to figure out the underlying cause of their discomfort.
If it’s in an area with a lot of wild or unprotected animals. Let’s face it,
our pets aren’t the only animal that defecate outside and that grass your pet is eating may very well be covered in fecal matter that is infested with parasites such as hookworms, roundworms or whipworms. Many of these parasites can continue to survive in the environment even in the smallest amount of fecal residue.

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Why do dogs eat Grass?

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