Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

The temperature is rising, grasses bloom in shades of green, and shrubberies coat the pavement. You might see your dog eating the grass from your lawn or garden. Have you wondered why do dogs eat grass?

While you may enjoy the blooming of green grass under your feet, you may not find it so lovely when your dog is crunching on stray grass and leaves. Eventually, it is not harmful to your dog to eat grass here and there, as it’s part of dog natural snooping.

If they are eating grasses all the time, but, there are ways to get them to curtail their discrimination for vegetation.

Dog Eating Grass and Leaves

For a veterinarian and pet practitioner there may come many concerning questions, why do my dogs eat grasses?

We all know that your beloved canine companion is not herbivores, so it might be a worry for you when seeing them eating grass, herbs, and leaves.

You might be confused and ask questions like Are they bored? Sick? Hungry? Will eating grass and leaves make them ill or hurt? 

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Make sure you are not the exceptional case who sees a grass-eating problem in dogs.

Dogs are the animal that eats both meat and vegetables so they might naturally crave for grass and might eating it as well. Similarly, they might eat it due to their genetic makeup, dating back to when they hunted their prey.

Route of Behavior

Pica is a technical terminology related to eating non-food strange things such as mud, grasses, feces, infants, and wood. This occurs due to deficiency of nutrients, minerals especially Phosphorus and Vitamins in the diet.

But commercial good balanced diets are full of nutrition then why dog eat grasses? The right answer is this is of boredom in young dogs and puppies.

Make sure you may provide your dog with plenty of toys to keep them entertained for a longer period. Help them playing together and for regular walks of at least 15-30 minutes each day. 

Dog-eating grasses and leaves are quite normal it is also present in wild and street dogs. And such a type of pica is not much lethal for dogs. It provides nutrition and fiber to the diet which enhances digestibility.

Most veterinarians consider it as dog normal behavior. A survey shows grass is the most eaten plant of dogs. 

Does My Dog Like Grass?

The grass is salty and blooming green may attract dogs. They merely relish the texture and salty taste of grass.

In detail, most dogs are grass-loving they prefer to eat spring season afresh blooming grass, leaves, and flowers. 

Why do they Eat Grass?

There are various reasons for dogs eating grass such as adding fiber to the diet, for induction of vomiting, for boredom diversion, and to fulfill their nutritional deficiency.

As all grasses and leaves are rich in fibers so they may assist in intestinal gas and stool passing 

Why is a dog eating Grass and Vomiting?

The owner comes with the complaint that the dog is eating grass and throwing yellow foamy vomiting. So it’s confusing for a dog owner because it’s not normal behavior for him.

Many owners think that grass eating is a signal of nausea or vomiting. He thinks that his or her dog may ill. It is also possible that the dog may pass a black stool. But it’s quite normal.

This is an alarming condition in the case when pets eat suddenly a lot of grasses. Then the owner must add some salts to the diet of the dog to decrease this behavior. 

Is Eating Grass means they are unwell?

Some owners say that their dog only eats grass after showing signs of illness or not feeling well and vomits bile after eating grass.

 If this happens that your pet seems better after eating grass then it’s not an alarming sign for a pet owner.

Tips to Prevent Grass Eating habits

While grass could also be high in dietary fibers, they’re not nutritious, and thus won’t enrich your dog’s diet in any meaningful way.

Once you aren’t offering the highest quality diet to your pet then he may eat grass and leaves to satisfy his dietary requirements.

Some researcher said that grasses help to stimulate the alimentary canal and is an important a part of their diet. If your pup seems to like the taste or texture of leaves, consider adding dog-friendly herbs and vegetables into their diet, like carrots, peas, and celery.

You’ll even plant a dog-friendly garden, which can include rosemary, basil, and thyme.

When to Take Action about it?

When you notice that your dog is eating more grass than it used to eat then look out for any underlying diseases your pet might be suffering from.

Also search for vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, decrease in appetite, blood in stool, lethargy, or lip licking.

Precautions 

But while it’s not typically harmful to dogs, eating grass can cause intestinal parasites that are easily picked up from animal droppings and stools.

If your dog eats it from your lawn then look out for the insecticides and other chemicals used in the lawn as they might be poisonous and harmful for your pet.

Your dog may suffer from intestinal parasites like hookworms or roundworms if they ingest parasites along with the contaminated grass.

When to Visit your Veterinarian?

You want to visit your veterinarian if you see the following changes in your dog.

• If your dog is eating grass uncontrolled, constantly or repeatedly
• Yellow vomiting is seen regularly otherwise you see blood within the vomit and black color stools.
• If your dog is showing signs of being sick like nausea, vomiting, hypothermia, fever, lack of hunger, and lethargy.

Also read: How to Be a Responsible Pet Owner

Conclusion

Occasional grass eating isn’t a cause of concern. If your dog is partaking of grass due to boredom or a nutritional deficiency, you’ll make simple changes to feature some “spice” to your pup’s life and food bowl.

Give your grass-loving pup an alternate to satiate its craving. For example, you must provide a container or a bowl of healthy wheatgrass for your dog to a champ.

Pet-supply stores often have grass- and herb-growing kits available that are safe for dogs as well.

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