What does it mean when my dog eats grass

We’ve all seen how livestock, including cows, sheep, and goats, love gnawing on grass. It’s fine for grazing to be their pastime because their stomachs are able to digest all of the cellulose in grass. Unlike those animals, dogs are omnivores, related to meat-eating hunters like wolves. Yet if you own a dog, you may have seen him snacking on grass while out in your backyard or on a walk. So, why do dogs eat grass? Is your dog not getting enough food? Could he be sick? Or is it another puzzle springing from weird-yet-normal dog behavior, like “Where do those dog zoomies come from?” and “Why do dogs chase their tails?” It turns out that different dogs eat grass for different reasons. Let’s take a look at the most likely ones.

Though we think of canines as historically carnivorous, they actually evolved as omnivores that would eat whatever was available, including vegetation. Also, the prey animals that our dogs’ ancestors would eat were usually herbivores, so those wild dogs were indirectly consuming plant life. Instinct is a pretty logical answer to “Why do dogs eat grass?” A much less understandable dietary habit, on the other hand, is why dogs like to eat their own poop.

2. A form of pica is behind it

The urge to eat substances other than food is a condition called pica. While pica is a cause for concern in people, it’s usually nothing more than a sign of boredom in dogs. To make your dog’s day less ho-hum, add a few minutes to your regular walks, take him into your backyard or to a dog park for a fetch session, and treat him to a few new chew toys or puzzle toys for those times when you can’t be with him.

3. They just like it

Why do dogs eat grass, specifically? Your pup could simply like the taste or texture of grass, in the same way that we enjoy munching on celery sticks once in a while. “They [may] find it palatable and need to add roughage to their diet,” Katy Nelson, DVM, a senior veterinarian at Chewy, tells Reader’s Digest. Tender spring grass may be particularly delectable to them.

If your dog eats a lot of grass, you might want to take a look at his diet. It could be a sign that he isn’t getting enough fiber and, as a result, is seeking out roughage to eat. Just like humans, dogs need fiber to help them digest their food and pass stool regularly.

5. Their diet is low on a nutrient

While this is less likely to be the case if your dog is eating a high-quality, well-balanced diet, regularly eating grass can be a sign of a vitamin or mineral deficiency. If grass noshing has become a daily habit for your dog, especially if you’ve recently switched dog foods, it’s worth a call to your vet to go over what and how much you’re feeding him.

6. It’s like a natural antacid

Your pup can’t pop a Tums, so when his tummy is upset, he may chew on grass. Bile can build up as your dog’s stomach becomes empty, which can be irritating and uncomfortable. Eating grass can release the bile. Many dog owners have seen this in action after their dog suddenly eats grass like crazy, vomits, and then suddenly appears happier and more energetic. Those pet parents swear this is the answer to “Why do dogs eat grass?” However, at least as many dogs don’t vomit after eating grass as do, so this dynamic clearly only applies to some.

7. Your dog is thirsty

Like most types of vegetation, grass has a high water content. If your dog is eating grass primarily early in the morning or late in the evening when the grass has dew on it, this could be the reason behind it. This may also be the case if he nibbles on grass only on hot summer days. Make sure your dog always has a bowl of fresh water available both inside your home and in the yard.

Fortunately, nibbling on grass every once in a while won’t harm your pet. That said, many lawns are treated with pesticides, which can be toxic to dogs. And even if the yard in question is chemical-free, your dog may be swallowing intestinal parasites, from feces left behind by other animals, with that clump of grass. So, at the end of the day, a more important question to answer than “Why do dogs eat grass?” is “How do I stop my dog from eating grass?” If your dog is trying to eat grass on the regular, get help from your vet in figuring out what’s behind the behavior and how to end it. And while we’re on the subject, these are the things your dog should never, ever eat.

Source:

• Katy Nelson, DVM, senior veterinarian at Chewy

Originally Published: April 25, 2022

It is not uncommon to see your dog grab a mouthful of grass during their daily walk or a romp through the park. Ever wonder why dogs do that?

Many people believe that when dogs eat grass, they are trying to make themselves vomit. They think it’s an instinctive behavior that a dog engages in to rid themselves of something they should not have eaten. And some think that it’s an indication that their dog has an upset stomach or intestinal problem.

Other pet parents believe that grass contains some essential nutrient their dogs instinctively know they need.

Some people speculate that grass offers much-needed fiber that aids in moving food through the dog’s gastrointestinal tract. They think that grass may serve as a laxative to help move stool along for dogs that are constipated.

Reasons Dogs Eat Grass

There have been many speculations and theories, but there is limited research on why dogs eat grass. So the truth is that no one knows for sure. However, scientists have formed a few theories and disproved some myths based on the research we do have.

Instinctive Behavior

Some scientists speculate that eating grass is an instinctive behavior for dogs that evolved from their wolf ancestors. We know from research on wolves that 2-10% of their stomach contents may contain plant material. Wild canids (from the Canidae family, which includes wolves, jackals, foxes, and coyotes) also have been observed to eat grass.

Supplementing a Missing Nutrient

In one particular case report, an 11-year-old Poodle had a 7-year history of eating plants and grass and vomiting afterward. The problem resolved after the dog was placed on a commercial high-fiber diet. (Kang et al., 2007) This was evidence that for this particular dog; he was supplementing his dietary deficiency by eating grass and plants. Once provided with adequate fiber in his diet, the grass-eating behavior resolved.

But can dogs actually digest grass? Dogs are primarily carnivores, meaning they eat meat. Recent studies have shown that dogs have evolved the ability to digest some carbohydrates in response to coevolving with humans. Carbohydrates are sugar, starches, and fibers mainly found in fruit, grain, vegetables, and milk products. If dogs can digest some carbohydrates, then does this mean our dogs can really digest grass? The answer is no, not really. Grass mainly passes through the dog’s intestinal tract undigested.

Normal Dog Behavior

In another study (Bjone et al., 2007), researchers found that grass-eating behavior was influenced by how hungry your dog is and the time of day. There was less grass eating when the dog had eaten a meal, and increased grass eating beforehand. Grass eating also occurred less frequently later in the day. The researchers believed that grass eating was normal dog behavior and was not indicative of an underlying illness.

Soothing an Upset Stomach

McKenzie et al. (2010) designed a study in which one group of dogs were fed a diet containing fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS). The other group of dogs were fed a standard diet. FOS is extracted from sugar beets and passes undigested through the small intestines and into the large intestine, where it ferments.

Large quantities of FOS can cause watery, loose stool. The dogs fed the standard diets had more episodes of grass eating compared to the FOS dogs that had diarrhea. (McKenzie et al., 2010) This meant that dogs with gastrointestinal upset were less likely to eat grass.

However, in this particular study, the diarrhea originated in the large intestines, so it doesn’t give us insight on grass-eating behavior in dogs that have gastrointestinal upset in their stomach or small intestines.

Curiosity

Dogs, especially younger dogs, often explore with their mouths. Eating grass may be something that they try, just like some children eat dirt. Some dogs may learn to like the taste of grass.

Attention From Pet Parents

Other dogs may have learned that when they eat grass, their pet parents pay them more attention. You may talk to your dog more or offer your dog treats to get them to stop eating grass and eat the treats instead. Sometimes, pet parents pull their dogs away from a patch of grass. This restriction may spur a dog to eat any grass as soon as they find it because it’s forbidden.

Does Grass Make a Dog Vomit?

Bjone et al. (2007) also recorded episodes of vomiting in their study. There were 5 episodes of vomiting out of 709 grass eating incidents. This study concluded that dogs do not eat grass to cause themselves to vomit.

In a study by Sueda et al. (2008), out of 1,571 survey responders, 9% of dogs were reported ill by the owners prior to eating grass. Only 22% of the owners reported that their dogs frequently vomited after eating grass (Sueda et al., 2008).

This study also found that younger dogs ate more grass than older dogs. McKenzie et al. (2010) only had two vomiting episodes out of 374 grass-eating events. These studies provide some evidence that dogs do not eat grass to induce vomiting.

Should You Let Your Dog Eat Grass? Is Eating Grass Safe for Dogs?

There are several safety risks for dogs that eat grass. Here are the most common.

Pesticides

Pet parents need to be sure that the grass their dog eats does not contain any pesticides, which can poison dogs.

If you suspect your dog has eaten grass treated with pesticide, bring your dog to your local veterinary clinic immediately for treatment.

Dogs that have ingested grass treated with pesticides may show the following signs:

• Excessive salivation

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Decreased appetite

Fecal Material

Grass can be contaminated by droppings from other dogs and animals. Eating grass contaminated with fecal material can make your dog sick.

Some intestinal illness, such as a parvovirus, are transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Parvovirus can cause serious gastrointestinal disease in unvaccinated dogs and puppies. Some dogs can die from this disease.

Fecal material from other dogs and animals may also contain eggs or larvae from intestinal parasites. Dogs that have intestinal parasites may lose weight and have diarrhea. Puppies are more at risk of suffering from anemia and death if the worm burden is large. Adult dogs are less likely to die from intestinal parasites if they have a healthy immune system.

Any dog that eats grass should be on a monthly dewormer, commonly found in your dog’s monthly heartworm preventative, and receive regular fecal testing to look for intestinal parasites.  There are certain intestinal parasites that need to be treated with different medications.

How Can You Stop a Dog From Eating Grass?

Here are some tips for discouraging your dog from eating grass:

• Avoid grassy areas.

• Time your outings for immediately after a meal, when your dog’s stomach is full.

• Allow your dog access to grass later in the day.

• Use positive reinforcement and reinforce alternate behaviors. Every time your dog tries to eat the grass, calmly interrupt the behavior (through diversion, not scolding) and ask your dog to perform another behavior instead. This could be touching your hand to earn a treat or chasing their ball.

• Give your dog grass that you have grown yourself, given the fact that some researchers think this is normal dog behavior. This way, you won’t have to worry about your dog ingesting toxins or eggs and larvae of intestinal parasites.

Resources

Bjone, S. J., Brown, W. Y., & Price, I. R. (2007). Grass eating patterns in the domestic dog, Canis familiaris.  Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition Australia, 16, 45–49. http://intercom.virginia.edu/SurveySuite/Surveys/

Kang, B. T., Jung, D. I., Yoo, J. H., Park, C., Woo, E. J., & Park, H. M. (2007). A high fiber diet responsive case in a poodle dog with long-term plant eating behavior. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 69(7), 779–782. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.69.779

McKenzie, S. J., Brown, W. Y., & Price, I. R. (2010). Reduction in grass eating behaviours in the domestic dog, Canis familiaris, in response to a mild gastrointestinal disturbance. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 123(1–2), 51–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.12.003

Sueda, K. L. C., Hart, B. L., & Cliff, K. D. (2008). Characterisation of plant eating in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 111, 120–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2007.05.018

Featured Image: iStock.com/Andrei Kravtsov