Why do dogs eat grass?
I have always been told that dogs eat grass because they have upset stomachs. My dogs, however, eat grass every single time they go outside. I constantly need to remind them that grass is not for eating.
Are they just hungry? Do they always have an upset stomach? Or do they have some nutritional deficiency?
(3)3 Comments
Sorted by latest first Latest Oldest Best
Well, first, you don't need to stop them from eating the grass unless you've been chemically treating it. Dogs are not pure carnivores, unlike cats, and so they do want and need some other dietary sources in their food, such as plants. As hunter/scavengers, canines will get a lot of other food sources from their prey, which are usually herbivores, but domesticated canines are likely looking for alternate sources beyond their regular food and your grass is an easy one for them to get to.
As far as I know, dogs don't eat grass in a huge amount. While you are taking him out for a stroll, you might observe him eating grass. There can be two reasons. Generally, they just like eating grass (no kidding!!). I read somewhere it helps them getting some fibre.
Second reason might be he wants to vomit if he suffers from indigestion. Although, it does not mean the dog is certainly ill. Just like human, they throw up if there meal had been heavy. That's why they eat grass. The reason behind there eating grass can be any of them.
I have also been told by various sources eating grass helps dogs with digestive issues. If the dogs are doing it every single time as you state yours are, they may have picked it up as a habit.
According to "A Vet's Take On Why Dogs Eat Grass" (Modern Dog Magazine), the following possibilities exist:
dogs cannot digest grass, so there is no nutritional value
dogs consume grass to aid them in vomiting (see article for details)
dogs chew out of a developed obsessive-compulsive habit
some just snack when they find a particularly succulent blade of grass
for reasons of past evolution
out of hunger or unbalanced nutrition
Terms of Use Privacy policy Contact About Cancellation policy © freshhoot.com2025 All Rights reserved.