Is it bad my dog eats grass

Why does my dog eat grass?

If your dog eats grass, is it because they are sick, do they need to vomit, or could there be some other reason that they are frantically munching on the lawn? If youve observed this seemingly strange behaviour then you may be wondering why your dog does it, whether theyre ill or if its a normal behaviour.

Why does my dog eat grass?

Eating grass is a common and natural behaviour for dogs.

• Dogs eat grass for a number of reasons, but for many it could just be that they enjoy its taste or texture
• Eating grass is not necessarily linked to health issues or dietary deficiencies
• For some dogs, chewing grass could be a sign of boredom
• Contact your vet for advice if your dog:
  • Eats grass but not their food
  • Eats excessive amounts of grass
  • keeps eating grass and then vomiting
  • Appears unwell

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Reasons your dog may be eating grass?

There are several reasons why your dog could be eating grass. You may have heard that dogs eat grass to make themselves sick, or that they do it because they are lacking certain nutrients, but this isnt always the case.

Dogs may eat grass because:

• They like itWe tend to think of dogs as mainly eating meat, but its normal for them to eat both meat and plants. Eating grass seems to be more common between April and August, and its possible that the weather and season may change its taste, texture or smell

• Theyre boredIf your dog isnt getting enough mental stimulation then they may turn to behaviours such as eating grass, digging or chewing

• They need to be sickIts a widely held belief that dogs eat grass either to make themselves sick or to help settle their stomachs. However, a survey of around 1,500 dogs in 2008 found that fewer than 1 in 10 dogs showed signs of being ill before they ate grass, and only a quarter were regularly sick afterwards. Although some dogs do vomit, it doesnt always happen, and this research suggests that its actually more common for dogs not to be sick after eating grass

• They need fibreSome researchers have suggested that some dogs may eat grass to try and get more fibre into their diet. In one case reported by researchers, a dog had regularly been eating grass and being sick for seven years, but stopped this behaviour when put on a high fibre diet. If you are thinking of changing your dogs diet then always speak to your vet first

• It helps get rid of parasitesOther researchers have suggested that some dogs may regularly eat grass to help flush out any parasites that may be in their intestines. The undigested grass could help to clean out the gut by wrapping itself around any parasites and removing them as the grass passes out of the digestive tract

Is it normal for dogs to eat grass?

Yes. A survey of 1,500 dog owners found that nearly 70% said that their dogs ate plants every day, or at least once a week. This behaviour was found to be especially common in younger dogs. Dogs are omnivores, so eating both plants and meat comes naturally to them; and its not just pet dogs that eat grass either, as grass eating has been observed in wild dogs too.

Should I stop my dog from eating grass?

Eating grass is a normal behaviour for dogs. Its unlikely that theyll get much nutrition from it, but for an otherwise healthy dog that is regularly wormed, eating grass every now and again is unlikely to be something to worry about. However, dogs should never be allowed to eat grass that has been treated with fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides. Theres also a risk that slugs or snails that have travelled over the grass could infect your dog with lungworm. If your dog is eating grass excessively, is regularly sick, or is showing signs of other health issues, then you should always speak to your vet.Find out more about lungworm.

What should I do if my dog eats grass?

Eating grass every now and then is natural for many dogs, but if you are concerned about your dogs health, or worried that their grass eating is excessive, then you should contact your vet for advice.

How can I stop my dog eating grass?

If youre worried that your dog is eating too much grass, or is doing it too regularly, then its possible that your dog may have an underlying health issue, or that you need to review their diet. In these circumstances, its always best to do this with the

help of your vet

. Some dogs may eat grass because they are bored, so providing them with more mental stimulation and physical exercise could help. You could try giving them puzzle feeders, playing obedience games with them or taking them for longer or more stimulating walks.

My dog is eating grass, when should I contact my vet?

Eating grass occasionally is normal for dogs, but you should contact your vet if your dog:

• Shows other signs, such as not eating the food you give them, seeming tired or having diarrhoea or constipation
• Eats grass obsessively
• Keeps eating grass and being sick

If you're ever concerned about your dogs health then its always best to speak to your vet for advice, or speak to a Kennel Club Accredited Instructor if you're concerned about their behaviour.

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Think your dog may be affected?

If you're worried about your dog's health, always contact your vetimmediately!

We are not a veterinary organisation and so we can't give veterinary advice, but if you're worried about any of the issues raised in this article, please contact your local vet practice for further information

Find a vet near you

If you're looking for a vet practice near you, why not visit the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons'Find a vetpage.

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

It's 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?

There are many speculations as to why dogs eat grass. Many people believe that when dogs eat grass, they are trying to make themselvesvomit. They think its an instinctive behavior that a dog engages in to rid themselves of something they should not have eaten.

Some pet parents think dogs eating grass is an indication that their pup has an upset stomach or intestinal problem.

Others believe that grass contains some essential nutrient their dogs instinctively know they need, or that grass offers much-needed fiber that aids in moving food through the dogs gastrointestinal tract. They think that grass may serve as a laxative to help move stool along for dogs that are constipated.

But whats the true science behind dogs eating grass?

Testing 6 Reasons Dogs Eat Grass

There have been many speculations and theories, but there is limited research on exactly 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.

1. 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.

2. Supplementing a Missing Nutrient

In one particular case report, an 11-year-old Miniature 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. This was evidence that this particular dog 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. But 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 dogs intestinal tract undigested.

3. Normal Dog Behavior

In another study from 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 eating grass was normal dog behavior and was not indicative of an underlying illness.

4. Soothing an Upset Stomach

One study fed one group of dogs were a diet containing fructooligosaccharide (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 haddiarrhea. This meant that dogs with gastrointestinal upset were actually less likely to eat grass.

However, in this particular study, the diarrhea originated in the large intestines, so it doesnt give us insight on grass-eating behavior in dogs that have gastrointestinal upset in their stomach or small intestines.

5. Curiosity

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

6. Attention From Pet Parents

Other dogs may have learned that when they eat grass, their pet parents pay more attention to them. You may talk to your dog more or offer 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 itbecause its forbidden.

Does Grass Make a Dog Vomit?

The 2007 study also recorded episodes of vomiting. There were five episodes of vomiting out of 709 grass-eating incidents. This study concluded that dogs do not eat grass to cause themselves to vomit.

In another study 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. This study also found that younger dogs ate more grass than older dogs.

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.

1. 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 them to your local veterinary clinic immediately for treatment.

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

2. 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 aparvovirus, 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 with intestinal parasitesmay lose weight and have diarrhea.

In general, dogs should be on a monthly dewormer, commonly found in yourdogs 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:

• Keep your dog on a leash when walking through grassy areas.

• Time your outings for immediately after a meal when your dogs 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 wont have to worry about your dog ingesting toxins or eggs and larvae of intestinal parasites.