Patz Dogs

Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

If your dog grazes on the lawn like a little cow, you are certainly not alone. Many owners notice their dog chomping grass and wonder whether something is wrong. In most cases, there is no cause for alarm. Unless your dog is regularly vomiting or showing signs of digestive upset, grass eating is generally harmless. Dogs have been nibbling greenery for as long as the species has existed, and the occasional bout of vomiting tends to bother owners far more than it bothers the dog, who often simply carries on with his day.

Common Theories Behind Grass Eating

Nobody can say with certainty why dogs eat grass. Several explanations have been suggested for why an animal usually thought of as a meat eater would willingly snack on vegetation.

The Omnivore Theory

One idea is that dogs are not true carnivores but omnivores, meaning they can eat a wide range of foods. According to this view, a dog eating grass is deliberately adding nutrients that are missing from his regular meals. The argument is that dogs eating too much meat may instinctively balance their diet with greenery, much as a person might crave a salad alongside a steak.

This theory is not entirely convincing. Most owners feed their dogs primarily kibble, which contains a full range of absorbable nutrients (at least, high-quality kibble does). If your dog is fed on meat alone, whether canned or fresh, there may be something to the idea, since fresh meat does not supply all the vitamins and minerals a dog needs for optimum health. Canned meat does have some added nutrients, but its soft, jelly-like texture does little to maintain healthy teeth and bowels, and dogs fed mainly on canned food are more prone to dental disease at an early age, along with constipation and flatulence from a lack of fiber. Unless your dog is on a prescribed diet, kibble should form the main part of his meals, with a few spoonfuls of canned meat added for variety if you wish.

The Natural Emetic Theory

Another popular theory is that dogs use grass as a natural way to induce vomiting. Since a nauseous dog cannot put a finger down his throat, the reasoning goes, he turns to nature instead. Grass does sometimes make dogs vomit, as the tickly stems can irritate the stomach lining, and dogs have been known to bring up an indigestible chunk along with a clump of grass. Still, this explanation is largely conjecture and somewhat hard to believe. Dogs are perfectly capable of vomiting without any help from grass, and many dogs happily enjoy a mouthful of lawn greens with no vomiting at all.

Should You Be Worried?

If you are concerned that your dog eating grass will harm him, you can relax. The only possible downside is minor irritation of the throat or stomach lining, which lasts a second or two at most; he will either cough it away or vomit without much fuss, and most dogs are not bothered by this. Grass eating is a lifelong habit for many dogs, and if your dog decides it no longer suits him, he will simply stop on his own.

Do keep an eye on him around recently treated lawns and anywhere pesticides, snail bait, or rat poison may be present, since most garden chemicals are highly toxic to dogs. Ideally you would be watching him anyway whenever he is eating grass.

Ways to Reduce Grass Eating

If your dog's grass eating really bothers you, it is probably concern for your lawn rather than your dog, since there is ample evidence that frequent grassy snacks cause no harm. A couple of approaches may help reduce his urge to graze, though because this is an area nobody fully understands, results are hit-and-miss rather than guaranteed.

• Vary his diet slightly. Dogs do not need a widely varied diet to stay interested in food, but since one theory links grass eating to a lack of nutritional variety, try adding tasty vegetables to his meals. Most dogs enjoy tomatoes, carrots (steamed or raw), and chopped apples. Keep well away from grapes, raisins, and onions, which are toxic to dogs.
• Supervise him around grass. This is not especially convenient, particularly on off-lead walks, as you will need to keep a close eye on your walking buddy to stop him dashing for the greenery.

Realistically, there is not a great deal you can do about the habit short of denying him access to grass altogether, which would be unfair to your dog and would turn your daily walk into an exercise in frustration rather than a relaxing stroll. The general consensus among experts seems to be that grass eating is simply one of those things some dogs do. It will not harm him, and if he is eating it, he is enjoying it, so there is little to be said for depriving him of that simple pleasure.

Further Reading

For more on dog psychology and general canine behavior, with a particular focus on problem behaviors, take a look at Secrets To Dog Training. It is a complete, detailed manual for the intelligent and responsible owner, covering everything from obedience training to preventing and handling a wide variety of common problem behaviors, including your dog eating grass. Well worth checking out.

I have gained a lot of helpful information from Secrets To Dog Training and have been promoting their dog training program for several years. I highly recommend visiting them for help with any behavioral issues.

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