Why do dogs eat grass and is it good for them?

Have you ever noticed your dog eating grass? If so, you may be concerned as to whether this should be happening. Fortunately, experts agree that it is not a cause for concern. Here are some of the reasons why your dog may decide to supplement their diet with grass.

Dogs Are Not Truly Carnivorous

While it is true that meat makes up a large part of your dog’s diet, they are not true carnivores. Instead, they are seen as omnivores, who will eat both meat and plants. Grass is one of the plants that they can gravitate towards.

Why It Happens

Experts are not completely sure why dogs look to eat grass but a number of theories have been put forward. This includes:

1. To Cleanse

Eating grass usually causes dogs to vomit, especially if they have gobbled it down (as opposed to just nibbling at it). This might seem counter-productive but experts believe that this is actually one of the reasons why dogs choose to eat grass. Because it induces vomiting, it can be seen as a means of cleansing their digestive system to get rid of an upset stomach. It can also ease the discomfort associated with a bloated or gassy stomach.

Provided that it only happens now and again, this is nothing to be overly concerned about. However, if your dog is regularly eating grass to be sick, talk to your vet about the situation to see whether medical problems might be at fault.

2. To Get More Fibre

Another theory is that by eating grass, dogs are trying to introduce some extra fibre into their diet. This is seen as the more likely reason if your dog is nibbling at bits of grass. If you suspect that this is why your dog is eating grass, you may want to introduce cooked vegetables into their diet.

Is It Safe For My Dog to Eat Grass?

Experts agree that eating grass poses no danger to your dog. Indeed, it can have positive benefits for digestion. Speak to your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s general health but otherwise, eating grass is not a big cause for concern.

In many cases, they will seek out the most appealing pieces of grass, although they may be less selective if the intention is to encourage vomiting. It is important to make sure that any areas in which your dog eats grass are free from pesticides, chemicals, slugs and snails.

Ingestion of the latter two can result in lungworm, which can have serious repercussions.

[Photo Credit: Adam Foster | Codefor]