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Why does my dog eat grass?
We’ve almost all heard the saying that a dog eats grass when they don’t feel good or if they have an upset stomach. And, while these may be true some of the time, it’s not always the case.
Luckily, most experts believe that occasional grass snacking is not something dog owners need to worry about. So why on earth do dogs gobble up the green stuff?
There are two generally accepted answers to this question. Any pooch will seek out a natural relief for a gassy or upset stomach, and grass, apparently, does the trick. When ingested, the grass blades tickle the dog’s throat as well as his stomach lining. This sensation causes the pooch to throw up, especially when the grass has been gulped down instead of chewed on. A sick pooch will usually eat grass in big bites and then vomit.
Although dogs don’t normally graze on large amounts of grass like cows do, they may nibble on grass or chew on it for a while, and not vomit. Some dogs simply find the grass taste palatable, other breeds do it to add a little roughage to their usual diet.
Whatever the reason behind grass eating, most experts see no harm in letting a dog munch away from time to time. As a matter of fact, the grass contains some essential elements that a pooch may actually crave, especially if he’s been on a commercial diet.
Watch out for any sudden increase in grass-munching as it could be a warning sign of a more serious underlying condition that your pup may be trying to self-treat. This of course will require immediate vet assistance. If your dog is one that simply likes to graze, but is healthy and happy, just make sure the grass he’s eating hasn’t been treated with chemicals or pesticides which actually CAN be quite harmful for Fido.
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