My dog eats grass: possible reasons
We often hear that when a dog eats grass, it's to "purge" . The reality is much more uncertain than that since in this matter, we have no certainty but only hypotheses.
So a dog that eats grass can do it:
- to make himself vomit when his stomach hurts,
- to enrich your fiber ration,
- because he likes the taste,
- because he has an eating disorder,
- because he's hungry.
1 - My dog needs to make himself vomit
Sometimes a dog eats grass to trigger or facilitate vomiting which would free him from pain or discomfort in his stomach. To do this, the animal will swallow a large amount of grass fairly quickly. By tickling his throat and irritating the wall of his stomach, the plant will cause vomiting or reflex regurgitation which will help rid the dog's digestive system of what is bothering him.
This behavior is quite benign when it is occasional, but it should prompt you to consult a veterinarian when vomiting becomes frequent and/or repetitive. It can reflect a digestive disease that must be identified and treated by a professional.
2 - My dog needs fibre
How come a carnivore such as a dog starts to graze on grass? Well, quite simply to enrich its food ration with vegetable fibres, which contribute to its digestive comfort. It would thus meet its need for fiber that its wild ancestors found in the stomach contents of the small herbivorous prey they hunted.
3 - My dog likes the taste of grass
Just as there are many dogs who like other plants such as vegetables, we can also just as well assume that a dog eats grass because he simply likes it flavor.
4 - My dog suffers from eating disorders
Some animals unfortunately suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorders. They then express stereotyped behaviors and food activity may be affected. Some dogs can then start to ingest anything that comes their way and grass can be one of them.
If your dog suffers from such OCD, it will be necessary to take advice from a veterinarian in order to identify precisely what is at the origin of these disorders and to remedy it.
5 - My dog is hungry
Your dog may eat grass because he does not feel full and the grass, rich in fiber, would only serve to appease his feeling of hunger.
If hunger is causing your dog to act like this, he may also be trying to steal food whenever he gets the chance. If necessary, consider how to feed your animal: is its ration appropriate? Is it bulky enough to satiate your dog? does your dog suffer from a he alth problem that increases his feeling of hunger?
Talk to a veterinarian to identify what could be causing your pet's behavior.
Is it dangerous for my dog to eat grass?
Most of the time, ingesting grass is completely harmless in dogs and does not present anything to worry about or pose an immediate danger to the dog.
Nevertheless, you will still need to ensure that:
- the grass your dog ingests is not treated with chemicals like fertilizers or pesticides that could harm his he alth.
- your pet is dewormed regularly because it is on the grass that various parasites lay their eggs and the dog can become infested.
It will be necessary to consult a veterinarian when your pet consumes grass:
- seems excessive and/or systematic to you,
- is associated with symptoms that may remind you of pica or digestive issues. Among these symptoms, frequent vomiting and/or vomiting that has a worrying appearance should in particular encourage you to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.