Why Is My Dog Eating Grass?

Written by Shopify API

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Posted on August 04 2017

Firstly, let us assure you that if your dog is eating grass there’s no need to be alarmed. It is very common, natural behaviour among all dog breeds but the reasons for eating grass may differ from dog to dog.

Here are three possible reasons why your dog may be eating grass:

Genetics

For thousands of years dogs have been opportunistic scavengers. They ate whatever was available and fulfilled their dietary requirements, meaning it wasn’t only meat they would devour. Plants, herbs and berries all served a nutritional benefit, helping them survive when prey was scare. Although your 21st century pooch doesn’t need to hunt for food, it’s in their DNA to utilise their surroundings and make the most of all available food sources.

Settling the Stomach

Another reason for your dog’s behaviour may be because they are feeling unwell, specifically with an upset stomach. Just as humans do, dogs can experience the feeling of nausea and a quick solution is to make themselves vomit, ridding their bodies from whatever is causing the sickness. Often you will see your dog gulping down the grass instead of chewing, this motion, along with the fine blades of grass, will tickle their throat and stomach lining, causing them to vomit. If your dog seems to be vomiting frequently, we’d recommend taking them to your local vet to ensure they are fit and healthy.

Nutrition

Finally, it has been suggested that grass provides dogs with nutritional benefit that may be lacking in their daily diet. It is essential your dog has a balanced diet so always check the ingredient list of your dog food, ensuring it contains the necessary proteins, fats, carbs, fatty acids and vitamins. Generally, there’s no need to worry if your dog is eating grass. What is more important is that your dog has a healthy diet with regular exercise and, of course, lots of love!