Have you ever seen a dog eating grass and wondered why they do it? The answer is complex. Part of it has to do with their origins as a wild omnivorous species. Before dogs became domesticated they had a varied diet. They ate whatever they could get their paws and jaws on. That included not only flesh, but fruits, grasses and berries as well. Further, many of the small animals they ate had grasses and other vegetable matter in their stomachs. When the wild dog ate a rabbit they found a salad inside it. Experts theorize this taste for grasses and other vegetable matter has remained deeply ingrained in dogs.

Is Your Dog Eating Grass? It Maybe Healing Itself

For a dog eating grass may be a method of healing itself. For dogs grass can be medicine. This too is a hold-over from Fido’s days as a wild species needing to take care of all its needs itself. Depending on the type and amount of grass a dog eats and the rate at which it eats it the grass makes them vomit. Some researchers theorize that when dogs aren’t feeling well they eat grass to make themselves throw-up and expel gas, bacteria or parasites like intestinal worms causing them discomfort. Some question whether dogs are capable of such thought processes. Others point out it’s more instinctual than understanding they are sick and need medicine. If your dog’s regularly eats grass and throws up you should take it to the vet.

Boredom is another reason experts cite for a dog eating grass. They just do it or fun. Apparently dogs enjoy chewing. That is part of the reason they destroy shoes and slippers and gnaw on bones and sticks. Grass may represent just another way to get their jaws, salivary glands and teeth in motion. Chewing grass could be to dogs what chewing gum is to humans; an enjoyable pastime which helps with relaxation. Everything humans eat does not have nutritional value. Some of the things we eat just provide stimulation for our taste buds. Some experts theorize eating grass plays the same role for dogs.

Grass does have some nutritional value. Some experts believe when we see a dog eating grass it may be a signal there’s a nutritional deficiency in their diet. In the wild, dogs ate a varied diet. It kept them healthy and strong. Grass may also fulfill a dog’s instinctual cravings for the roughage or minerals. Chewing grass may give them nutrients owners may not be aware they need. Dogs have taken care of themselves naturally for thousands of years. While domestication may have bred some of their natural instincts out of them there are still many things humans do not understand about the needs of these animals and may not be providing in their diets, so eating grass may be the dog’s way of taking care of it himself.

Some experts suggest your dog might be eating grass to improve digestion or some other internal need. One study looked at a miniature poodle. The dog ate grass every day and then vomited. This went on for seven years. When the owner switched the dog to a high-fiber diet, it stopped eating grass within a week. Still the owner could not be sure if the dog was looking for additional nutrients or simply liked the way grass felt in its mouth. Vets do encourage dog owners to monitor their pet to ensure they are not eating too much grass or ingesting grass tainted with poisonous fertilizer and insecticides.

Fertilizers have long been implicated in the death of pets. In 2008 fertilizers were identified as one of the 10 most common causes of pet poisoning. Certain common house and garden plants are also hazardous to the health of your pet. Many are toxic and can lead to health problems and even death if your dog eats them. The ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center has a web site which identifies toxic and non-toxic plants. Pet owners should be vigilant and make sure there are no poisonous plants near where your dog is eating grass.

Is Your Dog Eating Grass? Pay Attention

Some research found most dogs were not sick before eating grass and eating grass doesn’t always lead to throwing up. In fact, less than 25% of dogs that eat grass vomit after doing so. If your dog is eating grass be sure he’s getting enough exercise or buy him a chew toy. Consider switching him to a high-fiber dog food. Add natural herbs or cooked vegetables into his diet. Buy a small tray of grass just for the dog or plant an herb garden. Above all pay attention if you see your dog eating grass to ensure he is just following his natural instincts and is not ill.

For more information about a dog eating grass take a quick look at this YouTube video.