Why does my dog eat grass?

Although it is surprisingly common for dogs to eat grass, owners
are still baffled by it. There are many people throwing out their
theories into the reasoning behind this strange behaviour; however,
no one is truly certain why dogs eat grass. It is likely there is
not one simple answer, but a number of answers that explain this
strange behaviour. Let’s have a look at the possible reasons in
order to understand why our pup may be eating grass.

Nauseous

One of the most commonly believed reasons behind dogs eating
grass is it that they are doing so when they feel nauseous or has
stomach distress. It is believed this is a self-medicating tactic
by the dog to relieve their stomach pains or feelings of nausea. If
you think this may be the case, a veterinary check is best as it
can be something serious such as gastric reflux or bowel disease
and therefore needs to be acted upon immediately.

Taste and satisfaction

As dogs are natural scavengers and will happily eat up any food
you give them, what’s stopping them from just eating human food?
It’s possible that dogs find the flavour or texture of grass tasty
and therefore seek it out for a snack. There are other theories
that grass may release dopamine, therefore rewarding the pup for
snacking on grass.

If this is the case for your dog, seeking a vet’s advice is best
as some may suggest putting them on a high fibre diet in order to
keep them away from eating grass.

Boredom

As some pets can spend a lot of time outside by themselves,
their boredom may lead them to eat grass as a way to pass the time.
If you notice your dog eating grass, it may just mean you’re
stimulating them enough either through exercise or mental
challenges. Provide them with longer walks, extended play time or
even a brand new toy that will keep them distracted for hours.

Generational

It is said that as dogs have progressed over the years from
their wild ancestors, some of the traits are still with them. As
wild dogs would have ingested prey with plant matter in their
bowels back in the day, it might be possible that domesticated dogs
now seek this plant matter due to genetics.

Even though there are a number of theories as to why dogs eat
grass, no one is truly certain why they do it. Not to worry though,
as many vets consider grass eating as normal behaviour that has no
real harm to dogs (unless there are dangerous chemicals such as
pesticides).  In saying this, keep an eye on your pet at all
times as it is imperative to call a vet if they become sick when
eating grass as there could be an underlying problem.