Grass eating is common in dogs, and occasional grazing is often harmless. Dogs may eat grass because they enjoy it, are bored, are responding to instinct, or are experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort.
If you're wondering why your dog is eating grass all of a sudden, this Q&A will help you understand this common dog behavior.
Q1: Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
A common myth is that dogs eat grass to induce vomiting when they have a stomach ache. However, studies have shown that most dogs that eat grass do not vomit afterward. Even though your dog may have a tummy ache when they’re eating grass, it’s unlikely that they are trying to make themselves vomit.
Here are some other reasons why dogs eat grass:
- They like the taste or texture: Some dogs love the taste or texture of grass, especially fresh grass in the spring and summer.
- Natural foraging behavior: Wild dogs commonly eat plant material when they consume prey; the plant material may be in the prey’s digestive tract. Although modern domestic dogs don't hunt for their food, they have retained the instinct to forage and eat grass.
- Boredom or seeking stimulation: If your dog is lying around outside with nothing to do or no one to play with, they might eat grass to pass the time.
- Habit or attention-seeking: If your dog has made a habit out of eating grass, especially if they’re bored, they’ll continue doing it. Your dog may also do it to get your attention.
- Possible gastrointestinal discomfort: Internal parasites, like roundworms, and other digestive conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, can cause GI discomfort.
- Insufficient dietary fiber: Grass is fibrous plant material. Dogs may eat grass because their diet lacks dietary fiber, which makes stool firmer and helps food move through the digestive tract more easily.
Q2: Is It Normal for Dogs to Eat Grass?
In many cases, eating grass is normal behavior for dogs. Most dogs that eat grass do so occasionally, without making it a mainstay of their diet. If a dog is otherwise healthy, with a normal appetite, energy, and bowel movements, occasional grass-eating behavior is normal.
You may wonder why your dog eats grass and then throws up. They may have a tummy ache. But be aware that if a dog vomits after eating grass, it doesn’t necessarily mean they ate the grass to induce vomiting. As mentioned earlier, most dogs that eat grass do not vomit afterward.
Q3: When Should I Worry About My Dog Eating Grass?
There are times when grass-eating behavior becomes concerning, prompting a visit to your veterinarian:
- Eating grass excessively and refusing the normal diet
- Experiencing other symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, or pain
- Sudden increase in grass consumption
If you notice any of these changes, your dog will need veterinary care.
Q4: Can Dogs Eat Grass Safely?
Generally, grass is safe for dogs because the grass itself is not the problem. Rather, it is things that might be on the grass that make grass unsafe for dogs to eat:
- Fertilizers
- Herbicides or pesticides
- Pathogen contamination (intestinal worm eggs, disease-causing bacteria)
- Toxic plants mixed into grass
If you know that certain areas of grass have been treated with chemicals, or if the grassy area is contaminated with animal waste, do not allow your dog to eat that grass.
If your dog becomes ill after eating the grass, take your dog to your vet for examination and treatment.
Eating Grass Is OK... Sometimes
Occasional grass eating is a natural and common behavior in dogs. Reasons dogs eat grass include natural foraging behavior, boredom, and enjoying the taste and texture of grass. However, grass eating becomes a problem when it is excessive or accompanied by symptoms of illness, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Grass that is treated with chemicals or is contaminated by animal waste is unsafe for dogs to eat.
If you have any concerns about your dog’s grass-eating behavior, or your dog becomes unwell after eating grass, schedule an appointment with your vet.
