Why Do Dogs Eat Grass? Understanding Why Dogs Eat Grass and Vomit?
Although dogs are carnivorous, you will find them eating grass either because they are lacking certain minerals, vitamins, and minerals in their bodies or because of a stomach upset and wants to vomit. Your dog eating grass should not always call for an alarm because he could be doing that because of diet deficiency. Therefore, your dog can be eating grass as a way of getting more fiber, which in turn helps him pass gas and stool without difficulties. On the other hand, if you are always keen on ensuring that your dog always gets a balanced diet, eating grass might not be related to a deficiency at all. Let us look at some of the main reasons why dogs eat grass.
4 Main Reasons Why Dogs Eat Grass
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Health Benefits
One of the reasons why dogs eat grass is because green grass is rich in dietary fiber. If you are not feeding your dog with a balanced diet, he might be eating grass to source extra roughage. Nowadays, dog’s digestive systems have evolved to fit the lifestyle of domesticated dogs. While wild dogs don’t get their primary source of nutrients from grass but instead get it from eating the prey they catch, pet dogs crave and eat grass to make their diet balanced. With dogs, a diet of prepared food is often high in fiber but low in roughage. Therefore, your dog can be eating grass as a way of getting more fiber, which in turn helps to keep things flowing smoothly through their digestive system.
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To Induce Vomiting
The second reason why dogs eat grass is to relieve stomach upset by inducing vomiting. Apart from eating grass to add roughage to their dogs, dogs will also east grass as a sign of stomach discomfort. While not all dogs that eat grass end up vomiting, some dogs will eat grass because there is something inside their stomach that needs to be brought out. The majority of dogs that eat grass don’t show any symptoms of stomach upsets either before or after eating the grass. So if your dog vomits after eating grass, he might have had some food poisoning or he might be self-treating himself some undiagnosed medical issue. If your dog continues to vomit after eating grass, seek veterinarian help.
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Physiological Reasons
Much like people who bite their nails when they are idle, dogs will often eat grass because they are either bored or anxious. If your dog doesn’t show any symptoms of digestive symptoms such as vomiting after eating grass, he might have some psychological reasons as to why he is doing it. If he seems bored, give him toys to play with and stay occupied. Take him out for walks in the new park and new routes as well. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, leave a blanket or shirt with your scent on it. By doing so, your dog will find the familiar scent reassuring and prevent him from going outside to eat grass.
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Eating Grass because He Loves to Do That
The other reason why dogs eat grass is simply that they enjoy the taste and texture. You will always find him eating the grass not because his diet isn’t balanced nor he is suffering from food poisoning but because he simply wants to eat the grass. If you have such a dog, you don’t have to worry because eating grass isn’t harmful to his health. However, always make sure that you keep him away from the grass that has been treated with pesticides or chemicals. Furthermore, never let your dog east mowed grass clippings. If eating grass becomes a habit for him, it could be a sign of underlying health problems that require you to take him to the vet.
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How Do I Stop My Dog from Eating Grass
Your beloved four-legged friend isn’t an herbivore, so you might be a little bit confused if you see him eating grass. While dogs eating grass isn’t something to make you raise an alarm, you should be concerned if you notice him always eating grass. If you want to train your dog not to eat grass, here is what you need to do.
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Distract and Redirect your Dog’s Attention
If you suspect that your dog is eating grass because he is bored, it will be beneficial if you introduce him to things and activities that will keep him occupied. You can choose to give him toys to play with. You can also give him a food-filled puzzle toy stuffed with peanut butter. The other thing you can do is to tell him to perform a previously learned behavior or trick which he can’t do simultaneously with the compulsive behavior. When he starts to eat grass, ask him to sit or lie down. By doing so you will be able to stop the compulsive behavior before it even begins.
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Feed Your Dog a Balanced Diet
If what’s causing your dog to go out and eat grass is because he is lacking a certain mineral or vitamin in his daily diet, make an effort to provide him with a balanced diet. Switching to better dog food, especially one which is rich in fiber will help alleviate that problem.
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Create Time to Play with Your Dog
If you are dog prefers to out and eat grass when he is bored, create time to play with him. Exercising your dog’s mind and body will greatly enrich his health and life and it does to you. Providing your dog with lots of physical and mental stimulation will help him lower down the stress levels and provide an appropriate outlet for normal dog behavior. Moreover, a physically and mentally tired doesn’t have much energy to engage in any compulsive behavior such as eating grass.
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Tips to Keep Your Pooch Happy All the Time
To keep your favorite canine friend happy and occupied, try the following tricks.
- Provide your dog with at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercises every day and at any time he encounters stressful situations. This will help him relax and remain calm.
- Play interactive and fun games with him such as fetch and tug of war. By playing with him, your dog won’t have to chase his tail as he seeks to gain your attention.
- Take your dog for outdoor walks in different parks and routes as much as possible. By doing so, your dog experiences new smells and sights as well.
- If your dog loves to play around with other dogs, let him do that.
- Provide your dog with toys to keep him occupied while indoors. With food puzzle toys, you can feed your dog his meals in these toys or stuff them with a little peanut butter or cheese. You can also provide him with edible and inedible chew things, especially during stressful times.
- When it’s feeding time for your dog, hide small piles of his kibble around the house and make him hunt for them. Most dogs love this game as it makes them exercise their bodies and muscles.
Physical Reasons Why Dogs Eat Grass and Vomit
It is less likely for a dog to gain anything physical after eating. Your dog will eat grass to induce vomiting because of the following reasons.
He has a stomach upset. Dogs will eat grass because he has an upset stomach and he thinks that by eating grass, he is going to induce vomiting. Dogs will swallow the grass without chewing it to induce vomiting.
Stomach problems. If your dog shows symptoms of stomach problems, he may have a stomach issue that required veterinarian attention. If he vomits a lot, more than once after eating the grass, it is timing him to his vet. He might be having an underlying problem, not just stomach problems.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Why Dogs Eat Grass
Q: Is it safe for dogs to eat grass?
A: If your dog is otherwise healthy, feeds on a balanced diet, and is on regular parasite prevention, eating grass is considered safe for him. To keep your grass-eating healthy, make sure that the grass he eats is safe from herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers.
Q: Why do dogs eat grass to vomit?
A: Your dog will eat grass in an attempt to induce vomiting. While eating grass sometimes induces vomiting, there some dogs that eat grass and don’t vomit at all. This is a deliberate instinctive behavior and dogs that eat grass to make them vomit after eating something that makes them ill will swallow that grass as fast as possible, even without chewing it.
Q: Are there dogs that eat grass and not vomit normally?
A: Dogs who eat grass instinctively normally don’t vomit afterward. If you notice that you have a dog who eats grass and won’t throw up afterward, there is no need for you to worry. Dog’s come from wild canine ancestors who ate whatever animals they could hunt, including the stomach contents of whatever those animals had eaten.
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Conclusion
It’s a natural thing for dogs to get out of the house and eat grass. It is also okay if your dog eats grass to induce vomiting. Although dogs gain nothing physical from eating the grass, grass might help your dog when it comes to making his digestive system flow smooth. The only time you need to worry is when your dog keeps on eating grass all the time and when he continues to throw up multiple times even after eating grass. If the symptoms persist, visit your vet and he will guide you on how to prevent your dog from eating grass.
Sources: WebMD
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