Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

Have you ever taken your dog out for a potty break and the next thing you know they’ve discovered the world’s tastiest patch of grass? While your first thought might be about the vomit you could be cleaning off the carpet later, a dog eating grass isn’t always cause for alarm. But why do they do it, and how do you know when eating grass becomes a problem? How can you get dogs to stop eating grass?

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

There are a variety of reasons why some dogs can find grass to be a delicacy. These include:

Grass-Eating Is Instinct

If a dog has a complete and balanced diet, eating grass may not be related to a deficiency at all. It might just be instinct. Dogs’ digestive systems, dietary needs, and cravings have evolved to fit the lifestyle of domesticated dogs.

While canines in the wild weren’t getting their primary source of nutrients from grass, eating an entire animal provided an optimal diet, especially if the animal’s diet consisted of various plants. Perhaps our beloved pets just naturally crave grass as part of their genetic makeup, an echo of their long-ago wild ancestry.

Need for Fiber

Eating grass could also be your dog’s way of getting more fiber in their diet, which helps them digest their food, pass stool, and generally keep their GI system operating like clockwork. A change to food with a higher fiber content may help a dog who is regularly seeking out grass.

Diet Deficiency

If your dog’s grass-eating habit is extreme, your vet may advise you that it could be a form of pica, a condition where dogs compulsively eat non-food items (often rocks, dirt, or even fabric). This condition is sometimes caused by a diet deficiency.

Pica shouldn’t be a problem for dogs who are fed a well-balanced diet, so if your vet suggests that this could be an issue for your dog, you’ll want to work with them to switch dog food or look at other underlying conditions (medical or behavioral) that could be causing the condition.

Grass Acts as Antacid

My active young dog was on a high-quality, balanced diet when she suddenly started an odd behavior. Upon going outside first thing in the morning, she would frantically gobble up as much grass as possible until she threw up some yellow foam. After that, she was perky and ready to launch into her morning two-miler.

“Yellow foam, or bile, usually indicates that the dog has an empty stomach,” says Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC Chief Veterinary Officer. “The bile can be very irritating and uncomfortable to the dog’s stomach. People take antacids to ease this pain, but dogs may eat grass to help them release the bile and feel better.”

In my dog’s case, there was a simple solution to the problem. My vet suggested feeding her a bit of her food as soon as we wake up in the morning as part of our routine. That way, the bile that enters the stomach does what it’s meant to do – breaking down the food for digestion – rather than causing discomfort. A small meal at night, right before your dog goes to sleep, can also help. If this seems to be your dog’s grass-eating behavior, talk with your vet.

Boredom

Maybe you have a fenced backyard and are lucky enough to be able to let your dog out there to play. But most dogs would rather have your companionship. If they’re hanging in the yard alone and eating grass, it may be that they’re just bored. You could stop the behavior with a combination of positive reward training, an exercise routine, and quality time you spend out there with your dog throwing a ball.

Tasty Treat

Of course, your dog might also just really enjoy the taste and texture of fragrant, wet grass in their mouth, especially when new grass is emerging for the first time during the spring or when your dog is thirsty. Always keep a bowl of fresh, cool water outside to satisfy your dog’s thirst.

Is Eating Grass Bad for Dogs?

The consumption of grass may just be a sign that your dog is attempting to relieve an upset stomach. Some dogs do vomit soon after eating it. That said, a small, limited study conducted at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine showed that only about 22% of dogs studied frequently vomited after eating grass, and only 9% frequently showed signs of illness prior to eating grass. The researchers concluded that grass and plant-eating is a normal behavior of domestic dogs.

But sometimes, even normal behaviors can be harmful. Grass that has been treated with herbicides and pesticides can be toxic to dogs. Eating grass can also cause dogs to ingest intestinal parasites, for example, roundworms and hookworms, that are left from animal droppings. In both cases, your veterinarian may want to perform assessments with fecal samples or blood tests to look for parasites and toxicity.

If you notice your dog eating grass more frequently or excessively, be alert for potential underlying illnesses that may be causing the behavior. Check for vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, decrease in appetite, bloody stool, lethargy, or lip licking.

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How to Stop Your Dog From Eating Grass

If your dog’s grass-eating behavior seems excessive, or if your dog tends to eat grass that’s not on your property, you can work on ways to prevent or stop their habit. While chewing on the lawn is a common behavior, if you’re concerned that the habit could have negative effects on your dog, training and distraction from the grass can help you have some peace of mind. Teach and practice the “leave it” cue, and use it with your dog when you’re supervising them outside in the yard. If your dog starts to eat grass, you can also offer them a more exciting toy or treat as an alternative.

Here are some tips to stop your dog from eating grass:

• Feed your dog smaller, more frequent meals – feeding especially first thing in the morning.
• Consider a dog-safe deterrent spray that will show your dog what areas of the yard are off-limits.
• Ask your veterinarian or a veterinarian nutritionist for food or digestive supplement recommendations that will best suit your dog’s age, breed, and activity level.
• When you let your dog out in the yard, play with them or give them a safe chew toy.

Always monitor your dog when there are houseplants nearby, as certain varieties can cause toxicity if they’re chewed or ingested, and that’s a different situation than munching on grass. Contact your vet if you think your dog has chewed on a toxic houseplant or possibly ingested too much grass.