Why Dogs Eat Grass
As you may have noticed from your trips to the park, some dogs
relish eating grass as though it were a gourmet treat. Others, however,
don't seem overly interested, and may only take an occasional little
munch every now and then. Like many dog owners, you've probably
wondered about this behavior. The definitive answer to the question
"Why do dogs eat grass?" has not been found. But experts have some
interesting theories.
Natural-born scavengers.
According to this theory, modern-day
domesticated dogs eat grass because, in their evolutionary past, they
were scavengers—wild animals that ate whatever they could find
when they needed nutrition. Sometimes that included grass.
Dogs are omnivores.
As omnivores—animals that eat both
meat and vegetation—dogs may simply have a natural craving for
grass. Some dogs may eat more grass than others because the taste
appeals to them more.
Stomach cleansing.
if your dog is fond of grass, you may have
noticed that eating grass makes him vomit. The correlation between
eating grass and vomiting is well documented, but experts still aren't
entirely clear if dogs eat grass because they feel a need to cleanse
their stomachs, or if they vomit because the grass has given them an
upset stomach. If it's the former, then eating grass may be a natural
and instinctive way for dogs to purge the contents of their digestive
tract. The mystery, however, gets deeper when you consider that some
dogs eat grass without any consequences.
When you should be concerned
If your dog has an appetite for an occasional grass snack, this may
be perfectly normal behavior. And if it makes him vomit now and then,
there may still be no need for alarm. However, if he vomits more than
once or twice, or if your non-grass-eating dog suddenly starts eating
great quantities of grass, you should have him checked by your vet.
This may be an indication that something is wrong with his digestive
system.
Safety
The use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other lawn
treatments is another cause for concern. If your dog is a grass eater
by nature, make sure he isn't able to snack on any lawn that's been
treated. When in doubt, play it safe and keep him away from
questionable patches of grass in the neighborhood or the park.