Why is My Dog Eating Grass?

It is a nice, beautiful day and your dog makes it a point to stop to eat some grass.  You are now wondering what this is all about!  This may put you in a worried state of mind or begin to think that they are hungry or even bored.  Foremost, rest assured that you are not alone in these concerns, especially if your dog is eating grass and vomiting afterward.  We will now go into further detail about this.

Pica is the technical term for the disorder characterized by eating things that aren’t food.  Pica may be an indication that your dog has a nutritional deficiency.  However, it also may be a sign of boredom, especially when practiced by puppies and younger dogs.  Dogs eating grass is actually quite common.  In fact, this form of pica does not cause too many problems.  Results from a study of 49 dog owners whose dogs had regular access to grass and other plants found that 79% of the dogs had eaten plants at some time.  Interesting fact, right?

There could be a variety of reasons why your four-legged friend is eating grass.  Grass can help improve digestion, treat intestinal worms, or fulfill some sort of nutritional deficiency.  For example, if your dog has a fiber deficiency, they may head straight to the grass to fulfill this need.  On the flip side, if you think that your dog is eating grass because of boredom, you must do your best to ensure that they are getting enough exercise and mind stimulation.  One thing to keep in mind is that certain herbicides and pesticides used on lawns can be very toxic.  Ensure that your dog is not digesting grass that is deemed dangerous!