Peanut, my dog, was with me on our daily walk through the park. Peanut was not interested in sniffing every bench or chasing squirrels like he normally does, but he was more focused on eating the grass. Peanut has been known to eat grass, but this time he was obsessed with mowing the lawn. This made me wonder if my dog is sick. Is grass bad for my dog? Is the grass providing a nutritional supplement that his food doesn’t?
So I did some research.
My dog is eating grass.
Do you think grass is bad for dogs?
It turns out that grass eating is quite normal. This is considered “normal” behavior by most veterinarians. Pets.WebMD reports that 79% of dogs have eaten plants in a small study.
However, dogs should not eat grass that has been treated. Dogs can be allergic to certain grasses.
Why do dogs eat grass?
Dogs are familiar with the term “pica”, which is a way to eat things that aren’t food. Dogs younger than 10 years old may eat grass out of boredom. If this is the case, ensure your dog gets enough exercise. Play fetch, or take your dog for a longer walk.
Sometimes grass eating isn’t for enjoyment or pleasure. Dogs who are experiencing gastrointestinal upset may eat grass. This can manifest as a whimpering, vomiting, or large amounts of grass. It can be an instinctive way to relieve pain and discomfort. There is nothing to be concerned about if your dog throws up after eating grass and then eats it again. You may need to take your dog to the veterinarian if the behavior persists.
Is grass nutritious?
Grass is not very nutritional. However, grass eating could indicate a nutritional deficit. Switching to a higher-quality dog food could help your dog stop eating grass. This problem could be solved by switching to a high-fiber food.
Peanut is doing well. Peanut didn’t seem to be feeling sick and he hadn’t eaten grass in a while so I think he was being his strange self.
Why is my dog eating grass? The Dog Blog – How to.
