Why does your dog eat grass? These 5 reasons may be behind it

Sometimes we see dogs eating grass and even looking for the opportunity to "graze". We show you why a predator does this!

First of all, it is important to note that today’s dogs are omnivores rather than predators. In fact, their ancestors, and wolves living today have been observed to often consume berries and plants along with meat. The dog is no different. Dogs are often seen chewing grass, or even frothing at the mouth. Many people do not know what to make of this. Why are they doing this?

Boredom

The simplest explanation is that they are simply bored. It’s not necessarily a bad thing if you notice your pet chewing grass. If it bothers you, invite him to play or take him for a walk, he’ll be happy. It could also be that he simply likes grass.

He wants to chew something

A very similar reason to the previous one is that the dog wants to chew. This is especially common in puppies, who want to bite something every second. Get your dog some toys to play with instead of vegetation.

Lack of certain nutrients

Proper nutrition is very important. Dogs need a lot of enzymes, minerals and vitamins. If they don’t get one, they may turn to nature for help. This can manifest itself in eating animal feces or grass. Plants are known to be high in fibre, which is good for your pet’s stomach. If it bothers you that he eats grass, feel free to give him carrots, peppers or other vegetables.

If you switched to a different food when you noticed this behaviour, it is almost certainly a problem with the food. Important, if you prepare your pet’s food yourself, be very careful about what you put in your dog’s bowl and in what proportions.

Wolf ancestors

The ancestor of dogs, the grey wolf, also ate plants. Not only directly, but also in the stomach contents of captured prey. Wild animals eat all parts of their prey. Today’s dogs do not, yet they feel the need to fill the gap. This is one reason why they can eat grass.

On the other hand, wolves often eat plants to help them digest fibre. In this way, in the absence of a repellent, they themselves ensure that the parasites leave their intestines more quickly. This is why puppies eat grass more often, because they are more likely to get worms. They do not do this consciously, they are just guided by their instincts.

Stomach pain

Herbivory in dogs can also be caused by stomach pain. They usually eat while foaming at the mouth, which causes them to vomit. The stomach pain will then stop. The long fibres irritate their palate, so they gag, and the clump of grass quickly reappears in a transparent, slimy form.
According to a 2008 study 79% of dogs that eat plants on their own choose grass, but only 22% of them vomit from it. It was also found that 9% of the dogs were actually sick with an upset stomach. So we can’t say that the dogs are consciously vomiting, as less than a quarter of them have stomach contents that are regurgitated.

It’s important not to let your pet eat grass if it has been sprayed or contaminated with anything else, as it can cause serious health problems. If you often catch your dog eating grass, or if he vomits afterwards, ask your vet for an opinion.