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Vet shares 3 reasons why your dog could be eating grass – and when to be concerned Credits: Social Media
By Ellissa Bain

Vet shares 3 reasons why your dog could be eating grass – and when to be concerned

By Ellissa Bain

If you are a dog owner, your furry friend probably likes to munch on grass from time to time. It’s a very normal behavior, but why do they do it?

We spoke to vet Dr Matthew McCarthy, who said we don’t know exactly why dogs eat grass, but there there are “quite a few theories”.

Dog eating grasses
The black dog plucks the blades of grass with his teeth and eats them. Outdoor photo. Credit: Anita Kot (Getty Images)

Why your dog could be eating grass

Your dog could be eating grass simply because it tastes nice, particularly when it’s green and fresh, or just because they’re bored. Dogs are animals remember, so they always don’t understand that grass isn’t a delicacy. Aside from that, here are the three other most popular theories:

1. It’s instinctive behavior

Firstly, your dog could be eating grass because it’s an “instinctive hard wired behavior” that’s been handed down from their wolf ancestors.

“Wolves would often eat the stomach and intestinal content of their grass-eating prey – kind of like a natural veggie Haggis, repellent to some, but delicious to others,” McCarthy told The Focus.

This also explains why a lot of dogs love eating horse poo, as it is loaded with digested and partially digested grass and hay.

2. To make themself sick

Another reason dogs sometimes eat grass is to make themselves vomit and “purge their stomachs” from something that’s upsetting it like spoiled food or parasites.

It seems like a plausible explanation, but one study surveyed 47 owners�and found that while 79% of dogs regularly eat grass, only 22% of them frequently vomited after.

Plus, only 9% appeared to be unwell beforehand. So, dogs don’t only eat grass when they are unwell – there must be other reasons.

3. A condition called pica

Dogs can also get a condition called pica, which is a craving to eat non-food items, such as dirt, stones, or clothing.

The canine will eat anything in its environment that is not food, including grass, and it’s usually a sign of a more serious issue.

It could signify a nutritional deficiency, neurologic disorder or metabolic condition, so it’s best to speak to a vet if your pet eating strange objects.

Dog lying on sofa at home, looking ill and sad
Parson Russell Terrier dog feeling tired, desperate and sleepy, lying on a charcoal grey sofa at home. Credit: Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman (Getty Images)

When you should be concerned

Your dog eating grass isn’t immediately a cause for concern, and the plant itself isn’t dangerous, but you do need to be aware of any herbicides and pesticides sprayed on it that can be toxic.

Also, your dog may ingest parasites such as hookworms or roundworms that contaminate the grass via the faeces of other dogs, and they could swallow sharp grass seeds.

The Kennel Club says you should contact a vet if:

  • Your dog is eating grass obsessively
  • Your dog keeps eating grass and being sick
  • Your dog is showing other symptoms like not eating their food, seeming lethargic or having�diarrhoea or constipation

Dr. Matthew McCarthy is the Veterinary Medical Director at Juniper Valley Animal Hospital, which he founded in 1999 after completing his veterinary training at Louisiana State University.