My Dog Eats Grass. Why?

With all our knowledge of dog behavior, some things are still a mystery to us humans—including why dogs eat grass.

Some of the leading theories from experts include…

  • Boredom or anxiety.

A dog may chew on grass the same way humans chew their fingernails. In this case, providing extra physical activity or mental stimulation may help. 

  • To soothe an upset tummy or make themselves vomit to feel better.

This may be true for some pups, but this long-standing theory has come into question since the majority of dogs who eat grass don’t show symptoms of illness beforehand and also don’t vomit after eating it.

  • For fiber intake.

Since dogs are omnivorous, their ancestors probably scavenged for plants in addition to hunting for prey—not to mention consuming the grass and plants found in the intestines of their plant-eating prey. Plus, it’s been documented that some wolves eat grass.

This may be an instinctual behavior in dogs, even though a high quality dog food provides all the fiber they need.

  • For enjoyment.

It’s also possible dogs just enjoy the taste of grass!

The good news is, this behavior generally isn’t harmful. That said, there are some things you should be aware of:

First and foremost, make sure your pup isn’t also ingesting things like pesticides, herbicides, toxic plants, and certain fertilizers or other chemicals.

To prevent parasite exposure, avoid ingestion of grass where other pets frequently go to the bathroom, such as dog parks. Routine parasite prevention is a good idea for grass-eating pups, too.

In moderation, an occasional nibble on safe, clean grass may be enjoyable for your dog!

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