If you’ve got a dog, you’ve probably seen your furry friend eating grass more than once. Whether your dog is a habitual grass eater and can’t get enough, or they’re interested in it for the first time, you may be a little confused as to why. You’ve probably asked yourself what dogs find so appealing about grass that they just have to eat it, and maybe you’ve even tried it yourself to see what the fuss is about.
So exactly why do dogs eat grass? We now know a few reasons dogs might be eating grass, and not all of them are what we think. They may be eating grass for a physical reason, like an upset stomach, or a psychological one. Or, your dog may be perfectly healthy and just really enjoy the taste of grass.
Physical Reasons for Dogs to Eat Grass
Eating grass is normal behavior for dogs and not just our furry pets. Wild dogs and canine species, like wolves, have been seen eating grass as long as we’ve been around to see it. Dogs explore the world around them with their nose, so naturally, it’s much more likely, and easier, for a dog to decide to put something in their mouth for a better understanding of what it is. This is how so many dogs end up with bee stings.
An Upset Stomach
Upset stomachs aren’t just a human problem, as most animals produce stomach acid to break down and digest food. Veterinarians believe a dog eats grass for the same benefits we use antacids. If your dog is eating grass, they may have too much acid and get an upset stomach, or they may not be getting enough fiber. This means they can’t properly digest their food and pass it as a bowel movement, so eating grass is a great way for dogs to add fiber naturally to their diet. If you don’t want your dog eating grass, a good alternative is to feed them steamed broccoli, carrots, or green beans with their current food.
An Evolutionary Habit
Eating grass isn’t a bad thing for your dog to do, and has been done by their ancestors for countless generations as a way to battle against intestinal parasites. Thankfully, our pets nowadays don’t have to worry much about the risk of worms, but that hasn’t always been the case, and they have used grass as a treatment method until we came along. Grass is mostly fiber, making it difficult to digest, and the perfect tool to clear out intestines, and anything else in them.
Psychological Reasons for Dogs to Eat Grass
If you’ve ever met a dog (who hasn’t?) you know dogs have feelings just like humans. They can be happy, they love things, they get sad, and they can get angry or frustrated. Dogs feel just as strongly as we do, and that means they also feel other things we do too, like boredom, anxiety, and loneliness.
Boredom
Dogs get just as bored as humans, and rightfully so. There are times when they have to be left alone for hours on end, and they have to fill it somehow. If the dog happens to be left outside, whether it’s for a few hours or a quick five minutes, they may get bored and try to pass the time. As a ready source of activity, nibbling on grass serves as a way to pass the time, limited only by the amount of grass available.
Anxiety and Loneliness
Dogs get anxious and express it in various ways. One of those ways may be eating grass as a comfort mechanism, the same way you might chew on your fingernails or twist a lock of hair around. If you think this may be the case, try giving your dog some clothing that smells like you or an old toy they used to love so they can have some comfort, especially if you have to be away from them, as the issue may be loneliness from separation anxiety.
Dogs eat grass for a few different reasons, though none of them are unhealthy. Eating grass is your dog’s way of clearing up stomach problems or dealing with anxiety and boredom, so for those of you asking, “Why do dogs eat grass?” just remember you have nothing to worry about.
