subject: Why Dogs Eat Grass [print this page] Eating grass is something that many dogs indulge in, and few show any sign of being badly affected. Yet it is something that worries a lot of dog owners.
If you're one on those concerned about your dog eating grass, read on to learn what the experts have to say about it.
Does Your Dog Need "Veggies"?
Dogs eat a variety of foods and, as omnivores, need to eat meat as well as vegetables. As grass was the most common vegetable matter around, it formed an integral part of their ancestor's regular diet. In fact, it may even have had some medicinal value for them.
You may have noticed that even if your dog doesn't normally eat grass, he'll look for a clump of grass to munch on when he's feeling unwell. Veterinarians are divided as to why this is. Some believe that dogs eat grass because their stomachs are upset, others insist that their stomachs become upset after eating grass.
Will Eating Grass Harm Your Dog?
If this is your concern, you're not alone, especially if your dog throws up after chewing grass. Eating grass is common canine behavior, wild dogs do it too and without any signs of lasting health problems.
A recent study found that where dogs had access to grass a high percentage of them (up to 79%) ate grass and/or other plant matter. The study also showed that dogs prefer grass over other plants. No evidence was presented to suggest the dogs that routinely ate grass were in any way less healthy than those that didn't.
Why Your Dog Eats Grass.
Most dogs that eat grass show no outward symptoms of being ill before they do so. In fact, the dog owners surveyed reported that in 90% of cases their dogs were not ill before eating grass.
And it seems unlikely that dogs eat grass to make themselves through up - less than 25% of dog owners surveyed noticed their dogs vomiting after eating grass.
What is quite possible is that grass provides dogs with much needed fiber. In fact, many dog owners report that once they add a fiber supplement to their dog's food, the dog stops eating grass altogether.
Is Eating Grass Healthy For Your Dog?
So if eating grass isn't harmful, does it have any health benefits for a dog?
Grass is low in nutritional value and animals that rely on it for nutrition have to spend most of their time grazing just to get a sufficient intake of nutrients.
So it is unlikely that the small amount of grass a dog eats has major nutritional value. However, as omnivores, they do need the essential nutrients present in vegetable matter, especially if they are on a commercial dog food diet.
Why then do they throw up after eating grass? The experts can't give an answer to that one, but all agreed that eating grass poses no danger to your dog.
by: Gary Walker
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