I recently had a conversation with someone that asked a common question about dogs: “Why does my dog eat grass?” My retort: “Why does my kid eat crayons?” With a speculative look, the friend answered, “Well, because babies are gross.” HAHA! Yes, they are gross, but really, they’re just looking for something to do. Depending on what kind of parent you are, or dog parent, you tend to redirect them. Give the baby a rattle while slowly removing the crayons to avoid a fight. Throw a bone and see who can get it first, the dog or the baby. If it’s your second child, you might even be handing them a box of crayons to nibble on just so you can get the dishes done, so it really does come down to parenting style at any given moment. In most cases, regardless of what you’ve heard, dogs probably eat grass only because they are bored, especially if they are a puppy or younger dog. Do you see how well being a pet owner can prepare you for parenthood? In one study on this common problem, three-quarters of the dogs were found to eat grass, so it’s considered normal behavior by most veterinarians. If you are concerned that it may be more than boredom because other symptoms or signs accompany this behavior, here are a couple possibilities you might bring up with your veterinarian: Pica due to nutritional deficiency - Pica is the term used when a person or an animal frequently eats something that is not food. It can be caused by a lack of nutrients, which is being supplemented by whatever they have chosen to eat, in this case, grass. If this is the case, your dog might need a special diet, such as a high fiber dog food, to include more of those lacking nutrients. Upset stomach - Although the common theory that dogs eat grass to help them throw up, which settles an upset stomach, is probably more myth than anything, if you have a super smart pooch, just maybe, small maybe, they are self-medicating. In actuality, fewer than 10% of dogs have been known to be sick before eating grass and only a quarter of them vomit after eating grass according to studies about this phenomenon. If your dog is eating grass and throwing up frequently, ask your veterinarian in case it’s a bigger issue such as digestion problems. If it comes down to boredom, then get your dog a new toy or bone once in awhile to occupy its time, and more walks are always good for you and your pet. If they continue eating grass, they may just like it, just like your baby loves to chew on your shoes. Just keep in mind that some herbicides and pesticides used on your lawn (or places you visit) might be toxic, so keep your canines safe by checking up on your lawn care products. Wait, what’s that? Your kids don’t eat your shoes. Just my kid. Okay, so he is gross. Don’t be afraid to ask your veterinarian for advice if you think it’s more than boredom or you see other signs that there might be a problem with your pet eating grass. Now, are there any doctors that want to write a blog about my son’s general grossness? Something to tell me it’s normal? Oh well, he’s building immunities here. My shoe can’t be worse than big slobber kisses from the grass-eating (and who knows what else) Pyrenees that lives with us.
3 Comments
Katie D
9/6/2017 06:33:18 am
My little guy loves crayons too!
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8/19/2022 03:00:54 pm
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12/20/2022 04:10:41 am
Good article, Im about to learn something very good with this article thanks for share keep doing it..
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Jessica Stroupe, DVM
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August 2017
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