Why Are Our Dogs Obsessed With Eating Grass? Are There Any Harmful Effects?

This is possibly the most common question vets get on a daily basis, “Why do our dogs eat grass?”. Our furry companion is obviously not a relative of the cow, so we get confused about this weird habit when we see them munching on the grasslands. The question is fairly simple, but the answer is often multi-faceted depending on your dog’s situation.

We, as dog owners, often stop and deter our dog from eating grass. However, it undoubtedly still happens occasionally on the off-chance we were not paying attention whilst our dog was roaming on the lush green pastures.

So what is the real reason our domesticated canines regularly chew on grass even when they are well-fed and healthy?

Read on to find out more!

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

There is a common misconception that our dogs eat grass because they feel unwell. Scientific evidence suggests that our furry friends are usually healthy before consuming grass. Webmd indicates that less than 10% of dogs in their experiment were sick before munching on the greenfields.

We noticed two main reasons why dogs eat grass: i) nutritional benefits and ii) behavioural habits.

Nutritional Needs

Dogs have strong primal instincts to feed themselves, yet they only have access to food that we provide them with. Therefore, it is not surprising that they furnish their diet with some roughage and fibre from other easily accessible sources like the grassfields. Fibre and roughage helps to keep the intestinal tracts stimulated, and is a vital part of our dog’s diets.

Another theory about dogs is that, in the wild, they often scavenged or hunted small animals for food. This source of food would often provide them with fibre and roughage available in the stomach contents of these prey; along with its meat, bones, and internal organs. Therefore, although dogs do not have the ability to digest plants or vegetables, they often get them indirectly from their food sources.

Behavioural Habits

Does your dog look like they’re having fun plucking grass off and munching on them? This habit may be developed over time as a playful pastime. It may be a psychological need, to get attention from you while they feel bored or lonely. Chewing may seem like a fun activity for dogs who require regular activity, but do not get sufficient stimulation from their owners.

In addition to these explanations, our furry friends may just like the taste and texture of of grass, like true grass connoisseurs should.

With these habits, some training for behavioural modification may help in preventing future grazing sessions.

Do Dogs Need To Eat Grass?

No, there is no significant scientific evidence that points to grass as a supplement to your canine’s diet. The dog nutrition industry has a variety of holistic meals and sustainable pet treats to provide your pup with the necessary nutrients they require without requiring additional fibre from wild carpet grass growing down the street.

Are There Health Benefits To Eating Grass?

There is no scientifically proven evidence that grazing on grass is nutritious to our dogs in any way. There may even be harmful parasites that are growing on wild green fields that may cause digestive problems or even severe poisoning from pesticides and chemicals. 

The technical term for dogs eating non-food items is Pica. It is a compulsive disorder that causes our furry friends to crave one or a variety of inedible items. To avoid this behaviour, we encourage pet parents to keep their dogs well-exercised and engage them throughout the day with a chew or a toy.

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xo
Nellie