Why do dogs eat grass? 7 reasons for this habit – Dogster

So why do dogs eat grass anyway? Research on why dogs eat grass is limited, says Dr. Shadi Ireifej, board-certified veterinarian and chief medical officer at VetTriage. Many people think the herb is a primitive Pepto-Bismol that soothes heartburn and upset stomachs. Some believe that the extra fiber in grass helps your dog relieve himself. And others believe that eating grass is simply in your dog’s DNA.

Here are the top 7 reasons dogs eat grass:

1. Eating Grass Can Calm a Dog’s Upset Stomach

Dr. Sara Ochoa, veterinarian at Whitehouse Veterinary Hospital, says tummy issues are the number one reason dogs eat grass. So what’s in the green grass vomit on your living room rug? The disgusting parts of animals like hair, beak, hooves and feathers, says Dr. Ochoa. The grass helps your dog vomit up the less digestible parts of his meal.

Spicy herb can instantly reduce your dog’s nausea, unlike other longer-lasting anti-vomiting agents like 3% hydrogen peroxide. Switch your dog to an easier-to-digest brand of food, says Dr. Ochoa. A study 2018 published in the Journal of Animal Science found that lightly cooked, raw diets had higher nutrient digestibility than extruded diets.

2. Eating Grass Helps Dogs With Heartburn

When your pup has a troubled tummy, he can’t just pop an antacid, so he can nibble on the grass gently. The green stuff contains pectin – a type of fiber that treats acid reflux. Dr. Ireifej says the grass can calm your dog’s upset stomach because it has the same neutral pH as water. If your dog has an empty stomach, the grass can mop up excess bile and stomach acid. Should weed be your all-natural remedy for canine heartburn? Not so fast, says Dr. Ochoa. Lawn and turf cannot relieve heartburn the way over-the-counter medications for humans do.

3. Eating grass can help when your dog is constipated

One ounce of weed contains 85% water and 4 grams of fiber. Grass can speed up digestion, says Dr. Ireifej, but since your dog can’t digest grass, it meanders through his gastrointestinal tract and drags water with it. This increases the size of his poo, so it passes through his colon faster. Instead, offer dog-friendly fruits and vegetables like bananas and broccoli. Work with a veterinarian as excess fiber can cause gas and diarrhea.

4. Eating grass is a dog’s instinctive behavior

About 130,000 years agothe dogs came from gray wolves. While we think of our dog’s ancestors as meat eaters, gray wolves are actually scavengers that eat anything available, including grass and berries.

Adult wolves may eat grass because it contains a green substance called chlorophyll, which may relieve pain and reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis in wild dogs, according to a 2022 study published in PLoS One. Wild wolf pups (pups) may eat grass because they are more prone to intestinal parasites. They’re still growing, so nutritional stress could make them easy targets for predators like bears and coyotes.

5. Eating grass because dogs need fatty acids in their diet

If your dog is chowing down on grass, he might need more healthy fats in his diet, says Dr. Ireifej. When grass is cut, it forms omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Dogs with low omega-3 levels are more likely to be aggressive, according to Veterinary Research Communications study. How many grams of omega-3 are there in a single blade of grass? It has never been studied, so stick to fish oil and krill supplements.

6. Eating grass can be fun for a dog

If your pup treats your lawn like an all-you-can-eat salad bar, it might be because he’s curious or bored, says Dr. Ireifej. Some puppies and adult dogs consider green stuff a delicacy. They seek out the plumpest, juiciest blades of grass and slowly savor them. How to stop your dog from eating grass? Teach the “leave it” signal. It will train your dog to automatically ignore the grass. When he shows any interest in grazing, say “leave him” in a firm voice. Then, when he comes to you, give him a high-value treat like a turkey hot dog and praise him.

7. Dogs eating grass due to anxiety

When your pup hears birds chirping or a police car making a “woo-woo-woo-woo-woo” sound, he may start frantically eating grass, says Dr. Ochoa. Does your dog walk and pant? Bark? Howl? These anxiety symptoms are usually caused by separation anxiety or stressful events like fireworks. Other hormonal conditions such as Cushing’s disease and brain tumors can also cause anxiety in dogs, adds Dr. Ireifej. Pica is a condition in which dogs become thirsty and compulsively eat non-food items like grass and rocks.

Veterinarians can determine if your dog has generalized anxiety or another medical condition based on his age, breed, gender, medical history, and current medications.

Is it safe for my dog ​​to eat grass?

Grass is not harmful or dangerous, but the products you spray on your grass can be harmful to your dog. Fertilizers can contain nitrogen, which can cause toxins to build up in your dog’s blood or cause their kidneys to shut down.

Can you protect your dog from your neighbors spraying pesticides? No, even if you don’t spray chemicals on your lawn, they can drift from your neighbor’s treated yard. This is why, according to University of Maryland.

Eating grass covered in feces can inflame your dog’s stomach and intestines, and worm eggs and larvae can hide in the grass.

What type of grass is safe for my dog?

Because dogs cannot digest plant sugar, each type of grass can cause vomiting or diarrhea. Does your dog eat too much grass? Try indoor pet grass kits, such as Dog Grass Garden-In-A-Bag. It is a mixture of barley, rye, oat and wheat seeds. Dr. Ochoa says grains can boost your dog’s immune system and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Before jumping on the pet grass bandwagon, make sure your dog doesn’t have any grain allergies or other health issues. Make an appointment with your veterinarian or a certified veterinary internist.

Is grass toxic to dogs?

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Don’t let your dog eat these dangerous herbs:

• Grass Palms: Believe it or not, palms are a type of grass. Herbal palms are loaded with a bitter tasting poison called saponin which can cause reduced appetite, dilated pupils, bloody diarrhea, depression and increased saliva. If you discover that your dog has eaten palm grass, rush him to your veterinarian.
• Foxtails: Foxtails are grass-like weeds. Their barbed seeds can become lodged between your dog’s toes and inside his ears, eyes, nose and tongue. If not removed in time, foxtails can lead to disgusting pockets of pus that need to be drained. They can also travel from your dog’s nose to his brain or pierce his skin and damage his stomach and spinal cord.

The essential

It is normal for dogs to eat grass. Grass alone isn’t harmful, but pesticides, fertilizers, and lawn feces can hurt your pup. Check your garden and new areas for foxtails and weed palms, or grow your own dog grass. And talk to your vet if your dog eats too much grass or starts chewing on it out of the blue.