Healthy Spot Blog

Why do dogs eat grass? Believe it or not, there is no surefire answer to this question, it’s somewhat debatable. We’ve all seen it. Our dog may prance over to a wide area of grass, bend down and start chomping away. Does the grass emit some irresistible scent that dogs can’t resist? What’s the deal?

So Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

When it comes down to it, dogs may eat grass for a couple of reasons:

1) Because they simply like eating grass. It’s believed that it becomes an added supplement to their diet and some dogs will eat grass often. Dogs are omnivores which means they feed off of both animal and vegetable substances, hence, the grass becomes their vegetable substitute. Perhaps you could equate grass to a healthy side of “salad”. It could also indicate your pup’s regularly-fed meals are insufficient in providing a balanced diet, aka they’re not getting all the nutrients they should be and you may consider adding a supplement to their meals.

2) If your dog normally doesn’t ingest grass and makes a sudden dash for a bite of it, this could indicate a stomach issue. A dog that eats grass in this way, may have a bit of an upset stomach, and by consuming the grass, it can help induce vomit. This may be a way for dogs to help themselves feel better if their stomach isn’t feeling too good. Some even believe the blades of grass can “tickle” their tummy, causing a sick dog to vomit.

Is It Normal?

Eating grass is nothing to be too alarmed about. Dogs have been known to eat grass for years, and unless they are vomiting frequently and irrationally, it’s most likely nothing to worry about. Sometimes just as humans get upset stomachs once in a while, dogs do, too.

When You Should Worry
However, if the grass consumption starts to be a concern, you should definitely bring your dog into the vet to see if there are any serious gastrointestinal problems. Is your dog showing other symptoms as well that are accompanying his sudden grass-noshing? Accompanying symptoms such as lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, etc., are signs you should not ignore. Also, make sure that the grass they are consuming is untouched by fertilizer and pesticides, as both can be harmful to your dog when ingested.

Discouraging your Dog from Grass Eating
If it seems your dog is eating grass more out of habit than sickness, there are some ways you can try to discourage them from eating grass.


Keep the Grass Trimmed Down
Make sure to keep your grass frequently mowed, as dogs tend to take bites out of taller patches of available grass.


Provide your Dog a Healthy and Nutritious Diet
Dietary changes may also help prevent grass consumption. Since it’s believed to be a dietary imbalance, you may want to try adding supplements to your dogs diet. Keep in mind though, there is no known replacement that will keep your dog from eating grass, but it’s worth a try to diversify your dog’s food for their long-term health. Even if you opt to not try a supplement, it’s important that your dog is eating robust food that is catering to his needs. There are a variety of different foods for dogs of all different breeds, varying ailments, lifestyles, etc. Come talk to one of our Healthy Spot staff on site to see what food works best for your particular pup. It turns out, reading the nutrition labels on the back of food is pretty important to compare for example how much protein or fat there is. Another option might be to consider going with a raw diet (rather than processed food), which also has long-term health benefits.


Eat On Time
Be sure to feed your dog regularly. Just as it is ideal for you and me to eat foods on a regular basis (those late-night snacks or starving all day can really mess you up!), it is also ideal to keep your dogs on a set feeding schedule so their stomach isn’t out of sync.


Cater Safer Grass for Consumption
If it seems grass is their only go-to, some also decide to grow a separate patch of grass specifically for their dog to eat. This way, you can keep this grass separate and free of chemicals or other harmful substances that your regular lawn might be exposed to.


Always Keep an Eye on Your Dog’s Eating Habits
There’s no guaranteed method to stop your dog from eating grass, and many vets will agree that this isn’t something to be too concerned about. However, you should always be aware of your dog’s feeding habits. Since our dogs can’t tell us something is wrong, as owners, it’s our duty to notice when something is up. If they’re not eating like they normally do, or vomiting excessively, this is a red flag you should take your dog in to get checked out. It’s better to be safe than sorry.