Is eating grass normal for dogs?
It鈥檚 perfectly normal behaviour for dogs to occasionally eat plant material. Even though it鈥檚 not a staple of most pooches' diet, it鈥檚 nothing to worry about if your dog occasionally enjoys grazing like a cow.
A 2008 survey of 1500 dog owners found that nearly 70% said their dogs ate plant material every day, or at least once a week. Younger dogs and puppies were found to be particularly prone to this behaviour.
You might have heard the rumour that dogs only eat greenery to make themselves sick, or that they do it to make up for deficiencies in their diet, but this isn鈥檛 always the case.
Here are four possible reasons your dog might eat grass
1. They enjoy it
We tend to think of dogs as primarily carnivores or meat eaters, but they are actually omnivores - meaning they eat meat and plants. Much like humans, individual dogs enjoy particular tastes and textures in their food; for some dogs this might be the fresh taste of delicious green grass. Yum鈥?
Dogs have around 1700 taste buds, compared to roughly 9000 in us. Like us, dogs can identify sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavours. Unlike us, dogs have special taste buds that have developed specifically for tasting water.
Cats and other carnivores also have these water taste buds. The theory is that these taste buds are an advantage in the wild when these animals need to drink more water, such as after a large meal of meat that dehydrates them.
So, for dogs, water has much more flavour than it does for us. The high water content in grass could explain why some dogs enjoy eating it so much.
2. They need fibre
Dogs need a balanced diet just like we do. Sometimes dogs will seek out high-fibre foods if their diet has been lacking in it. Fibre is important for the dog's ability to digest food and to poo, so sometimes nibbling on a bit of grass will help their body run more smoothly.
The ideal diet for a dog will depend on its age and breed. A very rough guide would be 70% meat, 20% vegetables and plant material, and 10% offal (organs of animals). Commercial dog foods list their ingredients on the packaging. Owners should choose a food labelled as 鈥渃omplete鈥 to make sure it has everything their dog needs.
3. They鈥檙e bored
Do you ever find yourself eating for no reason when you are bored? Dogs are the same! If a dog isn鈥檛 getting enough mental stimulation, they might turn to activities such as eating your lawn, chewing or digging.
Dogs need physical and mental stimulation to stay happy. Physical stimulation can include walking, running, and playing. Mental stimulation can include tracking a scent outside, obedience training, learning a new trick, or a food-dispensing puzzle toy.
4. It can help to get rid of intestinal parasites
Some researchers have suggested that dogs eat grass to relieve themselves of parasites that might be living in their digestive system.
The grass could help relieve an upset stomach by wrapping itself around any parasites and removing them on its way through the digestive tract. Like a car wash for a dog's insides!
Why do dogs eat grass then throw up?
It鈥檚 a common misconception that dogs eat grass in order to throw up or to help settle their stomach. A 2008 survey found that fewer than 1 in 10 dogs showed signs of being ill before they ate grass, and only a quarter were regularly sick afterwards. So, although some dogs do vomit after eating grass, more times than not, they don鈥檛 suffer negative repercussions.
Should I be concerned about a dog eating grass?
As we now know, eating grass occasionally is completely normal for dogs, but there are some situations where it might be time to ask your parent or guardian to contact a vet:
- The dog eats grass obsessively
- The dog keeps eating grass and being sick
- The dog eats grass but not the food that it is given
So, if you know a dog that loves munching its way through a lawn, or snacking on nearby meadows, it's probably nothing to worry about. But if you are ever concerned about a dog鈥檚 health, it is best to ask your parent or guardian to speak to a vet for advice.
Where can I read more about dogs?
Enjoyed learning about dogs who eat like they're part-time cow? Curious what other (more sensible!) things dogs can do? 大象传媒 Bitesize has got you covered.
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