Maria Allen
Does your dog eat grass? To what extent this is normal and when you should start worrying, we explain in this article.
Dog Eats Grass: This Is Normal
If you notice “My dog is eating grass” and find it strange, here’s the reassurance: From time to time the dog eats grass, for example during a walk or when running free in the garden. This is initially unproblematic and is part of his normal behavior. For some dogs, it is used to eliminate boredom or is like a game. Puppies also seem to copy this from their mother and adopt the behavior from her.
Why Is My Dog Eating Grass?
The assumptions about the reasons for grass-eating in dogs are very diverse. Which includes:
- The roughage in the grass is said to support the dog’s digestion.
- Some dogs eat grass when they have digestive problems in order to vomit and thus get rid of harmful food components. (Unlike cats, which regularly eat grass to vomit hair picked up while grooming, this has not been proven for dogs.)
- Dogs also eat grass to compensate for nutrient deficiencies.
- Dogs with worms are said to tend to eat grass.
- e muito mais
Most of these assumptions are currently not scientifically proven. This has been tried again and again but has not succeeded to a satisfactory extent. The exact reason dogs eat grass is currently unknown. Some dogs just seem to like it, because healthy dogs with a very balanced and high-quality diet also show this behavior.
Dog Eats Grass: Calming Effect
Other suspected reasons for dogs eating grass are the calming effects: for example, in stressful interactions with other dogs, nibbling on blades of grass can be distracting and relaxing. As already mentioned, boredom can also be bridged with it. Chewing and eating are generally relaxing, which is why this can also be assumed for eating grass.
Dog Eats Grass: When Is It A Problem?
Does your dog eat and vomit copious amounts of grass? You have the feeling that he will soon become a herbivore, is it pulling out in bunches? These tufts are often swallowed without chewing. This should alert you. Digestive problems with diarrhea can then occur in addition to vomiting. In such cases, take your dog to a veterinarian. Recording how often and in which situations the dog eats grass is also helpful.
Also, if you find blood in your vomit or stool, the stool is coated with mucus, or your dog won’t defecate at all (especially after eating clumps of grass), you should definitely go to the vet! These are indications of serious illnesses such as inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract or intestinal obstruction.
Caution: Be very careful when pulling on blades of grass protruding from the anus. If they cannot be removed with a slight pull, sharp-edged grasses can severely injure the mucous membrane of the rectum and anus! It is better to go to the vet if you have this problem.
Dog Eats Grass: Danger Of Lungworm
Just as there are gastrointestinal parasites in dogs, there are also worms that spend at least part of their lifespan in the dog’s lungs. These are known as lungworms. During their development from egg to larva to the worm, these worms depend on a so-called “intermediate host”, in this case, a snail. Very curious dogs, especially puppies, will eat these snails and become infected with the parasites. An “indirect” way of infection is: The dog eats grass on which the (sometimes tiny) snails are sitting. The larvae from the snail migrate from the dog’s intestines to its lungs, where they develop into adult worms, which in turn lay eggs. The larvae that hatch from them cause damage to the lung tissue. Dogs with lungworms suffer to varying degrees from e.g. coughing, reduced performance, fever, and nosebleeds also occur.
Dog Often Eats Grass: What Can You Do About It?
The vet will of course examine the dog thoroughly. If medically relevant findings are collected, the dog is treated casually, for example in the case of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or metabolic disorders.
Maybe he doesn’t tolerate the current food well or suffers from gastrointestinal parasites. Stress and/or boredom should also be included as factors and minimized if possible. Perhaps your dog is currently unable to find its way in an unfamiliar situation? Chronic pain or other physical problems can also cause stress, which in turn leads to behavioral deviations.
Dog Eats Grass: Home Remedies
Your dog eats a lot of grass and you want to do something? If your dog is doing well overall and you find the grass consumption just a little too high, you can try feeding it more frequently (two to three times a day instead of once) or supplementing it with healing clay.
Important: Do not miss the above warning signals that your dog is seriously ill!
Dog Eats Grass: What Else Should I Consider?
Be careful in the following situations:
- In the city and on major roads, do not let your dog eat grass by the side of the road. This absorbs the pollutants from the car exhaust gases.
- Any pesticides or fertilizers were particularly concentrated at the edges of fields. Therefore, do not “graze” at the edge of the field!
- Prevent your dog from eating sharp-edged grass. These can damage the lining of the mouth and esophagus and lead to stomach pain. In addition, if these grasses stick out of the anus as described above, they can also cause injuries there (e.g. because the dog removes them with his teeth).
- And of course, no known poisonous plants should be consumed. These include evergreen plants such as boxwood and yew and many ornamental plants. While these are not grasses, you should definitely always be aware of what your dog is eating outside!
Dog Eats Grass: Conclusion
If your dog occasionally eats grass – let him have fun! If it gets out of hand and is causing other problems as well, you should take him to a veterinarian.