Why does my dog eat grass?

It often looks a bit strange: dogs enthusiastically diving into a patch of grass and eating it as if we never feed them… Many dog owners worry when they see their loyal four-legged friend ‘grazing.’ But why do dogs actually eat grass? In the blog below, we tell you more about it.

Eating grass is normal dog behavior

No matter what breed your dog is, every dog occasionally takes a bite of grass. The exact reason behind grass eating is not known. However, we can say it is quite normal dog behavior because it is instinctive. The ancestors of our dogs regularly ate plants, and grass is often found in the feces of wolves. Wild dogs eat grass as protection against intestinal parasites. The dogs as we know them don’t suffer from these parasites, but they may have inherited the tendency to eat grass from their ancestors.

So, eating grass is normal dog behavior and not necessarily a reason to worry seriously.

Why do dogs eat grass?

Although a lot of research has been done on the reasoning behind dogs eating grass, there is no exact known reason why dogs do this. However, there are several causes that might explain why your dog sometimes eats grass:

• Dogs may eat grass out of boredom

Is your dog often alone in the garden for a long time? Then it might be bored. Out of curiosity, your dog may pull long blades from the lawn and then chew on them.

• Dogs find grass tasty

Many dogs enjoy eating grass. Especially in the spring and summer months, when the new grass is fresh and full of sugars, many dogs see a tasty clump of grass as a delicious snack. Because of the high sugar content, fresh grass tastes very sweet, and this is something dogs—just like us humans—love. Besides sugars, fresh grass also contains a large amount of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.

For most dogs, eating grass occasionally does not cause problems. However, it is very important to make sure the grass has not recently been treated with toxic pesticides or fertilizers and that you regularly deworm your dog on time.

Does your dog suddenly eat much more grass than usual? That could be a sign that something more is going on than just innocent grass eating because he is bored or likes the taste. If you notice such changes, it is advisable to have your dog examined by a veterinarian to rule out any stomach or intestinal diseases.

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