Why does my dog eat grass?

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

Eating grass is normal dog behavior

Regardless of your dog’s breed, every dog eats a bite of grass from time to time. However, the exact reason behind eating grass is not known. We can say that it is fairly normal dog behavior because it is instinctive. The ancestors of our dogs regularly ate plants, and grass is also often found in wolf droppings. Wild dogs eat grass as protection against intestinal parasites. The dogs we know today do not suffer from these parasites, but they may have inherited the tendency to eat grass from their ancestors.

Eating grass is therefore normal dog behavior and not immediately a reason to be seriously concerned.

Why do dogs eat grass?

Although a great deal of research has been conducted into the reasoning behind dogs eating grass, there is no exact explanation for why they do it. However, various factors may play a role in your dog eating grass from time to time:

• Dogs may eat grass out of boredom

Is your dog regularly left alone in the garden for long periods? Then they may be bored. Out of curiosity, your dog may pull long blades of grass from the lawn and then chew on them.

• Dogs like the taste of grass

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

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

Is your dog suddenly eating much more grass than usual? This may be a sign that something more is going on than simply harmlessly eating grass because they are bored or enjoy the taste. If you notice changes like these, it is advisable to have your dog examined by a veterinarian to rule out any gastrointestinal diseases.

Many dogs already enjoy Riverwood every day. Would you also like your dog to savor our delicious foods, and are you curious which variety would suit your dog best? Then answer a few questions about your dog here and order an affordable trial pack right away.