[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/pet-resources\/blog\/dogs-eat-grass\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/pet-resources\/blog\/dogs-eat-grass\/","headline":"Pass the Greens! Why Some Dogs Eat Grass","name":"Pass the Greens! Why Some Dogs Eat Grass","description":"It\u2019s not uncommon to see a dog munching on something we wouldn\u2019t necessarily qualify as \u201cfood.\u201d Dogs, after all, are the experimental gourmets, willing to ingest all sorts of things. Unfortunately, this makes them prone to poisoning when we aren\u2019t paying attention. Among the least noxious of these \u201centrees\u201d is grass. Countless dog owners have […]","datePublished":"2017-07-25","dateModified":"2024-11-27","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/pet-resources\/author\/ceastwayadvance360-com\/#Person","name":"chris","url":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/pet-resources\/author\/ceastwayadvance360-com\/","identifier":3,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/007b7979610c70c3cd4b24ed960fb78ff62c0b68401d393e79cb483d56812050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/007b7979610c70c3cd4b24ed960fb78ff62c0b68401d393e79cb483d56812050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"West Park Animal Hospital","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/westhospitallogo.png","url":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/westhospitallogo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WestPark_iStock-453094297-1024x681-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WestPark_iStock-453094297-1024x681-1.jpg","height":681,"width":1024},"url":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/pet-resources\/blog\/dogs-eat-grass\/","about":["Blog","Dog Health"],"wordCount":530,"articleBody":"It\u2019s not uncommon to see a dog munching on something we wouldn\u2019t necessarily qualify as \u201cfood.\u201d Dogs, after all, are the experimental gourmets, willing to ingest all sorts of things. Unfortunately, this makes them prone to poisoning when we aren\u2019t paying attention. Among the least noxious of these \u201centrees\u201d is grass.Countless dog owners have pondered why their pooches have a palate for the lawn salad. \u201cIs my dog sick?\u201d \u201cShould I stop this behavior?\u201d \u201cIs grass eating normal?\u201d These are all questions we at West Park Animal Hospital have received over the years, making the mystery of why some dogs eat grass one that we\u2019d like to help you solve.Why DO Dogs Eat Grass?Although some may be alarmed at the sight of a pet ingesting grass, this behavior is not out of the ordinary. Grass eating is somewhat of a normal occurrence that\u2019s been the subject of debate for some time. Speculation has resulted in numerous theories, none of which have been proven.However, some common reasons you may have heard include:Evolution \u2013 Dogs are omnivores and unrelenting scavengers. Because their ancestor, the wolf, primarily hunted herbivores like rabbits and deer, it\u2019s believed the taste of grass (which would have been found in the stomach and intestines) is reminiscent of these prey animals.Illness \u2013 One of the most acceptable theories about why dogs eat grass is that it helps to relieve nausea. Many pet owners attest to a \u201crumbling belly\u201d prior to the ingestion of grass. Additional (though inconclusive) evidence suggests that grass eating induces vomiting, which acts as a form of relief. However, vomiting only occurs in less than about 30% of dogs after eating the green stuff.Hunger \u2013 Dogs lacking certain vitamins, minerals, or fiber are thought to be more enticed by plant material. Even when deficiencies aren\u2019t present, those on restrictive diets will often \u201cgraze\u201d out of hunger.Parasites \u2013 Certain mammals have been known to use grasses and other plants as a form of \u201cself-treatment\u201d for intestinal parasites. Since grasses and other fibrous plants aren\u2019t easily digested, they\u2019re thought to act as a kind of internal \u201csweep\u201d that cleanses the GI tract of parasites.Compulsion \u2013 In some extreme cases, dogs dealing with phobias or anxiety will sometimes develop compulsive behaviors, which may include ingesting grass, feces, or other substances.While all these arguments have some merit, in most situations, grass eating occurs because, well, your dog has access to grass and he or she simply enjoys eating it. In other words, your dog is probably just doing a normal dog behavior that isn\u2019t cause for concern \u2013 unless, of course, this is a very new behavior that seems to correlate with another problem.When to be ConcernedIf your dog has suddenly taken an interest in grass, it\u2019s a good idea to have him or her examined to rule out any underlying health issues. To make sure your dog is just \u201cbeing a dog,\u201d please give the team at West Park a call or schedule an appointment.The post Pass the Greens! Why Some Dogs Eat Grass appeared first on West Park Animal Hospital Blog."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Pet Resources","item":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/pet-resources\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/pet-resources\/\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Pass the Greens! Why Some Dogs Eat Grass","item":"https:\/\/wpahcle.com\/pet-resources\/blog\/dogs-eat-grass\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]