Whenever my dog starts munching on grass in the backyard, I get worried. “Are you feeling okay?” I ask him, receiving an excited stare and wagging tail in response because he thinks every time I speak means a future treat or walk. Sometimes he eats grass by the mouthful and promptly vomits; other times he nibbles and his stomach contents remain intact. I’ve always heard that a dog eating grass signals an upset stomach, but I’ve seen my dog and others like him eat it so indiscriminately, there must be more to it than indigestion. So what drives dogs to go lawn dining?
Are They Craving Greens?
The truth is, no one’s entirely sure why dogs eat grass. Theories abound, but most experts subscribe to one of two schools of thought. The first is that dogs are actually predisposed to craving grass. Back before they were domesticated, wild dogs regularly fed on plant-eating animals, which meant their diets indirectly included lots of greens.
Commercial dog food is supposed to include adequate plant and animal nutrients, but as all of us know, there’s a big difference in satisfaction levels between swallowing a multivitamin and eating vitamin-filled foods. Both fulfill nutritional needs, but only one fulfills a craving for veggies. Even if dogs are getting greens in dog food form, their instincts might pull them toward grass every now and then to get the same flavors their ancestors enjoyed courtesy of their prey.
Is It Always a Stomachache?
The other popular idea is the aforementioned theory—that dogs ingest grass when they feel sick. The texture of grass is slightly irritating, so if they already feel nauseated or pained, grass gives the extra push they need to get rid of whatever they’ve eaten that’s sickening them.
Dogs probably don’t do this because of a complex chain of thoughts—i.e., “My stomach hurts, so I better eat some grass for medicine.” More likely it’s that, like people, they can remember what works and what doesn’t when they’re ill. Just like we learn through behavioral conditioning that curling up with a cup of peppermint tea can ease a troubled tummy, dogs learn that eating too much grass causes them to upchuck. So when there’s something inside of them causing problems, the instinct to release it from their system kicks in and they go for the tried-and-true method.
It’s a Little Bit of Both
However, the latter theory doesn’t account for the pooches that eat grass sans stomachaches. Dogs that feel fine can usually eat grass without consequence because it’s not enough of an irritant in a healthy stomach. Chances are it’s a combination of the two—dogs like the taste of grass and they recognize it as a means of throwing up when the need arises. It’s also possible that some dogs who especially enjoy grass feasts end up making themselves sick by eating too much of a good thing.
Let’s also remember that dogs aren’t the pickiest of consumers. There are few things they don’t like, even the stuff that’s detrimental to their health, like chocolate and salty human food. Grass may seem like an odd thing to crave, but maybe it’s appealing to a dog’s un-discerning tastes. (Though that doesn’t explain why my dog turns his nose up when I tell him to eat the organic spinach I’ve dropped on the floor.)
But Is There Reason to Worry?
Basically, dogs eating grass isn’t always a cause for alarm. There are times dogs will chew on grass simply for the taste and times when it’s a natural way for them to relieve their stomach ailments. If your dog is a grass enthusiast, make sure that your lawns aren’t treated with chemical substances like fertilizer or pesticides, which can be fatal to your pets. Check the labels on products to make sure they’re pet-safe or consult a veterinarian about what amount is okay to use.
If you notice your dog eating more grass than usual, that’s a good reason to call the vet, too, especially if he or she starts getting frequently sick. It could be a sign that your dog’s diet is lacking or that there’s something wrong internally. Unfortunately, dogs can’t use words to tell us when something’s really wrong, so we have to pay attention to their actions. Don’t worry about the occasional grass snack, but if Rover’s newfound addiction seems troublesome and out of the ordinary, that may call for further investigation.
Updated April 16, 2010
