Have you ever seen your dog eat grass on a walk? You’ll undoubtedly have noticed this behaviour in your pet several times. Don’t worry as it’s quite a common habit in dogs. Eating plants isn’t unusual for them – our furry friends know when to eat grass and why. Today we’ll tell you about some of the reasons why dogs eat grass and if it can be harmful to their health.
¿Can it affect your pet’s health?
No, it’s completely healthy. If you look closely when you’re walking your dog, you’ll notice they don’t eat just any kind of shoots or plants. Thanks to their sense of smell, they know what kind of grass isn’t harmful. In any case, you should monitor this behaviour in your dog to make sure it doesn’t become a problem.
Many paths or parks are fumigated with pesticides to prevent plagues. If your dog eats grass in an area that has been recently fumigated, it can be dangerous, so be very cautious. Furthermore, if you see that this habit results in daily vomiting, you should pay a visit to the vet as it may be a sign that something is amiss.
¿Why do they eat grass?
Grass is an irritating substance that causes a thickening of the digestive wall and increases the secretion of fluids, which eventually leads to vomiting. That’s why dogs use grass to make themselves vomit.
This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as stress, anxiety, infections, or just belly ache. Whatever the case, we’ll tell you about the most common causes:
- Poor digestion and stomach ache, or ingesting harmful substances. If your dog has ingested some food that has caused upset or is hard to digest, he can make himself vomit by eating grass or shoots to expel the stomach contents and thereby feel much better. The same goes for stones or some food he’s eaten by mistake
- Add nutrients and minerals to the diet. Grass provides fibre to achieve optimal digestion. Whatever the case, this doesn’t mean his diet isn’t well-balanced or lacking in essential nutrients.
Remember that it’s natural and you shouldn’t worry if it happens occasionally in a healthy dog.