Why Do Dogs Eat Grass? Lessons I’ve Learned… | Wag and Cluck

Discomfort? Eating a lot in large amounts? Just like the taste?

Most vets I’ve asked about eating grass – say generally speaking it’s OK if our dogs eat a little but grass. Today on a hike, Walter couldn’t get enough of it so I thought I’d look at some articles to see what folks are saying across the board.

Also, this is a small but important fun fact. Zoopharmacognosy is a behavior in which non-human animals apparently self-medicate by selecting and ingesting or topically applying plants, soils, insects, and psychoactive drugs to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of pathogens and toxins.

All my dogs eat grass and most of the time – they don’t vomit. Shermie is actually fairly selective with the grass he eats. He looks for wide blades that grow in patches of “wild grass” we find in wooded areas rather than “lawn” grass. A few articles talk about grass acting as a natural antacid. I think when Sherm’s stomach is upset he seeks this out. So much so, when I know he doesn’t feel good and he wakes me up in the middle of the night, it’s not necessarily to go outside and vomit or because he needs to poop. He just wants to eat grass for a while.

We add Green Juju (a blend of greens) to their diet so I don’t think it’s something he seeks out because he’s not getting what he needs as far as diet and nutrition.  We already have roughage covered. I think Walter simply enjoys eating grass!

According to an article written by a reputable veterinarian –

When you have an upset stomach you go straight to the medicine cabinet or the pharmacy. But what does your dog do? A dog will seek out a natural remedy for a gassy or upset stomach, and grass, it seems, may do the trick. When the dogs eat the grass, the grass blade tickles the throat and stomach lining; this sensation, in turn, may cause the dog to vomit, especially if the grass is gulped down rather than chewed.

So if your dog vomits, don’t panic – the grass may tickle their stomach lining. But if your dog is eating large amounts of grass and this continues throughout the day, it is important to see your veterinarian.

So I’m going to assume it’s just my dogs telling me they need a natural antacid like Pepcid! Some dogs may indeed need additional roughage – so you can always try adding cooked green beans or sweet potatoes.

*An idea: Buy wheat berries or barley grass seeds, and grow these – make your own herb garden for your dogs! Set aside a spot for your dogs to enjoy! I’ll be working on this project this spring.