Do Dogs Eat Grass When They Are Sick? + 4 Tips

You’ve probably seen your dog eat grass at some point in their life and must have wondered do dogs eat grass when they are sick?

The question of whether dogs eat grass when they are sick is a very important one. In this article, we will go over the main reasons why dogs eat grass as well as detail the possible effects that it can have on your pooch’s health.

Continue reading to understand:

• Whether dogs eat grass when they are sick
• How to stop dogs from eating grass
• And so much more…

Do Dogs Eat Grass When They Are Sick?

Yes, they do. The theory behind this claim is that eating grass helps combat intestinal parasites and relieves stomach pain, bloating and diarrhea, as some have been observed vomiting afterward relieving their stomach upset. But there is no one size fits all solution to help your dog feel better.

While there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that eating grass makes dogs healthier, there are many anecdotal reports from dog owners and veterinarians confirming this claim. Even though, studies show that less than 25% of all dogs that eat grass end up vomiting, and only 10% of them show any signs of illness before ingesting grass.

So, should you be concerned if you witness your dog eating grass? Absolutely not!

Some dogs will eat grass as a way to self-medicate. Eating grass is usually done when they are not feeling well, but it can also be a sign that they have worms or other parasites or that they require a change in their diet.

You should always consult your veterinarian for guidance in cases where you notice excessive grass-eating. Remember most gardens will have some sort of chemicals (herbicides and pesticides) used to maintain them and if your pooch is a frequent grazer – this could cause some serious issues.

Pica refers to the behavior of dogs and other animals eating non-food items. Such items may include the likes of them eating/licking your carpet, stones, or even eating grass.

This form of pica where dogs eat grass is very much common in dogs and most vets consider it a normal behavior from our canine friends.

Are there any other reasons why your canine friend has been observed grazing around your lawn? Let’s find out.

Also Read: Why Do Dogs Lick Their Paws at Night? + 9 Tips

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

There are a number of reasons why dogs will be seen eating grass. In this section, we will dive deep into some of the most common reasons why dogs eat grass.

1 – Medical Reasons

Your pooch’s ancestors never had the chance to visit or be taken to the vet when not feeling well. They, therefore, had to invent and this was by eating grass to relieve any stomach upsets, bloating, or diarrhea-related issues.

This will help in inducing vomiting allowing them to relieve whatever stomach upset they may be facing at that particular moment.

This behavior was later passed on to all the other breeds over time but not solely for medical reasons as there are other reasons as we’ll get to find out shortly.

2 – Grass Tastes Good To Them

Surprising as it may sound, dogs do like the taste of grass. This is mostly the young, tender, and green ones. You’ll always spot them finding these in from your lawn.

They might also enjoy the texture of these young, tender grass as they are textually way different than the hard kibbles or canned food they are currently used to.

3 – Boredom

Boredom can lead to a number of unprecedented behaviors – in dogs, one of these “special” behaviors would be eating grass. They’ll partake in this especially if they are also trying to get your attention.

Keeping them busy and ensuring that their accumulated energies are expelled through their daily walks or exercise will go a long way in preventing this behavior in dogs.

Interactive toys and treats will also go a long way in helping with this if you really want to keep them away from such behavior. But, again you shouldn’t worry that much about them eating grass due to boredom.

4 – Nutritional Need

Grass is full of fiber and offers some nutritional needs that your canine friend might be missing from his daily diet. If you notice your dog grazing so much you might want to consider changing their diet and introduce some food high in fiber.

5 – Pica

Pica refers to the urge of your dog wanting to eat non-food stuff such as stones, pillow, grass, e.t.c. This is common behavior from most dogs and is mostly some indication of lack of some nutritional values in their current diet.

If you notice this behavior happening frequently, you may want to get your lido checked by your local vet.

Read Also: Why Does My Dog Put Stuff Under The Couch?

How to Stop Dogs From Eating Grass

Now that we know some of the main reasons why dogs eat grass, it’s crucial for us to now jump into how to stop dogs from eating grass.

While grass in itself may not be harmful to your pooch, the pesticides and herbicides used to maintain most of the lawn could easily lead to some major issues. Not forgetting that some plants found in our lawn could actually be poisonous.

They are also more likely to ingest intestinal parasites such as hookworms and roundworms from contaminated grass.

To help stop this behavior you might want to employ any of the below actions.

• Offering them treats when you notice this behaviour
• Including a high fiber meal on their diet with go along way in preventing this behavior.
• To help them fight boredom, you may want to ensure they get their daily dose of pysical activities to help eliminate any accumulated energies.
• Distracting them when you notice this behaviour through treats or verbal commands

Substitute For Dog Eating Grass

Are there any specific substitutes you could work with? This will depend on whether this is just a short-time alternative or if you are looking at changing the entire behavior.

Giving your dog alternative vegetables that are cool, fresh, and textured such as fresh carrots, lettuce or even peeled celery might also act as substitutes to eating grass. You may want to find out what option would work best for your pooch.

The above approach is more likely to work in cases where your dog is known to eat grass simply because they like the taste.

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Conclusion

To answer the question of whether dogs eat grass when they are sick, the answer is yes, they do. One of the reasons dogs eat grass is purely medical and this helps with any stomach pain, diarrhea, or bloating.

It’s important to know what could be leading your pooch to eat grass as that will help know the best cause of action. Feel free to reach out to your local vet on how to best approach this if you have a frequent grazer.