WHY DOES YOUR DOG EAT GRASS?

I have customer ask, why does my dog eat grass.  Well, there can be several reasons.

1. Your Dog Needs Chlorophyll
2. Your Dog Needs Fiber
3. Boredom Or Anxiety
4. Eating Grass Is Natural For Your Dog
5. To Throw Up

Your Dog Needs Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plants and algae. Its structure is a lot like your dog’s hemoglobin, which is an important part of your dog’s red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen throughout his body.

Chlorophyll also

Protects cells from damage and may lower risk of cancer

Fights infections

Heals wounds

Builds the immune system

Breaks down calcium oxalate stones in his bladder

Heals the digestive tract (which we’ll talk about next)

Unfortunately, grass isn’t a great source of chlorophyll because it’s hard to digest. But you can give your dog foods that supply the chlorophyl he needs

You can purée or steam organic vegetables like …

Kale

Broccoli

Green beans

Parsley

Spinach

A dogs’ digestive systems can’t break down raw veggies effectively, so puréeing or steaming them will help him digest the vegetables better so he can absorb the nutrients. 

Your Dog Needs Fiber

There’s a theory that dogs eat grass as a way to get more fiber in their diets. 

Dogs are omnivores, which means that they can eat both meat and plants. While their diets should be primarily made up of animal protein, they still need some fiber to keep their digestive systems running smoothly. 

Eating grass may be a way for dogs to supplement their fiber intake.

Feeding foods like cabbage, sweet potato, or the vegetables mentioned earlier can help up your dog’s fiber intake and perhaps make it less likely for him to eat grass. 

Keep in mind that a dog’s fiber should be 2% to 5% of their diet, so it doesn’t take much and you don’t want to overdo it. 

Boredom Or Anxiety

Sometimes a dog is not getting enough exercise, especially a working dog. 

Dogs are highly social animals who need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. 

If he’s not getting enough of these things, your dog may resort to eating grass as a way to pass the time or relieve stress.

Chewing in itself can relive stress for your dog.

Eating Grass Is Natural For Your Dog

Eating grass is normal dog behavior. Wolves and coyotes do it too.

But there are some things to consider when your dog is eating grass:

Make sure the grass your dog eats isn’t sprayed with pesticides or chemicals.

These toxic products are a common cause of bladder cancer in dogs.

If you think your dog is eating grass for something to do, provide him with a good bone or bully stick to chew on this will also serve to clean his teeth.

To Throw Up

Dogs will eat grass to throw up.  My vet told me it is because the grass binds around what is in their stomach and because they have a hard time digesting grass, they will usually throw it up.

Grass can also get rid of toxins in their stomachs. So your dog might be eating grass to induce vomit, so that he can naturally detox or get rid of bad food he’s eaten. 

If this is the case, and your dog’s eating grass because he’s not feeling well, you’ll often see other signs of sickness.

He may have a health issue that needs some gut healing help. If you can’t get to the bottom of the cause, and it’s ongoing, you may want to talk to your holistic vet. We also carry a few products and diets that can aid in healing your pet’s gut.