Pet Care 101- Why does my dog eat grass?

July 15, 2:29 AMPet Care ExaminerPatrick Mahaney

Previous Next

2 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Pet Care Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Cardiff hides in, but does not eat, the "mondo" grass

Why does my dog eat grass? This is a common question I face in my clinical practice. It is normal for a dog to eat grass and they may do so for a variety of reasons. Each possibility must be considered when a dog has developed a fondness for forage consumption on a particular occasion. Here are several possibilities.

Induction of Emesis- Some dogs eat grass because they seek a substrate to mechanically irritate their stomach lining leading to induction of emesis (vomiting). Plant material is highly composed of insoluble fiber and is not readily digestible. Grass, along with other non-digestible material, tends to accumulate in the stomach instead of following the peristaltic movement from the stomach into the small intestine. When a particular degree of inflammation is achieved post-grass consumption, a dog will then vomit. Underlying illness, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), gastrointestinal parasite infestation, metabolic disease (kidney, liver, pancreas, etc), or Pica (see below) can stimulate the physiologic urge to vomit, therefore grass may be consumed to facilitate vomiting.??

Dietary Deficiency- Veterinary behaviorists and nutritionists speculate that dogs may eat grass to compensate a nutritional deficiency. Some owners achieve success in deterring their dog’s grass grazing by adding fresh, green, and/or fibrous vegetables or fruits to the diets. I have seen good responses when owners add pineapple, spinach, broccoli, or parsley. Vegetables are most palatable and digestible when steamed and pureed or finely chopped before being added to the dog’s diet.??

Biological/ancestral Influence- Grass eating is a behavior manifested by both wolves and the domesticated dog (Canis familiaris). An article from the Journal of Veterinary Behavior in March 2009 suggests that a nursing mother’s grass eating traits can influence similar behavior in her puppies.

Behavioral Correlation- Some dogs eat grass due to lack stimulation while being confined to a particular environment, such as a back yard. Consequently, the dog seeks stimulation by eating various objects in the environment. This condition, termed Pica, is an abnormal desire to consume non-nutritive material. Pica can lead to more severe secondary consequences, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and intestinal obstruction or perforation. This behavior can potentially be reduced by providing the dog with appropriate chew toys, companionship, or a cage-style muzzle.??

As a dog owner, I dissuade my dog from consuming grass. The occasions where he has eaten grass are very rare. I theorize that it is because his diet is partially composed of fresh, steamed, green vegetables. Additionally, he gets plenty of stimulating activity and is not confined in an area where boredom may lead to foraging. As a veterinarian, I have seen many dogs exhibit significant gastrointestinal upset after consuming grass. Grass eating can also lead to inadvertent ingestion of toxins or other unhealthy environmental debris, therefore, I recommend owners take appropriate measures to prevent grass consumption.

For other articles on pet health care topics see Patrick's Examiner Homepage

Thank you for reading my article.  If you would like an email with a link to future articles sent to you, please press the "subscribe" button to the right of my photo.  Dr. PM