What does it mean when your dog eats grass? An overview

About one-third of dogs that eat grass beforehand vomit afterwards.

Why do dogs eat grass?

Why do our dogs keep doing this? This question is not only asked by dog owners, but also by many researchers again and again.

The fact is that 90 % of all dogs occasionally eat grass.

Another interesting study found the following:

According to a study by S. J. Bjone of the University of New England in Australia, only six dogs vomited out of a total of 1399 grass eating campaigns tested. This is also confirmed by numerous other studies in which researchers and vets have devoted themselves to this topic.

Therefore, the theory that dogs eat grass to vomit and cleanse the stomach and intestines cannot be proven in various studies.**

It has also been investigated whether there are any deficiency symptoms in dogs that eat grass, but this could not be proven either.

Furthermore, extensive observations and tests have shown that grass eating occurs in both wolves and dogs and that it can be assumed that this behavior has been preserved despite domestication from the wolf heritage.

It is thus innate, with the mother dog's feeding habits having a reinforcing effect on a puppy's feeding behavior.

There is therefore no clear answer to the question of why dogs eat grass. And you shouldn't worry too much, as long as the grass eating doesn't increase dangerously and there are no other side effects.

Many veterinarians consider this to be normal dog behavior.

However, besides these scientific findings, there are some interesting theories as to why dogs eat grass:

The most common theory is that stomach upset is the cause of grass eating and some dog owners know the following from their four-legged friends, perhaps you do too: First of all, your pet eats a lot of grass. This is usually followed by a loud rumbling in the stomach, whereupon he begins to retch and finally vomits, usually with yellow mucus.

Most of the time, such an upset stomach is harmless to your fur bearer and he just needs his time to recover his stomach.

But unfortunately, more serious causes occur time and again. So that you are well informed about it, we have compiled the possible reasons here.

There are usually physical or psychological causes. A poor diet could also cause your pet to eat grass.

Another theory claims that dogs balance their diet by eating grass. If he lacks folic acid or fiber, for example, your four-legged friend responds by eating grass.

• Vitamin deficiency
• Deficiency of folic acid or dietary fiber
• Covering the water demand
• Deficiency of various minerals
• inadequate nutrition
• spoiled food
• poisoned bait

Grass contains various vitamins, folic acid, fiber and minerals. The fact that your furry companion eats grass turns out to be instinct. In this case, check your four-legged friend's diet and adjust it accordingly. If the grass intake decreases, you can be sure that it was due to the wrong diet.

The right diet - or the right amount of food - depends on your dog's age, weight and activity level. We therefore recommend that you calculate the right amount of nutrients for your pet.

It is also important that you consult whether your protégé is of high quality.**high quality dog food **gets or not. Some brands do not contain the sufficient amount of vitamins, fiber and minerals.

In the following points you will learn what other theories can be associated with eating grass:

Physical reasons

• Cleaning the gastrointestinal tract
• Worms or parasite infestation
• Stomach pain
• poor digestion and bloating
• Gastric mucosa inflammation
• Too much stomach acid or poor digestion
• Liver problems or kidney disease
• Foreign bodies in the stomach (stones, hair accumulation or pieces of bone)
• Problems with the esophagus

Many four-legged friends react instinctively when they eat grass. Grass contains sufficient magnesium, for example. This magnesium has a positive effect on the stomach - and therefore also on the intestines. It curbs the production of stomach acid and ensures that the acidity in the stomach decreases.

So if your protégé suffers from gastritis, grass ingestion is a good therapy.

Psychological reasons

• Boredom
• old traits
• Stress or stressful situations
• Reinforcement of the marking behavior

Pay attention to whether your furry friend was in a stressful or strained situation before eating the grass. You may notice something that you can associate with the grass intake. If your four-legged friend reacts to stress by eating more grass, counteract this by avoiding these stressful situations.

Eating grass as a reaction to stress is not controlled by instinct. For this reason, it is counterproductive to your pet's health.

Swallowed foreign body

A swallowed foreign body in your dog is an acute emergency, there is a threat of suffocation and danger to life. It may be that your protégé wants to choke out this foreign body by eating grass.

The symptoms of this are as follows:

• constant choking

• increased grass intake

• Problems with swallowing

• unusual breathing sounds (rustling, whistling, etc.)

• Vomiting

• Refusal of food and water

• absent defecation

• There is hardly a dog that does not eat grass (source: Veterinary College; 1982). Grass usually has a positive effect on the stomach and intestines. About 90 % of all dogs ingest grass from time to time.

• On average, dogs eat grass about once or twice a week (study from the University of California, Benjamin Hart and Kelly Cliff).

• About one-third of dogs that have previously eaten grass subsequently vomit (study from University of California, Benjamin Hart and Kelly Cliff)

  **

If he also eats feces...

The popular tufts of grass are often found near the excrement of other animals.

Therefore, it is not unlikely that your furry nose - in addition to the grass - ingest the feces of other animals. Here you need to be especially careful.

The excrement usually contains dangerous and unhealthy bacteria. These bacteria significantly limit the health of your favorite.

Therefore, please always pay attention to what your little one picks up during a walk. Not only the excrements of other animals are dangerous. Just because of the spread of poison baits, you must pay close attention to what your protégé eats outside.

Often it happens that your pet picks up some soil with the grass. As a rule, dogs like especially the tips of the grass. They are particularly soft, easier to digest and taste better.

Some pelt-noses - perhaps also yours - eat whole tufts of grass whole with the root. Through such eating behavior soil gets into the gastrointestinal tract.

Normally, you don't need to panic if your four-legged friend eats some soil along with the grass. As a rule, with this action he tries to balance his nutrient content.

The reasons for eating feces and soil are as follows:

• wrong education by the dog owner
• bad habit
• Pack behavior
• Learned at puppy age through the mother

You can find out more about this in our guide to My dog eats feces.

In many cases, it is not dangerous for your pet to eat grass. But unfortunately, there are always situations in which it limits the health of your four-legged friend. We have listed here the possible risks and dangers.

Dangerous objects

Dangerous objects are repeatedly found in various places.,** on which your four-legged friend can injure himself. Surely it has already happened to you that your darling has stepped into glass, for example.

Similar risks exist when eating from the grass. Sometimes there are glass fragments or other sharp objects near the tufts of grass. The ingestion of these objects is possible.

For this reason, pay close attention to where your pet sniffs and where it eats grass. Sharp objects are life-threatening if ingested, as they can injure the stomach, intestines or oesophagus.

Poisonous grasses and plants

Poisonous grasses and plants are also life-threatening to your charge. As a rule, they do not grow in places where dog owners take their dog for a walk.

Nevertheless, every year there are cases when a dog suffers health damage due to eating poisonous grasses or plants.

Grannen, Easter lily, lily of the valley or hogweed are plants that are poisonous and life-threatening for your dog. You can find more poisonous plant species below:

• Ivy
• Boxwood
• Kirchlorbeer
• Daffodil
• Yew
• Tulips

Certain houseplants are also represented here. Therefore, we recommend that you discuss the type of plant with the vet before you buy it.

Be sure to read our complete guide to poisonous houseplants by.

Pesticides, fertilizers and other chemical agents

These little remedies are used again and again in nature. They are particularly popular in spring. If you are unsure, it is better to only visit places and parks that are especially suitable for dogs at this time of year. Pay attention to the behavior of your furry friend. Dog parks or dog parks are a popular place to find poison bait.

Poison bait

Unfortunately, nowadays there are always situations when poison baits are swallowed. These poison baits are usually distributed presumably in popular dog parks.

Dog haters provide attractive treats with poisons or dangerous objects. The most common items distributed are razor blades or sharp plastic as well as metal pieces.

The number of dogs affected does not seem to decrease in recent years. In 2015, there were approximately 1,800 reported situations by August of that year (gitfköder-radar.com). The number of unreported cases is much higher, as many dog owners recognize and report the true reason for the injury or poisoning.

The following symptoms may be your dog's poisoning:

• Vomiting and diarrhea
• increased saliva
• Restlessness and tremors
• Circulation problems (swaying, staggering of your quadruped)
• Seizures
• Fainting states
• dilated pupils and reddened eyes
• Bleeding in the mucous membranes, vomit or stool
• Breathing difficulties; up to shortness of breath

Here more about the topic**Poison bait**.

Constipation due to excessive grass consumption

If your dog eats too much grass, gastrointestinal problems will occur. In particular, constipation is strongly represented here.

When consumed in excess, the stomach no longer properly digests the grass and other food. Thus, most of the grass enters the intestine undigested; constipation is the result. Your protégé eats grass? This is not worth considering in the first place. However, you should pay attention to the places where you walk. There are always places that are not suitable for your four-legged friend to eat grass.

Forest edges can pose a danger, among other things. Of course you can still walk along these areas, just make sure that your pet doesn't eat any grass there. Poison bait is also often found at the edges of forests.

Busy roads - or roadsides - are also not suitable for sniffing. Here the grass is contaminated by exhaust fumes. These harmful residues enter the gastrointestinal tract when the grass is eaten.

Places near allotment gardens or other private gardens should also be monitored. The owners of these gardens regularly spread pesticides, which can be dispersed into the surrounding area by the wind.

We recommend that you consult a vet if your pet is eating too much grass. There may be an underlying illness that is life-threatening for your pet.

If your dog only eats grass and no longer pays attention to its food, it is also advisable to visit the vet. Your pet may have a foreign body in their food pipe or windpipe.

If your pet vomits several times after eating grass, please also consult a vet. Especially if the vomiting occurs every time after eating the grass. This is a sign that the grass is having a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract and digestion.

Other dangerous symptoms include:

• bloody stool
• Blood in vomit
• slimy residues in the excrements
• Absence of bowel movement
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Restlessness and fatigue
• other symptoms of a disease

Make sure that your dog does not ingest any grass that is located in unsafe areas. Distract him with a treat or keep him on a lead during this time. This will prevent him from ingesting dirty plants or pesticides.

Always keep a watchful eye. This applies to every walk. Follow your furry friend and make sure that he doesn't eat grass too often - or that there are droppings and poisonous grasses near the grass.

Stress is often a cause for eating grass. Try to find out what situations this behavior is due to.

A diary in which you write down all important concerns is best suited for the investigation. Have you found out the reason why your pet is eating grass? Then try to eliminate or reduce the stressful situation.

If you're unsure whether your pet's grass consumption is a concern, just ask your veterinarian for advice when in doubt.

Your four-legged friend eats grass? As a rule, this is harmless. Of course, there are always situations in which the consumption of grass can be dangerous.

Always watch for possible overreactions or changes in behavior and your pet's overall health.

If grass intake increases alarmingly and other symptoms are added, please see a veterinarian. BIf you are unsure, contact your veterinarian, who will advise you on the situation. It is better to go to the vet once more than too little.

The safety of your charge always comes first.