Why is my dog eating grass?

One of the reasons why dogs eat grass is because of nutritional deficiency. They might also be experiencing stomach issues primarily brought on by intestinal parasites. Some dogs also munch on grass because they like the flavor and the scent. Your pup might also be bored and see eating grass as fun.

Should I stop my dog from eating grass?

If this behavior only happens occasionally, then it's fine. 

Dogs have the natural instincts of wild animals, their ancestors, that are used to munch on grass for several reasons.

However, there are also grounds for you to check your pup’s health if they’re eating grass. We’ll discuss a few of these here, along with reasons that shouldn’t cause you concern.

Why dogs like to eat grass

Your dog feels like they have a nutritional deficiency

Your pup may look funny and dumb sometimes, but these creatures are so in tune with their body that they can detect whether or not they’re lacking certain nutrients.

If you frequently feed your pup meals that aren’t varied or low in essential nutrients, your pup will start to look for alternatives to the nutrients its body needs.

One solution your pup might come up with is eating grass, especially if they’re low on fiber and other nutrients and minerals.

You can try switching their meals to something that doesn’t have high filler content. Giving them whole foods might also be beneficial for them.

Always consult your vet about the food you give your pups.

They have intestinal parasites

Self-medication is also another reason why dogs eat grass.

If you notice your pup frequently eating grass, then, you might want to have them checked by the vet for worms.

Other signs you can look for to see if they have parasites include:

• Vomiting.
• Weight loss.
• Swollen abdomen.

They like the flavor and the scent of grass

As weird as it may sound, some dogs do love the flavor gives. It can also be a fun change from the protein-heavy meals that they’re eating. This isn’t to say that protein-rich food is bad for dogs - it’s actually beneficial for them, but your pup might just be looking for a different flavor profile.

Scents also attract dogs like moths to a flame. Since grass give off leafy and fressh scents, these are very interesting for dogs, especially those who spend most of their time indoors.

Your dog is bored

Sometimes eating grass is just an activity to pass time.

It may not look as fun, but it beats doing nothing at all.

Try to coax your pup to play with you - even a simple game of fetch might help them shoo their boredom away!