Why do dogs eat grass?

DOGS are known to be some of the most loving pets to have, but that is not to say we don't have burning questions about why they act the way they sometimes do.

Here are some of the possible explanations for the weirder traits that your dog may possess....

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Why do dogs eat grass?

A species thousands of years old, dogs are scavengers who will eat anything and everything.

Though they love eating meat, they're not carnivores in the way cats are, which is why they often munch on grass.

Thankfully, most experts believe it's nothing to worry about.

There are several possibilities as to why dogs may eat grass.

• They like it - eating grass seems to be more common between April and August, and it’s possible that the weather and season may change its taste, texture or smell
• They're bored - if your dog isn’t getting enough mental stimulation then they may turn to behaviours such as eating grass, digging or chewing
• They need to be sick - it is widely believed that dogs chew grass to help settle their stomachs. Although some dogs do vomit, it doesn’t always happen, and this research suggests that it’s actually more common for dogs not to be sick after eating grass
• They need fibre - you may find that by increasing the fibre content in your dog's diet may stop your dog from chewing grass
• It helps get rid of parasites - some researchers have suggested that some dogs may regularly eat grass to help flush out any parasites that may be in their intestines. The undigested grass could help to clean out the gut by wrapping itself around any parasites and removing them as the grass passes out of the digestive tract

Do I need to take my dog to the vets if it is eating grass?

Eating grass is a normal behaviour for dogs, as odd as it can seem.

If your dog is healthy and is regularly wormed, it's unlikely something to worry about.

However, dogs should never be allowed to eat grass that has been treated with fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides.

There’s also a risk that slugs or snails that have travelled over the grass could infect your dog with lungworm.

If your dog is eating grass excessively, is regularly sick, or is showing signs of other health issues, then you should consider speaking to your vet.

How can I stop my dog from eating grass?

If you are concerned that your dog is eating too much grass, or is doing it too regularly, it may be worth speaking to your vet as you may need to review their health or diet.

A lot of the time dogs will chew grass because they are bored, so providing them with more mental stimulation and physical exercise could help.

You could try giving them puzzle feeders, playing obedience games with them or taking them for longer or more stimulating walks.