Why does my dog eat grass?
Have you often noticed that your dog eats grass outside? Primarily, munching on a bit of grass during a walk or in the garden is not particularly problematic.
If you consider the wolf as the ancestor of the dog, this behavior seems to be in the genes. For he too has enjoyed tasting some juicy blades of grass on his forays through nature. Sometimes it is simply a learned behavior that our four-legged friends have copied from their mother. Boredom or stress relief can also be reasons for eating grass.
7 possible reasons for grass eating in dogs at a glance:
- Boredom
- Stress relief (displacement behavior)
- →Digestive problems
- Inducing vomiting or cleaning the gastrointestinal tract
- Nutritional deficiency
- Tastes good (especially fresh, young spring grass)
- Thirst
So you see: The reasons are varied, many of them not scientifically proven, but rather years of experience.
A →healthy and species-appropriate diet for your dog not only lays the foundation for a long dog life, it also prevents nutritional deficiencies. Moreover, healthy AND tasty does not have to be complicated. Our high-quality dry food from Pets Deli proves that plenty of juicy meat, selected fruits and vegetables, nutritious oils, and fresh herbs can also fit into a crunchy piece of dry food!
Das schmeckt! Hochwertiges Trockenfutter für deinen Hund
When is grass eating in dogs dangerous?
But how do you know if your dog simply finds the juicy grass tasty and is therefore turning into a sheep, or if something more serious is going on? If you're unsure, just observe your furry friend for a few days.
If your dog becomes hectic, restless while eating grass or consumes both grass and dirt, you should have a veterinarian and/or even a dog trainer look at it. It could be an indication of a disease, a deficiency, or even a behavioral issue. Also, if your dog eats a lot of grass but barely or →not at all accepts food anymore, something is wrong.
If your dog eats grass and also shows symptoms of illness such as fever, blood or mucus in the stool, or →cannot defecate at all, you should visit a clinic promptly.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] In den meisten Fällen ist Grasfressen bei Hunden unbedenklich. Vielen Tieren schmeckt es einfach lecker!
What happens when my dog eats grass?
Your dog has once again stuffed himself with grass - and now? Unlike a properly structured →vegetarian or vegan diet, our dogs cannot break down many plant components like grass very well. This means that the grass blades are usually excreted undigested.
It can happen that one or the other blade gets stuck in your dog's stool or in his rear end. This is, of course, uncomfortable for your four-legged friend, so he will certainly appreciate a helping hand from you. However, be careful to pull the grass blade out slowly and gently to avoid small cuts from sharp blades.
If your dog has eaten a lot of grass, it can also happen that everything is excreted in a slimy bundle or your dog gets →diarrhea. Again, observe your dog, and if it doesn't get better, visit the practice of a veterinarian.
