Have You ever wondered why dogs eat grass?
What came to mind when you saw your dog eat grass for the first time? You panicked, right? If this is the case then know that you are not alone.
Many first time dog owners go into a panic mode when for the first time they witness their pooch eating grass. The truth is that a dog eating grass is a very normal occurrence. In fact, it’s not an indicator that your dog is sick and therefore there is nothing to worry about it.
So Why Is My Dog Eating Grass?
Your dog may eat grass for a wide range of reasons. First, it is important to note that like you, your dog is an omnivorous, not a carnivorous like many people assume. This means that it eats both meat and vegetables. Therefore a dog may eat grass if the grass tastes just like some other vegetable food it eats.
Dogs also eat grass because it is in their DNA. Wild dogs have been observed to eat grass. Long before dogs were domesticated they used to eat both meat and raw vegetables.
It is thus natural that dogs will attempt to chew at grass and plants in general. This is who they are. Despite being domesticated animals they haven’t changed their DNA, they are still dogs and this is why stray dogs survive on almost anything.
Does My Dog Have a Nutritional Deficiency?
Dogs sometimes eat grass to fulfil a nutritional need. Dogs on a commercial diet with a deficiency in minerals and important vitamins may turn to grass to fulfil this need.  Just like other animals like a cow which will be drawn to eat non-food items to quench nutritional need dogs also get drawn to eat particular grass if they have a nutritional deficiency. Usually, grass with the missing nutrients will taste better for the dog than other types of grass.
Learn More About A Dogs Nutritional Needs At PetMD
Some other times dogs chew grass as a substitute for its toys. If a dog is used to playing indoors with toys when it gets outdoors without the toys your dog is likely to try and chew at things including grass.
If you travel with your dog and you accidentally forget its toys you will notice that the dog tends to bite on many other things in the absence of the toys. This may develop into a grass-eating behaviour if the dog has other underlying issues.
Fibers are important in the digestive system of a dog. Although they do not contain any nutritional benefits they help a dog digest better. Many commercial foods for dogs do not have sufficient fibers in them. This means that feeding them too many commercial foods can cause your pet dog to develop a grass-eating behavior in order to compensate for lack of fiber in its meals.
What should you do if your dog is eating grass?
If you notice your dog eating grass you should reevaluate its diet to ensure that it does not lack minerals. It has a deficiency then you should consider adding natural foods such as vegetables and fruits to the diet of your dog. This will help with the nutrients and thus see your dog reduce eating grass.
You may also consider adding additional fiber contain foods to your dog’s food to make sure that has sufficient fibers to aid digestion at all times.
If you have no reason to suspect your dog is suffering from anything then you should do nothing about it. This is because a dog eating grass does not harm your dog and may even offer more benefits.
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