This week: Why dogs eat grass

Watching your dog eat grass can be quite an alarming sight but as Dr Magdoline Awad explains, the reason may not be what you think.

We know it’s normal to see a sheep munching on grass but what do we do when our dogs seem to have taken a particular liking to it?

Dr Magdoline Awad — chief veterinary officer at Greencross The Pet Company and SMARTDaily’s weekly pet columnist — explains it may not be as bad as we think.

WHY DOGS EAT GRASS

My dog eats a lot of grass, I figured this was normal as it’s just a bit of greenery but every now and again I find small frothy vomits with green grass in them. Chester is a much-loved small, six-year-old bitzer dog, fed dry food once a day and walked a couple of times a week. Is this normal?

It is very common to see dogs eating grass and nearly every dog will eat grass at some point in their lifetime. We really don’t know why dogs eat grass but there are some theories around this.

If your dog is eating grass fear not, it’s not unusual and is unlikely to cause any harm.

Chester may be trying to fill a nutritional need that may be lacking in his current diet. Grass is a great source of dietary fibre, which is essential in maintaining a healthy digestive tract.

An upset stomach is another common reason for dogs to eat grass. The grass can help to either induce vomiting, which often makes them feel instantly better, or in turn to settle an upset stomach. Some dogs just like the taste of grass — there may have been a local possum or cat that has frequented that area recently.

Smart Daily's vet columnist Dr Magdoline Awad is the chief veterinary officer at Greencross Vets. Picture: Toby Zerna

Consider feeding him twice daily as opposed to once. If Chester is experiencing issues such as constipation or diarrhoea you may need to consider changing his diet and making sure it is complete and balanced.

Eating grass here and there is very unlikely to cause Chester harm. However, if he continues to do so, this may not be “normal” and you should seek veterinary advice.
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