Why Exactly Do Dogs Eat Grass?

two dogs eating grass

Dogs appreciate grass way more than we do, so much so that they frequently devour it as if it were the last meal on Earth. Who knows? Someday it might also be for us when the apocalypse happens, unless it’s all irradiated, in which case we’re all doomed.

Regardless, canines love grass. But why is this? Is it something dog owners should be worried about? Well, scientists say “no.”

Dogs Are Designed to Scavenge

It’s true that cats have sometimes been known to eat grass, but that’s only because they’re deranged, because they’re carnivores unlike the omnivorous canine race. The reason dogs eat grass is because they naturally evolved to scavenge for any substance that can provide them with sufficient nutrition, and grass has been one of these things for many years.

While eating grass wasn’t how dogs originally ate plants, instead preferring to eat herbivorous meat that had delicious stomachs full of the stuff, but these days vegetables are merely an alternative food source. Of course, they also tend to eat other types of vegetation including berries and fruits.

But this leads to another biting (pun intended) question: Why do they puke their guts up all over our beautiful floors afterward if it’s so good for them?

So, Why Do They Vomit All Those Greens?

The reason is simple: Your dog might have an upset stomach and wants to treat it by eating grass, which can help alleviate the problem. However, this leads to the problem of the grass tickling your pet’s throat and stomach lining, resulting in canine-green puddles of sick all over the floor, especially if it isn’t chewed properly.

The Nutritional Value of the Stuff We Normally Just Give Free Haircuts to

dog eating blade of grass

According to most qualified doctors, grass isn’t bad for your dog if they eat it periodically. In fact, it’s potentially healthy if they eat it on dog walks or at home. However, you’ll want to keep an eye out if your dog suddenly seems to crave grass as a primary source of nutrition, as this could indicate an underlying issue that the dog is trying to self-medicate. In this event, you should take your dog to the vet immediately.

You may also want to try switching to more herbal types of dog foods, which can curb the dog’s appetite for plants, and also help keep them away from potentially harmful chemicals that are often used to treat grass.