{"id":9243,"date":"2021-06-28T13:51:58","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T19:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/?p=9243"},"modified":"2025-01-23T11:05:54","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T17:05:54","slug":"why-do-dogs-eat-grass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/why-do-dogs-eat-grass\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do dogs eat grass?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why do dogs eat grass? 6 reasons your pooch is munching on your lawn, from anxiety to worms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your dog might be eating grass because it provides a source of fiber in their diet.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dogs may also eat grass when their stomach is upset since it can make them throw up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grass-eating is a habit that dogs may have inherited from wolves, so some pups just like the taste.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0168159107001827\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nearly 80%<\/a>&nbsp;of dogs who have access to grass will occasionally eat it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Researchers still don&#8217;t know exactly why dogs eat grass, but there are many theories, like getting rid of worms or calming their anxiety.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note:&nbsp;<\/strong>Most of the time, grass-eating isn&#8217;t a problem, but if your dog starts overeating grass and vomiting, you should see your vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here are six reasons your dogs eat grass and when you should be concerned about it.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. They need more fiber in their diet<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s no single answer to why dogs eat grass, but some experts believe that dogs may be craving a nutritional component like<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insider.com\/fiber-benefits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;fiber<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grass may be &#8220;providing trace elements or vitamins that are missing in your dog&#8217;s diet,&#8221; says<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/about\/leadership\/jeannine-berger-dvm-dacvb-dacaw-cawa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Jeannine Berger, DVM<\/a>, Senior Vice President of Rescue and Welfare at<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sfspca.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;San Francisco SPCA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are no studies proving that dogs with low-fiber diets eat more grass. However, there is some anecdotal evidence that dogs stop eating grass when their owners feed them a high-fiber diet, says<a href=\"https:\/\/www.centerforcaninebehaviorstudies.org\/nicholas-dodman\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Nicholas Dodman<\/a>, BVMS, DACVB, president of the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.centerforcaninebehaviorstudies.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Center for Canine Behavior Studies<\/a>.RELATED<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insider.com\/dog-constipation\">5 ways to fix your dog&#8217;s constipation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your dog isn&#8217;t getting enough fiber, they may show<a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/blogs\/nutritionnuggets\/dr-coates\/2015\/february\/all-fiber-not-same-32501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;symptoms<\/a>&nbsp;like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Diarrhea<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Constipation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ccanimalclinic.com\/dog-needs-anal-glands-expressed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blocked anal glands<\/a>, which can cause your dog to scratch their backside on carpets or leak a foul odor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Obesity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you see these signs along with grass-eating, talk to your vet about whether you should adjust your dog&#8217;s diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Their stomach is upset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The fiber in grass may help food move more easily through your dog&#8217;s gut. Because of this, &#8220;grass might also help if your dog is dealing with underlying gastrointestinal disease, like<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insider.com\/do-i-have-ibd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;inflammatory bowel disease<\/a>,&#8221; Berger says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps due to instinct, some dogs have learned that eating grass may also soothe their acid reflux, Dodman says. And this makes sense, since grass contains pectin, a type of fiber that can<a href=\"https:\/\/www.insider.com\/foods-that-can-help-ease-heartburn-2019-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;help treat acid reflux<\/a>&nbsp;in humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&#8220;<\/strong>If dogs have a bad feeling in their stomach, they may eat grass to make themselves throw up and feel better,&#8221; Dodman says. However, vomiting might not be the main reason dogs eat grass \u2014 a small<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0168159107001827\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;2008 study<\/a>&nbsp;found that only 22% of dogs who ate grass tended to vomit afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your dog is regularly eating grass to the point of vomiting, Berger says to call your vet, as this can be a sign of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/health\/dog-vomiting-causes-diagnosis-and-treatment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">underlying disease<\/a>&nbsp;like intestinal issues, cancer, or liver disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides eating grass,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.southwindvets.com\/site\/blog-southeast-memphis-vet\/2020\/03\/12\/does-dog-have-upset-stomach\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;other signs<\/a>&nbsp;that your dog has an upset stomach include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vomiting or diarrhea<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Licking their lips or licking the air<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gulping<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loss of appetite<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your dog has an upset stomach, you can also try<a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/nutrition\/six-foods-to-feed-your-dog-when-hes-sick\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;feeding them mild foods<\/a>&nbsp;like boneless, skinless chicken and rice. If it doesn&#8217;t get better after a couple days, call your vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. They&#8217;re anxious<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insider.com\/why-do-dogs-eat-grass\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here for the rest of the story&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More great blogs shared by Shield Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/what-happens-if-your-vehicle-is-totaled-understanding-the-auto-insurance-claims-process\/\">What Happens If Your Vehicle Is Totaled, Understanding the Auto Insurance Claims Process<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/why-now-is-a-smart-time-for-michigan-businesses-to-review-liability-coverage-before-spring-foot-traffic-increases\/\">Why Now Is a Smart Time for Michigan Businesses to Review Liability Coverage Before Spring Foot Traffic Increases<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/snowstorms-and-roof-damage-is-your-michigan-home-covered\/\">Snowstorms and Roof Damage: Is Your Michigan Home Covered?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/do-you-need-recreational-insurance-for-your-snowmobile-in-michigan\/\">Do You Need Recreational Insurance for Your Snowmobile in Michigan?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/the-importance-of-giving-back-during-the-holiday-season\/\">The Importance of Giving Back During the Holiday Season<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why do dogs eat grass? 6 reasons your pooch is munching on your lawn, from anxiety to worms<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14688,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2],"tags":[3,1114,1115,4],"class_list":["post-9243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insurance","category-shield-blog","tag-backyard-fun","tag-dogs","tag-dogs-eat-grass","tag-home-insurance"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9243"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12288,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9243\/revisions\/12288"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}