Is It Normal For My Dog to Eat Grass?
If we have a garden or if we take our pet to the park, we have surely seen them eating grass at times. It is not a delicious delicacy, but a kind of natural medicine for them. But they also have other reasons. In the following article we will tell you why your dog eats grass like a sheep.
Dogs eat grass
Perhaps you have wondered the reason for this somewhat “strange” behavior in our pets. Since the dog is a carnivore … why is it eating grass like a cow? Believe it or not, his closest ancestor, the wolf, also has this habit and loves to eat green plants in the forest.
Although some people do not allow their furry to eat grass, the truth is that in just the right amount it is good for their health. If after that “dinner” your four-legged friend vomits, it does not mean that the grass has fallen ill, but that it fulfilled its objective: to clean his stomach.
Reasons why dogs eat grass
Although it is not known “for sure” why dogs like to eat grass so much at home, in the park or in the neighbor’s garden, there are some theories that can help us solve the enigma. This behavior that sounds strange to us humans has several “logical” explanations.
Do you want to know why your dog eats grass ? It may be due to the following:
1. To purge
Canines cannot go to the pharmacy and buy an indigestion remedy. Neither diet leaving aside carbohydrates or fried foods. Much less prepare a vegetable broth when they have constipation!
The element they have at their disposal when their stomach hurts or they have eaten something that made them sick is grass. This means that after eating grass you will vomit or defecate. Therefore it is a home remedy for stomach and intestinal problems, and therefore we should allow you to consume it.
2. To follow “the tradition”
As we’ve said before, wolves often eat grass too. Although we think that his behavior is unusual or somewhat neurotic, we must understand that he is actually following a behavior inherited from the time when his ancestors were savages. And this is not the only thing he has preserved, since both wolves and dogs roll on the ground before going to bed, for example.
3. To delight the palate
Who says canines only like meat? They also want to taste something more natural from time to time. Perhaps if your pet is eating grass, it is because lately you are offering him a lot of feed or rice and he is a bit “bored”.
Furry animals eat vegetables because they like the taste and because after eating they feel good. The same thing that happens to you when you eat a salad in summer! You must bear in mind that dogs do not eat any grass that comes their way, but they have their preferences.
They look for the most tender shoots of a specific variety of grass. They are very smart when it comes to getting food and may spend several minutes sniffing around to find the right menu.
4. To satisfy the appetite
Herbs have a large amount of fibers that, in addition to providing a rich flavor, are also synonymous with satiating hunger. Therefore, if the dog feels that his stomach is empty, he will look for something that takes away that feeling. It doesn’t matter if it’s grass! What interests you is that you feel satisfied and that your stomach does not make a noise.
5. To supplement your diet
Another of the theories that seek to explain why dogs eat grass is because they themselves know when they need to balance their diet. If we give it a lot of carbohydrates at some point, the animal will look for vitamins and minerals in other sources. Do not forget that monotonous feeding causes damage to the intestinal flora of the animal and can reduce its defenses (it will get sick more often and have less energy).
So if you see your dog eating grass, don’t challenge or penalize him in the first place. Second, think about what may be missing in your body and change your daily diet a little.
