Sammy
Dogs are eating anything, but why do they choose to eat grass? There are two primary reasons that dogs might eat grass. One is because it’s healthy-grass contains soluble fiber that can help with digestion and prevent diarrhea. The other reason is that they’re trying to treat themselves for something else-like anxiety or dietary issues.
Dogs are some of the greatest animals on our planet. They come in so many shapes, sizes, and colors that it is impossible to list them all! One trait that they all seem to have had is their love for eating grass. When your dog licks your face, he is tasting you-but why does he go outside and taste the grass instead? Do they think that you aren’t as tasty? 😂 Although this question has been asked by countless inquisitive dog owners, nobody seems to have a definitive answer. There are many reasons behind why dogs eat grass and no single reason is exactly right for your pup.
Because Dogs Need Texture Too
In general, dogs need to eat something with a crunchier texture than your typical kibble. This helps to remove tartar from their teeth, massage their gums, and clean up plaque that accumulates on the surface of their teeth. When they are young pups, all they have is milk teeth-these fall out pretty early on in life and are replaced with adult teeth in a matter of weeks. These new teeth are smooth and have no bumps for your pup to chew on-grass comes in right on time for this!
When it is time for our dogs to get their adult teeth, they need more than milk teeth can offer them. Grasses help promote healthy chewing habits by giving their teeth a good texture to chew on. This helps to reduce the risk of gum disease, plaque buildup, and other cleaning-related issues that can affect their lifespan.
Because Dogs Love Taste Too!
Dogs love tasting things just as much as we do, but there is a very specific reason behind why they taste the grass. Some dogs love the taste of it for this reason! Just like dogs enjoy drinking water from the toilet, they also enjoy eating grass for this particular reason.
Grass contains substances that produce hydrogen cyanide which dogs find very tasty (Cyanogenic glycosides). Although it is poisonous to humans, it doesn’t harm our pups too much. Some say that it helps to protect their stomach from things like parasites and the Fluoride in our water supplies. The taste of grass may also help them to stop eating other things they shouldn’t be eating-including rocks, sticks, and other dangerous objects.
Because Grass is Good For Your Pup!
So, we’ve discussed why grass might be tasty-but why do dogs eat grass when they aren’t feeling well? This is quite common and you need to take note of it immediately. Dogs have been known to eat grass as a solution for an upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting. The high levels of soluble fiber in the plant help to trap and absorb toxins and other harmful substances inside of it. This in turn helps to slow down their digestive system and ease the symptoms of these illnesses.
Grass contains a substance known as Chlorophyll which can help with major health problems such as urinary tract infections, upset stomachs, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, etc. It also contains amino acids that are beneficial to skin and coat health. So the next time your dog has diarrhea-don’t be surprised if they go outside and eat some grass!
Because Grass is Good For Your Lawn
You might think that there isn’t a connection between your lawn and yours pup-but there actually is. Many dogs enjoy eating grass because it tastes good-but not all of them do this. Some pups go outside and eat your lawn as a solution for many different things such as anxiety, boredom, and hunger to name a few.
Many times when they are anxious or bored, they will chew on things that aren’t edible. Because grass is something that they are ingesting, it can become a go-to solution for them in these situations. They simply eat the grass because they want to chew on something-maybe they aren’t getting enough exercise, or maybe you leave them home alone too much during the day!
If your pup ever starts chewing on your lawn, you can try to provide them with more things to chew on. This would include special toys that they can play with and bones that they can gnaw on. Always make sure that their habits are healthy before trying to change them!
Because Grass is Good For You Too!
Many doggy parents have brought their pups to the veterinarian and been diagnosed with grass allergies. You may be wondering how is this even possible? When grass season rolls around each year, many dogs develop a type of allergic reaction that causes their skin to become itchy and red.
To combat this issue, you can try out antihistamines such as Benadryl or Claritin. These are non-drowsy anti-allergy medications that can help to reduce the effects of grass allergies. You should also make sure to wash your pup off thoroughly after they have been outside! This is especially important if they have ingested any grass at all because it can worsen their symptoms.
Keep in mind that some pups may have a more serious form of grass allergies that require prescription medication. If your pup starts to get a runny nose, itchy skin, or red eyes-call the vet immediately and ask for their advice!
