Why do dogs eat grass?

Dogs love to munch away on grass and some even make it part of their daily routine. Fortunately, most experts believe it isn't something you should worry about. Nearly every dog eats grass sometimes, and some dogs eat it all the time. You would think that by now we would have a good reason why they do it. But we do not. Dogs explore their worlds with their noses and mouths...And there is the grass - attractive, sweet, with an appealing texture and it's very accessible on the ground. Why not eat it?

Dogs are very flexible in their tastes. They will eat their dog food, then walk over to see if there is anything good left in the rubbish bin. Basically, they will eat or try to eat, whatever they find in front of them. They did not care too much if had been lying in the sun for a week or was half-buried or even had other things crawling in it. It is food to them and they are not going to pass it up.

Dogs, unlike their catty counterparts, are not carnivores. But they are not like your normal omnivores, either. For tens of thousands of years, these opportunistic scavengers have devoured anything and everything, if it fulfilled their basic dietary requirements. Dogs are best described as carnivorous omnivores. They do not need to eat grass or vegetable matter from the garden anymore because most dog foods are nutritionally balanced and complete. But dogs are not nutritionists they just know what they like. Their natural instincts tell them that grass can be eaten, so they eat it.

Vets still are not sure if dogs eat grass because they feel sick or if their stomachs get upset after they have eaten the grass. One theory suggests that there is something in grass that does stimulate the urge to vomit. Another theory suggests that when ingested, the grass blade tickles the throat and stomach lining; this sensation, in turn, may cause the dog to vomit, again we do not really know.

So, when you think about it, grass munching is not that bad at all, just be aware that when grass has been treated with insecticides, herbicides, or other chemicals it can be very hazardous to your dog. Avoiding letting your dog eat grass in public places is a good idea as some areas could have been treated with these types of chemicals.

Author: Trophy Pet Foods