DOES YOUR DOG EAT GRASS?

You might be confused or even worried when you see your dog eating grass and you will probably wonder if he is sick, hungry, or simply bored. The fact that a dog eats grass can indicate a certain type of nutritional deficiency, or often simply a sign of boredom, especially when this is practiced by puppies and juveniles.

Dogs eating grass are not that strange (this has been observed in wild dogs and usually does not cause too many problems. A small-scale study of 49 dog owners whose dogs had regular access to grass and other plants found that 79% of their dogs ate plants at some point. Another study on herbivorous dogs indicates that grass was the most frequently consumed plant.

There are a variety of reasons why your dog might eat grass. Some people assume that a dog does this when he is not feeling well and it is a way to help him vomit, and then he will feel better. Others dispute this idea, based on the fact that it has not been proven that a dog is intelligent enough to decide that stomach problems are resolved by eating grass.

Evidence suggests that most dogs that eat grass do not have a major problem. In fact, less than 10% of dogs appear to be sick before eating grass. And less than 25% of dogs that eat grass have vomited.

Other various reasons why your dog might eat grass include improving digestion, treating intestinal worms, or some unmet nutritional needs, including the need for fiber. A study on a miniature poodle that ate grass showed that it vomited every day for seven years. Three days after switching the dog to a high-fiber diet, the owner found that the pet stopped eating grass.

If you suspect that the reason your dog eats grass is that he is bored, it would be best to try various exercises and fun activities with him. Try throwing a frisbee or playing with a sturdy chew toy to keep him occupied.

Considering the possibility that this is caused by a nutritional deficiency, switching to a better diet with a wide variety of fiber could help alleviate the problem. animaland.ro recommends super premium food from Equilibrio.

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