Why Does My Dog
Eat Grass
and Vomit? 🤮
Should I Let My Dog Eat Grass?
Why Does My Dog Eat Grass and Vomit?
In this post , we're going to be exploring why our dear carnivorous friends sometimes enjoy a few browns of grass and often vomit after the "scrumptious vegetarian"fare.🤮
It is - in fact - a very common dog behaviour, however its important to understand the reasons behind it and when it may indicate further attention to your pup is required..
Four reasons Why Dogs Eat Grass and Vomit
Anyone who has ever had - or still has - a dog at home has no doubt witnessed this kind of scene of our furry friends munching away on the green or brown grass leaves. The dog in question usually unexpectedly and suddenly begins to eat the grass, more or less frantically. Often the consequence is rather immediate, and after eating the grass the dog vomits a steaming mixture of grass and bile - or his last meal- right there on the lawn...
First of all, know that eating grass for a dog is completely normal , as is regurgitating / spitting out what it has just swallowed. Most experts agree that there are four main reasons for this behaviour and generally you should let your dog eat grass.
- My Dog Eats Grass Instinctively - For K9 Health
One of the hypotheses put forward by some specialists is that our dogs reproduce the behavior of its ancestor the wolf- who killed herbivorous prey and therefore ate what the digestive tract of its prey contained, namely grass, plants, etc. .
Note however when it comes to grass, our dogs know how to be very selective. They don't eat just any grass .They usually seek and stop on a particular type of grass - Quackgrass. What is special about this type is that it is rich in fiber. Moreover, some laboratories exploit its diuretic and other properties to offer capsules to humans aimed at facilitating our digestion. Thus when the dog eats the grass - especially when it is quickly - it irritates the lining of its stomach and triggers the vomiting.
This is how you may have come to hear that when a dog eats grass it is 'purging' himself. The dog is actually trying to make himself vomit because he has ingested something indigestible, to relieve a digestive discomfort. Nothing alarming if this behavior is occasional. On the other hand, if it becomes too frequent, it can hide real diseases or digestive or gastrointestinal disorders, and even metabolic disorders. In that case its time to get K9 to consult a veterinarian!
The absorption of plants can also help a dog to eliminate harmful elements such as intestinal parasites from his body , or to fulfil some unmet nutritional need, but this should not be seen as a deworming action. It may be that your dog simply needs some more fibre in its diet.
Indeed, the fact of eating grass can help the dog to have a better intestinal function- but note that this does not exempt it from a bi-annual deworming treatment (prescribed by a veterinarian).
In addition, be aware that it is often through the ingestion of grass that our companions can be re -contaminated by digestive worm eggs. Once again its important to give a suitable dewormer to your dog two or even four times a year...
But “purging” for health is not the only reason your dog eats grass (and vomits.!). Here are a few more!
2. My Dog Eats Grass For Its TASTE!
Grass.. Hmm Delicious Yummy!
Our Loyal Companions have some fine tuned senses , however taste is not one of them! Did you know that your Dog has very few taste buds compared to humans (1,700 compared to 10,000 in humans), so as a result it is not uncommon for dogs to be “food craving”.
Food craving is characterised by a strong desire to eat a particular food (chocolate or sweets for some people, for example).
Some dogs are therefore very fond of grass, for no particular reason. It is just important to ensure that the dog does not ingest too much grass or plants treated with chemicals / poisons for example.
3. My Dog Eats Grass To Help His Digestion.
As mentioned earlier, the our dogs eat grass and vomit - deliberately ( by instinct) to eliminate whatever may possibly be bothering him in his stomach.
Woofing down the right type of grass- without taking the time to chew it - will then allow your Dog to vomit. In this case the answer to 'Should I let my Dog eat grass' is a very firm YES!
When this behavior is observed only on the odd occasion, it is not considered abnormal. However, if you observe your dog adopting this reflex action on a regular basis, consult your veterinarian quickly as it can hide disease or perhaps an infestation of some sort..
4. My Dog Eats Grass Due To Pica Syndrome
Pica what❓Grrr Im Not Picky! Wines a bit Ruff!
Perhaps you have heard of the pica syndrome? It is a behavioral eating disorder which prompts our Dogs to ingest various substances which are initially not made to be eaten (earth, sand, excrement… grass, etc.).
Thus, if you observe your Dog not only eating grass but also other matters considered as non-nutritious, -very un -foody DogLike - and doing this very regularly, consult your veterinarian quickly because this disorder indicates in many cases a nutritional deficiency or an illness.
In this case it is best to act quickly because pica disorder can lead, for example, to intestinal obstruction or perforation.
Should I Let My Dog Eat Grass - Always??
My dog eats grass and vomits : what exactly should I do and when should I be concerned?
Firstly there is nothing to be concerned about if your K9 pet appears otherwise healthy and it is the first time - or a very infrequent occurrence that eating grass ( and vomiting ) is observed. So generally speaking YES - You should let your Dog eat grass... usually.
Indeed, if you arrive at the vet and hysterically inform him "OH MY GOD -My dog just ATE GRASS!!", - he may well consider you somewhat uneducated and a little naive.. and suggest you take some time to study the most common behviors of your Furry Friend..
OH MY GOD - MY PUPPY JUST ATE GRASS AND VOMITED!!!!!😳😱 🤮
Four Reasons To Be Concerned If Your Dog Eats Grass (and Vomits)
On the other hand, here are the four different situations for which it would be preferable to be concerned , and indeed consult a veterinarian.
If your dog eats grass excessively ( not once off followed by vomiting then stops)
If your dog eats grass overnight and then still eats excessively
If your dog eats grass treated with chemicals or poison
If your dog eats grass AND other foreign objects or non-nutrients
If any of these 4 reasons is given, then yes, its a good idea to go to your vet with the detailed information so that he can offer you the best solution for your Loyal Companion!
The following link provides a more comprehensive overview of the
An excellent training guide to stop unwanted bad behaviour by your dog an be found by clicking here. Annoying habits such as Peeing indoors, eating the furniture or barking can be trained out of your dog by using this excellent Dog Brain Training Method.
Importantly always monitor any large change in your dogs behaviour. Any underlying illness will cause a change in your dogs energy levels and usual routine. Grass eating, however is usually a normal dog behaviour and generally poses no real threat to your dogs health.
