Why does my dog eat grass and sometimes vomit?
Dogs sometimes display very strange behavior. For example, when the four-legged friend stands in a meadow like a cow and begins to eat grass. Dogs aren’t ruminants after all.
As a dog owner, you may not only be wondering why my dog has eaten so much grass again.
That made me very insecure at the beginning because I didn’t know whether the grass I had eaten could be unhealthy or even dangerous.
First of all, I can reassure you: Eating grass is completely normal dog behavior that is not a cause for concern for the time being. However, if your dog is eating tons of grass and has digestive problems, then you should investigate the matter.
Make sure that the dog only eats grass where insecticides or herbicides are not being sprayed. So avoid your dog eating grass on the edges of fields.
Why do my dogs eat grass?
My three boys eat grass for very different reasons:
- Maui always eats grass on long walks. Mostly because he’s just bored or thirsty.
- Alonso eats grass, only to vomit it up again shortly afterwards. A short time later everything is back to normal.
- If our tequila eats weed, then for me it is a sign that he has a stomach ache. Then he doesn’t want to eat anything and is listless.
I give him poplar tea to drink and make him light food. These cooking short grain rice very soft and give chicken or lean fish it. Most of the time, the matter is done again after a day.
Dog eats grass as a snack
The reasons why dogs “reach for the blade of grass” are very different.
For one thing, fresh and young weed obviously tastes good. It’s nutrient-dense and the fiber is good for digestion.
The contained sugary substances help the dog to reduce stress. When a dog is overwhelmed or particularly excited, blood sugar levels drop . Eating grass causes blood sugar levels to rise again quickly.
So grass has a similar effect on the dog’s ability to concentrate as a Snickers that I like to eat in between on longer car journeys.
In addition, chewing the blades of grass relaxes, similar to nibbles in humans. The movement of the jawbones releases endorphins. We feel happy and satisfied.
Nose work and water loss
Grazing can also be seen in thirsty dogs. Dogs that do a lot of nose work and sniff a lot when walking need more water than other animals.
Smelling dries out the mucous membranes. The grass quickly supplies the dog with fluids.
Vomiting to empty the stomach quickly
Last but not least, the green stalks also serve the dog as first aid for stomach or intestinal problems. If the dog has eaten something indigestible or even poisonous, it tries to excrete this substance as quickly as possible.
He eats grass so he can vomit. By ingesting grass, the dogs mechanically trigger their nausea. The stomach contents come back immediately, mostly wrapped in mucus.
This mechanism is also used when choking out accumulations of hair in the stomach. So grass is used to cleanse the stomach and intestines. This behavior is known in cats because they ingest a lot of their own hair by grooming. Only dog grass is not yet known to me, whereas cat grass is available in every hardware store.
Help with digestive problems
In addition, eating grass can be a sign of a parasite infestation in the intestinal area. Gastritis, i.e. too much stomach acid, or organic problems such as liver or kidney weakness can be a reason for the dog to eat grass.
If the grass is not immediately choked out again, it will migrate through the digestive tract and will be excreted undigested with the faeces.
At times, you may notice blades of grass sticking out of the dog’s anus. Never pull on it with force. The sharp-edged blades of grass can lead to cuts in the intestinal area.
If the dog eats grass regularly, keep a close eye on why and how often he does it.
If you find that the dog is trying to relieve stress, avoid such situations.
When to the vet?
If the dog eats an unusual amount of grass, discuss this with your veterinarian. You should also visit this
- if vomiting does not stop after eating grass,
- if blood is seen in vomit or stools
- or the feces are covered with mucus.
There could be an inflammation of the intestines. Alarm signals are also other signs of illness such as fatigue and fever.
If the dog is unable to poop, you should see a veterinarian immediately.
Especially when the dog eats a lot of grass, it can happen that it cannot excrete the grass it has eaten. A life-threatening intestinal obstruction threatens.
Eating grass and vomiting – is the cause in the stomach?
It is a common belief that grazing dogs do this because of stomach problems. Some four-legged friends eat grass and break shortly afterwards. While cats are known to eat grass to throw up hairballs, at least that can be ruled out as a reason for dogs.
But why does a dog eat grass and vomit? Has the fur nose ate grass because something hit her stomach and she wanted to get relief by vomiting? Or did the grass-eating lead to nausea in the first place? Studies show that less than 25% of dogs vomit after eating grass. Most of them were not sick before or after, the studies also say.
As a self-medication and emetic, eating grass does not seem to serve most dogs. Then why do they do it? Researchers suspect that they may add fiber to their diet with the grass. If the proportion of these in the feeding is too low, the grazing dog could supply itself with fiber in this way. These lead to the digestion of the four-legged friend running more smoothly.
Studies have refuted that it could indicate a vitamin deficiency if the dog eats grass. However, if the fur nose also eats soil, you should take a closer look and consult a veterinarian. It could be that mineral deficiencies, dental problems, or toxins in the intestines are causing the dog to eat soil.
Important! If your dog has stomach grumbling before or after eating grass, or if he develops diarrhea, you should consult the veterinarian – although the stomach problems do not have to be related to the grass eating, it is important to find out the cause of your dog’s complaints.
That’s why dogs aren’t cows after all
As mentioned at the very beginning, the reasons for the strange grazing behavior are very diverse and mostly completely harmless. So let your animal do what it feels like. Just watch and see if you can find out the exact reason your dog is eating grass.
- As a snack
- For fluid intake
- First aid for digestive problems
This allows you to quickly see if there is a health problem that requires a visit to the vet.
