Is Eating Grass Perfectly Normal For Dogs?

Have you caught your beloved furry companion hogging on grass often and then throwing up?

Is it the issue that is concerning you the most? Don’t fret! It is normal. You are not the only person who is undergoing this confusion.

Eating grass is a normal habit and this tendency exhibits the coping ability of the pet to some kind of sickness or irritability. There can be miscellaneous reasons related to this behavior. Dogs show aversion to normal meat food when they have a nutritional deficiency which is not being fulfilled by their regular meal. However, it can also be a simple sign of boredom in poodles.  

Another reason can be that he is more exposed to grass or has access to plants. Some of the studies suggest that this pattern of eating grass and then throwing up is related to the normal tendency of dogs to treat an upset stomach. A study conducted on pups showed that when grass was replaced by high-fiber meals, the pets literally left devouring these greenies.

Other possibility is that your dog loves the flavor of grass though it doesn’t add any nutritional value to his diet because of the absence of digestive enzymes required to assimilate this leafy meal. Hopefully, this may relieve a tad bit of your curiosity.

If you are still concerned with this behavior because the fields are filled with pesticides and insecticides, your concern is genuine. Follow these tips to prevent your furry pal from relishing this sleek leafy food which may bring along some unwanted chemicals causing health issues in your pet.

1. Add fiber-rich foods like oats, vegetables and brown rice which are natural and are loaded with fibers.
2. Don’t take your poodle out in the fields where he has access to grass and would simply eat out of boredom or for the taste.
3. Feed him well before you go out so his hunger is satiated.
4. Give him probiotic supplements. They improve the microbial flora in intestines and improve digestion. A probiotic supplement will also cure diarrhea caused due to grass consumption in some dogs.
5. Maintain a regular exercise routine that will chuck boredom. Moreover, a physical activity incorporated into his daily routine would help him stay fit and agile, and will also distract him from feeding himself unnecessarily.
6. If at all he has some health-related issues or is under discomfort, it is advisable to visit the vet. Professionals can recommend a proper meal plan and ensure if the barfing was normal or, due to some serious underlying health issue.

Conclusion

Rest assured, eating grass is absolutely normal in dogs. However, it is better to keep checking if the barfing after grass-meal is normal or has resulted due to some chemical poisoning of grass treated for pests. Other than this, you don’t need to worry at all. Just feed him right and maintain a fiber-rich diet. Or tackle his boredom by keeping him on his toes. Perhaps, that’s all that your dog needs!