1. Some dogs will eat grass in an attempt to settle an upset stomach. Often they will eat it obsessively. Typically there are other symptoms present besides eating grass. For example your dog may not eat all of its food or may vomit or have diarrhea. If your dog is eating grass and showing any these symptoms, you should seek veterinary care.
2. Some dogs will eat grass simply because they like the taste. Young green grass is especially attractive to many dogs. If your dog is acting perfectly normal but likes to chew on grass and has always liked it, your dog may simply love the taste. This is not a concerning behavior in moderation. But it can be an issue if your dog tries to eat cheat grass or other potentially harmful plants.
3. Anxiety can be another reason that dogs eat grass. It can be a displacement behavior. If dogs are nervous, excited or frustrated they may bite at grass. They may seem upset or overstimulated. They may just bite at the grass or they may chew on it and spit it out.
4. Puppies put everything in their mouths, grass included! It is the way they explore the world. It is very normal for puppies to bite at grass. If your puppy is eating grass and seems ill (lethargic, not eating well, vomiting or diarrhea), you should seek veterinary care.
5. In our dry climate, some dogs will lick or eat grass for the moisture. They may especially like wet grass. If you think this might be the case, make sure your dog has fresh water available. You could also consider adding some water to their food. Some dogs prefer “outside” water to “inside” water. Depending on your living situation you could have both an indoor and an outdoor water bowl available for your dog.
6. A dog may also eat grass and/or dirt if they are lacking a nutrient or mineral in their diet. This can be hard to establish, but if you think this may be the case you should talk to your veterinarian.
7. There may be something on the grass that your dog likes. Many dogs will lick or taste the grass that other dogs have urinated on. Some fertilizers are attractive to dogs. Or the grass may be salty or there might be some yummy bird poop on it. In this case there may be a particular spot that your dog is interested in.

Eating grass becomes a concern if it is a new or obsessive behavior, if your dog is showing other signs of illness in addition eating grass (like decreased appetite or vomiting) or if your dog is eating a plant or substance that could be harmful.

If you have any questions about your dog eating grass, please give us a call! We would be happy to help!