A life long question that many dog owners ask themselves is "Why in the world does my dog eat grass?!" While it's not the weirdest thing we've seen dogs do, it is one of the more puzzling questions to answer:
Technically speaking, this phenomenon is known as "pica" - the medical term for eating strange objects, often caused by a deficiency in their diet. Many veterinarians believe that dogs eat grass to make up for the lack of fiber and other nutrients that they aren't getting in their food.
It's also believed that it's a dog's natural instinct that drives them to eat grass. Dogs are not carnivores - they're omnivores - so it's natural for them to crave the benefits and tastes of plants, along with meat.
On the other hand, there are many dogs who are eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, but still munch on grass! The simple answer? They just like the taste! Some dog's like bones and chews... others like fresh spring grass.
Now for the most important question - is it bad for them? Yes and no.
Some dogs will consume grass to relieve an upset stomach as excessive grass consumption has been known to cause vomiting. But if you don't notice any other signs of illness or discomfort, your pup is probably doing just fine!
Grass itself is not bad for them, but the things that lurk within it might be - parasites, herbicides, and pesticides are commonly found in grass, so if your dog is eating it often, they're at a higher chance of coming down with an illness as a result of one of these.
So what should you do? Supervise your dog while they're outside so you can monitor how much grass they're eating. If they start to go overboard, distract them with a game of fetch! Some dog owners also find that plant supplements help to ease some of those cravings.
