Is it OK for my dog to eat grass?
Question
We have a four-year-old, mixed, neutered male dog who is our child! He resembles a Basenji, but of course is too large and barks. He has this habit of frequently eating grass. Our veterinarian says he is healthy, and we shouldn’t worry because some dogs just eat grass as a habit. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer
Grass eating by dogs and cats is considered normal by most veterinarians. Dogs in the wild do the same thing to supplement their diet with vegetation. I would only be concerned about access to grass that has been treated with herbicides, insecticides, or fertilizers that might cause illness. If chemicals have not been used on the grass, your pooch can graze away!
The Companion Animal Behavior Program at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is currently conducting a study of grass and plant eating behavior in dogs (and cats). Many theories as to why dogs eat plants have been proposed. However, this is the first scientific study to investigate this common behavior.
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