Our precious pets – the dogs love to eat grass, sometimes throwing it up. There are a few occasions when they do so- when their stomach is upset or when something is stuck in the throat finally leading to throwing up. Some dogs may only nibble at the grass. Others may eat quickly without chewing it. This may lead to vomiting.

The dogs that graze carefully don’t get sick on eating the grass. The dogs eat grass because they enjoy doing so. Though they don’t need to supplement the diet, primarily the dog diets are made of herbivores. Thus, the grassy taste is a reminiscent of their dinner made of cattle or lamb.

If the dog eats the grass regularly, this could be due to dietary imbalance. In this case, one can give green vegetable to eat to the dog but it should be cooked first making it digestible. One should be careful as the grass may have fertilizers and pesticides, proving toxic to the dog. Instead of grazing in the lawn, one should give grass at home, making sure that it is free from chemicals. If the dog vomits on eating the grass, it is important to consult a vet as it is a sign of gastrointestinal problems.

This may mean viral and bacterial infection requiring treatment. But if the dog eats grass only occasionally, it is due to a normal canine behavior. It may signify cleaning up of the nasty dog messes. Dogs may also eat grass for making up for vitamin deficiency or a diet deficient in roughage. Thus, the grass functions as roughage.