28/11/2020
DOGS EAT GRASS FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS:
Grass eating can be a sign of boredom or a way to pass the time for some dogs. However, there are also certain health-related reasons dogs eat grass:
*To balance the microbiome - Grass contains prebiotic fiber that may help keep your dog's intestinal flora balanced and resilient.
*To relieve gastrointestinal (GI) upset - Many dogs with an upset tummy consume large quantities of grass because they instinctively know it will make them throw up. There seems to be something about the texture of grass that triggers vomiting or a bowel movement in many dogs, which relieves their discomfort. If this is the situation with your dog, they will probably seem almost frantic to get outside to start gobbling up the nearest patch of grass. If the "cure" works, at some point they will quit chewing, lick their lips (a sign of nausea in dogs) and throw up.
*To eliminate intestinal parasites - Chimpanzees consume plant material to increase intestinal motility to rid their bodies of intestinal parasites. It's possible dogs eat grass for a similar reason.
*Grass eating may be an inherited trait designed to fulfill specific nutrient requirements - It's possible the grasses your dog likes to munch contain nutrients their body lacks. Grass is an abundant source of fiber. As a living green food, it contains phytonutrients, is high in potassium and chlorophyll and is also a pretty good source of digestive enzymes. So your dog could be seeking out selective grasses to make up one or more nutrients they are not currently getting in their diet.