The Green, Green Grass of Home

I was eavesdropping on a co-worker's conversation today with her vet while she was asking why her dog was eating grass. (Like a dog when you say 'cookie' or 'walk' my ears automatically perk up when I hear the word dog.) Like my colleague, this behavior used to cause me quite a bit of concern. I was impressed to hear that my colleague was asking all the right questions; could there be something wrong? Is it dangerous for my dog to eat grass? Is there something missing in her diet? After she hung up the phone, I walked over and we debriefed about the situation. My colleague's dog eats grass pretty regularly, unfortunately it's both the ornamental and the lawn variety. However, her dog doesn't throw up after eating grass like many dogs do. So is eating grass a problem or not?

The answer greatly depends on your dog. Not all dogs are actually eating grass, many dogs, like my dog Raleigh, like to smack on grass - essentially licking off the dew. Some dogs slowly chew grass like a lazy goat. If your dog is a regular grass eater, it may be that your dog is bored, likes the taste of grass, or simply wants to get a little variety in her diet. This is not usually a problem behavior. Other dogs mow the lawn down in a hurry and it's these dogs you want to keep outside for a few extra minutes because it's probably going to come back up in a few minutes. Only your dog really knows why she is eating grass for certain, but if you look for additional behaviors it will clue you into whether there might be an issue. Look for signs like loss of appetite, depression, or lack of activity. If you notice these behaviors in combination with grass eating or throwing up it's wise to consult with your vet.

Grass is a natural part of the diet for your dog's wild cousin who is out stalking prey. After eating all the other delicious parts, wild dogs turn to the stomach and eat the contents. The benefit for wild dogs is much of the grass is predigested by the unfortunate victim. The dog however is benefiting from all the nutrients and phytochemicals in grass that help to round out a mostly meat diet. You can provide a little variety and extra nutrition for your dog using fresh vegetables as well; green beans, carrots, spinach or broccoli are great choices for adding to your dog's food bowl. Another option is adding a bit of dried kelp powder to your dog's diet.

For dogs who love a little green you can also give some in a cookie. Portland's Stam Treats makes a cookie with Spirulina, Chia Seed and chickpea flour that dog's love. Check them out at http://www.stamtreats.com/id3.html .

As a cautionary note, don't let your dog snack on the neighbor's grass because you don't often know when it was last fertilized. The same goes for your grass - you should prevent your dog from eating fertilized grass for 10-14 days after fertilizer is applied. This applies for all types of fertilizer even organic/natural products.

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