If you see your dog eating grass frantically, there are several possible reasons for this. Let’s find them out and the solution for it.
Possible reasons:
- Your dog might be imitating the behavior of other dogs
- It may be boring.
- Your pup might be looking for some attention.
- It may be exploring its surroundings.
- Your dog might have some stomach problems.
- It may be lacking fiber in its diet.
Dog Eating Grass Frantically – A Complete Guide
Every pet owner has witnessed their dog engaging in strange activities.
They ran around in circles, chased their tails, walked on their hind legs, etc. If you own a dog, it pretty much comes with the territory.
However, have you ever noticed your dog eating grass frantically and thought to yourself — is this safe?
Since I’ve been asked every question in the book about man’s best friend, I know exactly what this type of behavior means and whether or not it’s worrisome.
First, to set your mind at ease, I’d like to tell you that eating grass is perfectly normal.
But, keep reading if you want to find out why your furry companion is so set on chewing up all the grass on your lawn.
Why Is My Dog Eating Grass Frantically – Common Reasons?
As I already mentioned, if you notice your dog eating grass frantically, there is a good explanation for this behavior.
However, I would like to point out a significant difference between grazing and frantic chewing.
Let me begin by explaining some of the most common reasons dogs tend to chew grass.
Doggy See, Doggy Do
When you take your dog for its daily walk in the park, chances are you’ll bump into other dogs. Keep in mind that dogs observe the behavior of other dogs.
Moreover, they even tend to imitate that behavior, especially when they’re puppies.
Ultimately, if your pup saw another dog grazing or even frantically chewing grass, it’s most likely just mimicking what it saw.
In other words, it’s a simple case of “doggy see, doggy do.”
Acting Out of Boredom
Dogs can get bored just as quickly as we humans. Bored dogs can chase its tail, bite their fur, roll around in the mud, etc.
So if you notice your dog eating grass frantically for seemingly no reason, boredom may be the cause.
Seeking Attention
Dogs have a funny way of telling us that we need to pay more attention to their needs.
If you haven’t been as attentive to your pup lately, maybe it’s just trying to tell you something by chewing up your front lawn.
Doggo the Explorer
If you’re a proud owner of a puppy, I’m sure you’ve noticed your dog doing all sorts of inexplicable things.
Puppies like to explore everything, and chewing grass is no exception.
Ultimately, sometimes this behavior goes away over time; however, sometimes, it becomes a habit.
Dog Eating Grass Frantically – Medical Issues?
Suppose you suspect your dog eating grass frantically isn’t linked to one of the reasons mentioned above.
In that case, if eating grass frantically isn’t related to one of the reasons discussed above, grass frantically isn’t associated with one of the reasons discussed above, then it may be a medical issue.
Here are some of the most common medical-related reasons for this behavior:
Canine Stomach Problems
Sometimes dogs like to gulp down their food rather than chew it.
This behavior is especially prominent if you have more than one dog in your household (dogs want to compete with one another).
When dogs eat too fast, they tend to have stomach problems caused by intestinal wall inflammation.
When that happens, they usually ingest some grass to calm down these stomach problems (hence the frantic grass-eating).
In most cases, dogs vomit after eating the grass and then return to normal.
However, if your dog keeps gorging on food and vomiting, that can lead to severe problems.
What You Can Do About Dog’s Stomach Issues?
You must monitor your dog’s eating habits to stop this behavior. For starters, give it smaller portions of food at a time.
Your pup will probably be confused at first, but it will get used to it after a few days.
Once you notice a change for the better, you can start increasing the portions until you reach the recommended doggy serving size.
If you’re still concerned after trying this method, take your dog to the vet for a consultation.
Insufficient Diet
Canines are thoughtful about what they eat. If your dog senses missing an essential nutrient, it will look for it elsewhere.
Ultimately, the grass is an excellent source of fiber, so chances are, if your pup is eating it, you may need to adjust its diet.
What You Can Do About Dog’s Insufficient Diet?
Find a new doggy kibble rich with fiber, and check to see if the grass-eating continues.
If this doesn’t seem to help, the best thing you can do is take your dog to the vet to come up with the right meal plan.
Complications Caused by Dog Eating Grass Frantically
I hope I managed to shed some light on why your dog may be eating grass.
Now, I would like to point out why you should teach your dog not to do so.
Eating Grass Exposes Your Dog to Internal Parasites
Some dogs love to eat grass for whatever reason.
Unfortunately, when doing so, they can also ingest intestinal parasites.
If you see your dog eating grass frantically and notice any of these symptoms, take your pup to the vet for a check-up as soon as possible.
These internal parasites may cause:
- Diarrhea
Roundworms will cause your dog to have excessive diarrhea and possibly worms in its stool.
If you notice that your dog’s belly is more significant than usual and has frequent diarrhea, you should take it to the vet for a check-up.
- Anemia
Hookworms are the leading cause of anemia in dogs since they are blood-sucking parasites.
If you notice that your dog is weak and lethargic, it may have picked up a hookworm while grazing.
- Growth Problems/Emaciation
Growth problems occur because parasites consume the food in your dog’s stomach, thus leaving it without the necessary nutrients it needs to grow.
Parasites are easier to notice in puppies since you will see a stagnation in size and weight.
On the other hand, if you have a fully-grown canine, it will most likely look emaciated if it does indeed have internal parasites.
What to Do if Your Dog Is Frantically Eating Grass
If you’re worried about your dog eating grass frantically and you’re desperately looking for ways to stop it from continuing with this behavior, there are a few things you can do:
#1. Switch up your dog’s diet — it may be lacking in fiber.
#2. Try to take your dog out more often — your pup may eat grass out of boredom.
#3. Take your dog to the vet — there may be some underlying condition you aren’t aware of.
The bottom line is that if you notice your dog eating grass frantically and then vomiting afterward, this is a sure sign that something is wrong.
Your dog needs to check its stomach for intestinal parasites or diseases.
The Conclusion
When it comes to your puppy’s health, paying close attention to its habits is crucial.
Some things, such as grazing grass, can be completely harmless.
Your dog might be bored or doing it because it likes the taste of grass.
However, if you’ve noticed your dog eating grass frantically on more than one occasion, the problem may be more severe.
For these types of issues, a visit to the vet is the best possible solution.
After all, a healthy dog is a happy dog, and we all want the best for our four-legged friends.
