Is there any reason why my puppy keeps eating grass and making herself sick? I know all dogs eat it a bit, and my older dog is always grazing, but my 8 month old puppy has a habit of eating so much grass that she is usually brings it up again once a week! She is absolutely fine in herself, eats her head off and is a real live wire, never looks even slightly 'down'. Is it just a weird habit?

I've always thought myself that they do this because they have an upset stomach.

Warm regards Susan

Hi Susan,

I have heard that's why they do it, but if she has an upset stomach every few days, surely her poo wouldn't be normal, and she would be acting different if her stomach is bad? I think she's just weird!!

lol

I always beleived that is was with an upset tum. My old dog had IBS and until he was properly diagnosed the grass muching would start before an episode.
Also could be lack of nutriements have just put my dog on Burns, and in the literature that comes with the food, it mentions grass eating as a deficiency.
Just a thought?.

There are lots of theories going about as to why dogs eat grass.  Some say it aids digestion, some say it removes toxins from the system, some say it cleanses the bowels, some say it removes worms. And there's probably a few more that I haven't thought of too.  Quite honestly, I wonder if dogs eat grass because they like it and it tastes good.  Nothing sinister at all.

I don't think anyone knows for sure and there could be a variety of reasons depending on the dog and the situation.

I genuinely think my dog does it because he likes the taste as he will only eat grass in certain locations, not just any old grass! I've always thought that the grass in his favoured locations must taste better to him.

Yes, mine both prefer the long 'wild' type grass that grows when I haven't weeded for ages - they look really miffed when I get the weeding done and all the lawn is short and tidy!! It seems to be just a habit then, glad it's unlikely to be something to worry about!

yes mine is like that she makes a bee line for certain grassy areas and she loves the long tall grass that looks like bullrushes.  I think she genuinely just enjoys the taste because she is fine in herself.

My 20 week old puppies have both been ill with an infection of some kind.  The little bitch had an extremely high temperature and has been quite ill, needing to stay in the animal hospital overnight and being transferred to our own vet the following day.

She is now well on the road to recovery but she has become obsessed about eating the few remaining patches of grass in our dustbowl of a garden.  Every time she goes outside to do her business she heads for the grass and begins scoffing greedily.

My theory is that she is trying to remove the virus/bacteria that has been invading her body...Either that or she thinks we are trying to poison her with anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medication and is trying to remove the toxins!

Antibiotics will often make you feel queezy so it could be just that.  Are you giving her a little daily live yoghurt to help settle her bowels at least which may help with the nausea?