Why Do Golden Retrievers Eat Grass

Adventurous as ever, Daisy loves to explore her world. From sniffing her surroundings at home to exploring the different scents as the park, you will find Daisy cautiously discovering new things. Yet, her explorative habits have begun to spin out of control. You have noticed that Daisy has started to eat the grass at the park during your daily walks. Knowing this may not be good for her health, you begin to limit Daisy’s walks and watch over her carefully. As time passes and her desires do not dissolve, your search to discover the true reason why Golden Retrievers eat grass during their daily explorations begins. 

Although the grass is green, it is not a vegetable buffet for your dog but they probably think that it is. In fact, you may have even noticed your dog eats grass like it is a chocolate chip cookie that is running away! Yet, that is not the real reason for your dog’s snacking habit and most veterinarians actually consider this habit to be completely normal. In the wild, dogs would consume their prey whole and grass would just be an extra additive of fiber. Daisy may be munching on grass at the park because she is hungry, bored, and she notices the nutritional value in the grass. Yet, Daisy tends to throw up after she eats the grass, which does not seem to be healthy. When dogs swallow grass, the blades will tickle their stomach lining and throat, which will induce vomiting. This is why your dog may eat grass at a quick rate and it actually may be the cause of why your dog even eats grass in the first place. If your dog feels sick, she may swallow grass and use it as charcoal to induce vomiting. Who would have ever thought that grass could be a pain reliever! 

Although dogs may eat grass for a wide range of reasons, you may be wondering why Golden Retrievers? Well, there are certain breeds that love to eat grass because they desire the taste and Golden Retrievers happen to be one of those breeds. Golden Retrievers will chew on grass and sometimes swallow it because they find it to be tasteful and they also have a lot of energy. Daisy may be eating grass because it is interesting and she just needs something to do. As her owner, playing with her, tossing a frisbee around, and even giving her a chew toy to nibble on can make all the difference in the world. If your dog’s habit does not dissolve, you may want to get her checked with a veterinarian. Sometimes, dogs have something called pica, which is where they eat things that are not food out of boredom or they have a lack of essential elements in their diet.. Yet, most times there is nothing to worry about when Daisy has an occasional snack at the park! 

It is essential that Daisy is given all of her nutritional needs throughout the day. You do not want Daisy eating grass from the park because she is lacking essential elements in her diet. You can add different fruits and vegetables to your dog’s diet if this is the case. Sweet potato, carrots, snap peas, and even bananas are great additives for your dog and can help provide the essential elements necessary for great health. It is also important to make sure Daisy is not sick and is not using grass on a daily basis to help with her nausea. Watch over your dog carefully throughout the day and if she is chewing grass frequently, you can decipher the next necessary steps for her wellbeing.

 It is also important to make sure you take your dog to a park or place that has clean grass. Sometimes, parks will contain dangerous fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides that have been sprayed on the land. If your dog eats grass that has been contaminated, poison may be in their system and you will need to contact your veterinarian and Animal Poison Control. Watch out for any signs in public areas that notify you of these different dangers and in your own yard, you can carefully craft a safe place for their grass-eating habits. If Daisy is consistently chewing on grass and throwing up, you may want to check her out at the veterinarian's office. Sometimes, dogs will eat grass if they have a larger issue at hand such as gastric reflux or inflammatory bowel disease. Hearing a second opinion on your dog’s health can never hurt and will only benefit you and your dog! 

It is extremely common for dogs to eat plants. In fact, up to 79% of dogs actually will eat plants when they are out on their daily adventures and the most common plant is grass. You should not be too worried if your dog is using grass as their occasional afternoon snack. Yet, you are going to want to watch your dog to see if they do vomit afterward and pay attention to their stools. If something seems off with your dog, you may want to meet with your veterinarian or you can even hire a behavioralist. Yet, changing your dog’s diet and providing fresh fruits and vegetables may be the only necessary change your dog needs.

Golden Retrievers are wonderful canines that have abundant amounts of energy. From the playful times they have at the park to the bored moments they have in your home, you are going to want to give your dog many interactions and proper nutrition. If not, they may use grass as an extra snack and activity during their afternoon stroll at the park!