The Great Mystery: Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

One of our blog readers, Denny, recently left us a comment on our very first post at http://blog.k9healthsolutions.com/2008/09/18/hello-world/. Denny asked a great question that we’d like to share with all of you:

Denny’s Question: “hello, my american bull dog has been wanting to eat grass and then he comes in and usually gets sick.And he’s been dragging his butt on the grass.And hasn’t been wanting to eat.Also goes ouside and acts like he wants to do a duggie but can’t.Does this indicate that he may have worms? Can u tell me what mite be causing this?
Thanks, Denny”

Our response: We’re happy Denny asked this question, as it is one of the most popular questions people have about dogs. We are not qualified to give medical advice for dogs or any pets, and we firmly feel you should contact your vet immediately. We’re dog lovers and business owners that sell products specifically for dogs. However, we do have many years of canine experience, and can offer you some advice based on our own experience.

It’s a great mystery why dogs eat grass, and there’s a ton of of different reasons as to why. From all we have read and been told, it appears to be a natural occurrence in dogs and unfortunately it will often times make them sick afterward. You can try to discourage the behavior but typically won’t have any lasting luck. If you do have a dog that eats grass, please be careful that they do not consume grass that has been fertilized or pesticides sprayed on it. As for the scooting, this can be from several reasons. Some of the more common reasons are impacted anal glands, infected or abscessed anal glands, allergies, hot spots, etc.

Regarding the not eating problem and acting like he wants to go to the bathroom but cannot, this may be due to a blockage. I would definitely call my veterinarian and ask for advice over the phone or make an appointment and let your vet check your dog out. Blockages can be very serious, so please call your vet.

We hope our response helps, and readers, please feel free to comment with any dog questions you may have!