Is he hungry? Bored? Sick? Will eating grass hurt him?
Rest assured that you’re not alone in your concern, especially if your dog is eating grass and vomiting.

Pica is the technical term for the disorder characterized by eating things that aren’t food.  Sometimes pica indicates that your dog has some type of nutritional deficiency, though it is often simply a sign of boredom, especially when practiced by puppies and younger dogs.

Why is my dog eating grass?
There are a variety of reason’s your dog might be grazing on your lawn.  Some people propose that dogs might turn to eating grass when they don’t feel good as a way to make themselves vomit, and then feel better.  Others dispute this idea, on the basis that dogs are not proven to be smart enough to decide to treat an upset stomach by eating grass.  Evidence suggests that most dogs that eat grass aren’t unwell beforehand, or at least they don’t seem so.  In fact, fewer than 10% of dogs seem to be sick before eating grass, according to their owners.  And grass eating doesn’t usually lead to throwing up—less than 25% of dogs that eat grass vomiting

Should I stop my dog from eating grass?
If you suggest your dog is eating grass because he is bored, it might be beneficial to be sure he is getting enough exercise.  On the chance that your dog’s pica behavior is caused by a nutritional definencey, switching to a better dog food, such as Science Diet, especially a high fiber variety, could help alleviate the problem.

Although most experts agree that grazing itself isn’t harmful, one thing to keep in mind is that certain herbicides and pesticides used on lawns can be harmful.  In fact fertilizers were one of the top 10 causes of pet poisoning in 2008.
If you have any other questions please feel free to contact our office and speak with one of our staff members.  505-869-2627.