# Why do dogs sometimes chew grass?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-sometimes-chew-grass/172106>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 30, 2003, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-sometimes-chew-grass/172106 "2003-04-30T10:54:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Swoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Swoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swoop)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-sometimes-chew-grass/172106/1 "2003-04-30T10:54:00Z")

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Is it a nutrition deficiency?

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-sometimes-chew-grass/172106/2 "2003-04-30T11:17:34Z")

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[This site says yes.](http://www.pethealthcare.co.uk/dogs/asktheexperts/qadetail.asp?section=dogs&questionid=104)

> [@](#):
>
> It is not unusual for dogs to chew grass. It can be because they need roughage in their diet, which they can only get this from vegetable matter. If this is the case with your dog, you could try fulfilling this dietary need by including some cooked vegetables in his meals.

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**Author:** ![phraser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e4f/32.png) [@phraser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phraser)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-sometimes-chew-grass/172106/3 "2003-04-30T11:38:18Z")

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Usually it’s because they’re constipated or having trouble coughing up a furball.

Fibre (eg Weetbix and warm water, or cooked green veges with dinner) will usually help.

Make sure your dog doesn’t eat any grass or plants that are poisonous or have been sprayed with chemicals (fertiliser or weedkiller).

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**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-sometimes-chew-grass/172106/4 "2003-05-01T00:37:35Z")

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My dog ate my grass one night, and couldn’t stop smiling.

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**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-sometimes-chew-grass/172106/5 "2003-05-01T00:46:58Z")

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I’ve heard it is their way of inducing vomiting if they have an upset tummy. Very natural thing for them to do. If they do it a lot however you might want to look at their diet more closely to figure why they are constantly having an upset tummy.

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**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-sometimes-chew-grass/172106/6 "2003-05-01T05:55:10Z")

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They do it so they can come inside right away and make sure the new rug is sufficiently well coated as to have an uniradicable smell.  
😛

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**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-sometimes-chew-grass/172106/7 "2003-05-01T12:58:28Z")

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My wife’s dog ate lettuce every day. Before his kibble too-- if you put the lettuce underneath, he’d pull it out and eat it first.

Pretty damn civilized, if I do say so myself.