While we think it normal for horses, cows, and other farm animals to nibble at the grass, what should we think when our dogs and cats start imitating the practice? Some people say that when a domestic pet starts chewing on the lawn, you need to call a vet. However, veterinarians admit that most of the time animals will nibble at grass out of amusement or boredom and the practice is quite harmless. In fact, most vets believe that it is good for your dogs and cats to get a little grass in their system. Sometimes a dog may be suffering from a slightly upset stomach and it might take a bit of grass to try and remedy the sickness. While it may seem odd to see your dog grazing, plants are a normal and natural part of his or her diet. Even in the wild, dogs who hunt will kill their prey and eat them with pieces of grass mingled in the meal.

Grass eating is actually quite common among cats and dogs, and the animals don't normally get sick, or vomit afterwards. If your dog is vomiting after eating grass, he or she might be consuming a dangerous plant along with the greenery. Regular grass gives both cats and dogs the enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that they need to stay healthy. Cereal grasses also contain chlorophyll, which can relieve pain, treat infections, and rid your pet of ulcers, skin diseases, and anemia. The grass can also function as an internal cleanser, expelling excess mucus, bile, and worms in your pet's system. This is why your pet may cough up a yellowish liquid after dining on leafy greens in the yard. It is certainly not something to be concerned about.

Grass can give your cats or dogs aided digestion, or work as a laxative when needed. When a cat needs to cough up a fur-ball, it may start chewing on the grass to help aid regurgitation. If your cat or dog was not domesticated, it would be attacking and eating herbivores. Therefore, they would be getting this needed nutrition from the grass-eating animal that they dined on for dinner. Domesticated cats and dogs do not have the advantage of fresh grass in their kibble diets, so they satisfy the need by eating the grass outside.

Some pet owners will even grow special grasses to prevent their pet s from anemia, cataracts, fleas, tumors, shedding, or digestive problems. Pets often munch on grass for pure enjoyment. Since cats and dogs normally have a diet consisting of meat flavors, they may like the variety that grass provides. If you have an indoor pet and still want to give them the nutrients that they would gain from grass, you can feed them alfalfa, parsley, cucumber, spinach, or catnip grass. Be cautious; if you let your pet snack on the grass outside make sure that there are no toxic fertilizers or sprays that could cause your animal to fall ill. Some chemicals that are used to keep grass fresh could be detrimental to your animals.

To keep your dog from munching on the lawn, try feeding him twice a day instead of once. Use smaller portions to regulate your animal's weight. Make sure that your pet's food is full of the proper vitamins and nutrients. Grow greens that your pet can munch on or add some spinach to its' food bowl at a meal. Never let your cat or dog nibble at house plants or flowers. This could prove deadly. In the end, don't be concerned if your animal enjoys grazing on the grass, but monitor the practice and if anything seems abnormal, call a vet.