Why Do Dogs Eat Leaves?

Fall is a beautiful season for many reasons; the temperature cools, the leaves on trees turn beautiful colors, and there is an overall cozy feeling in the air. Not only this but it’s a great opportunity to spend more time outdoors with your pet pooch. But with all the extra greenery that appears at this time of the year, comes the risk of many dogs eating leaves.

Dogs love to eat everything and anything, and as an owner, it can be difficult to control what our pooches eat. If our backs turn for one second, our pet dogs will begin to munch on the nearest thing they can find, food and non-edible items alike. If you take your dog out for walks during times of the year when trees leaf and plants are in full bloom, it can be worrying to see your dog chewing lots of foliage.

So why do dogs like to eat leaves? There are many theories as to why, that range from indicating a medical problem, to representing feelings of restlessness in your pet pooch. Whatever the reason, there are many easy things that dog owners can do to curb this habit and make sure that their canine friend enjoys all of the beautiful changing seasons in a safe way that doesn’t involve devouring leaves.

Your Dog’s Diet Is Lacking Nutrition

Do you ever eat too many carbohydrates or food high in fat and salt, and suddenly have a craving for salad or vegetables? Wanting to eat healthily is a totally normal craving for us to experience, especially if we have overindulged in a lot of junk food. Interestingly, dogs can experience similar feelings like this. 

Although dog food is generally full of protein and contains a high content of meat, there are some low-quality products on the market that are full of fillers. Fillers are usually things like wheat, rice, or corn and they are added to dog food to make up for the fact that the food is lacking good ingredients like meat and vegetables. For a dog, fillers are not so beneficial and can make the food he is consuming not very effective for his health. Eating too many fillers can make your dog want healthy food, and he may turn to leaves or grass when experiencing these cravings.

If you notice that your dog is eating a lot of leaves when he goes outside, then you might want to check the ingredients of your dog food. Dogs eat leaves and grass when they have nutritional deficiencies such as a lack of fiber in their diet, and if they aren’t getting the right amount of nourishment from their regular food.

Dogs’ ancestral predisposition causes them to eat leaves when they can’t find meat, with wild dogs still doing this today. So, it is no surprise that our pet pooches will eat natural substances when they feel as though they aren’t getting the right amount of nutrition in their pet food diet. For this reason, it is important that you give your dog high-quality food and check the labels of the wet and dry food before you buy it. 

You may be wondering, “Why would my dog need vitamins from vegetables when canines only eat meat?” However, dogs are often wrongly mislabeled as carnivores. They are in actual fact, omnivores and should be eating a diet that consists of both meat and vegetables. So, if you see your dog eating leaves, think about introducing some vegetables to his bowl that will complement his dog food. You can either cook vegetables (like carrots, broccoli, or green beans) and add them to his dish yourself or you can buy dog food that already contains a high level of vegetables. 

Medical Issues

What could be causing your dog to eat leaves if you know he already has a rich diet filled with nutrients? There are many other theories, and a common one is that your pet pooch feels unwell. When dogs consume grass or leaves, they may overeat these in order to induce sickness. In fact, you may have seen your dog eat leaves to the point that he vomits. If this is the case, then your dog may have a gastrointestinal issue caused by a bacterial, parasitic, or viral disease, and he is trying to make himself feel better by emptying his stomach. 

However, your dog may be vomiting after eating leaves, not because he has a medical problem, but due to the fact that he has ingested too much of this natural material. One of the risks of eating leaves can be that it causes stomach issues such as vomiting and diarrhea. Leaves, dirt, and grass contain many substances that can be dangerous to animals if ingested, such as pesticides which are used on flowers and plants. If your dog accidentally eats something as toxic as this, it is going to upset his stomach and make him very ill.

If you notice that your dog is acting unwell, and experiencing stomach issues after eating leaves, then take him to see a vet immediately. Your vet will be able to tell you if the issue is something more deep-rooted like an intestinal problem, or caused by your pup ingesting a toxic substance. With a check-up and some treatment, your furry friend should be back to normal health as soon as possible.

Dogs are Curious About Leaves

A dog’s curious disposition and his desire for adventure are what makes this animal such an endearing pet. There is never a dull day with your furry friend by your side, and dogs bring us endless amounts of joy and delight with their escapades and excitable personalities. But they can also cause create a lot of stress for us owners, as their extremely curious nature can sometimes get them into trouble.

One theory suggests that dogs eat leaves because they are curious and want to investigate what this strange object is. Just like babies, when dogs see new objects, they become instantly captivated and want to play and experience these new things to their fullest extent. So, when our furry friends see leaves, they find the different shapes, sizes, and colors appealing. They want to sniff, lick, and nibble at these alien objects.

Unfortunately, our pet dogs’ inquisitive personalities can bring about complications. The harmless exploration of seasonal foliage can be more problematic than it appears, as it risks leaving your dog feeling nauseous, and as mentioned above, can cause stomach issues. It is important to keep an eye on your pup if he is munching on lots of leaves as this habit could cause him more harm than good if it leads to his tummy becoming irritated!

Your Dog Feels Bored and The Pica Condition

When we feel bored, we do lots of things to try and put a stop to our feelings of restlessness. For example, some of us move about and search for physical activities to fill our time. Others watch TV, read a book or call a friend. Then there are some of us who snack when we feel bored, even if we’re not very hungry. During times of boredom, we usually find junk food to be the most appealing treat. Surprisingly, dogs are not so different from humans in this area, and will also eat aimlessly during duller periods. 

However, boredom can cause dogs to eat objects which shouldn’t be consumed. This condition is called ‘pica’, and it refers to a disorder in which dogs consume non-foods. If your dog is suffering from pica, he will chew on non-edible objects like socks, shoes, paper, wires, leaves, and anything else that isn’t meant to be eaten yet crosses his path. This strange condition is caused by feelings of restlessness in dogs and may explain why some dogs eat leaves. However, don’t worry! Pica is easily curable with a little training and effort on your part. 

Think about your dog and how much physical activity and mental stimulation he receives each week. Could he be bored because he simply isn’t active enough? Perhaps your furry friend needs an extra walk each day, or that he needs his daily activity to be extended by several minutes. If your pet pooch has access to a garden, then make sure that he has the opportunity to go outside and play and run in the fresh air. This will keep him mentally stimulated and it will reduce the chance of him developing pica and ultimately eating leaves.

As well as extending your dog’s playtime outside, it’s important to provide your precious pooch with some fun games and toys that will distract him when he is indoors, as pica isn’t just about eating leaves. It’s a condition that could lead your pup to eating anything non-edible. To help with this, buy your dog interactive toys and balls that he can play with on his own or with you. Use the toys to create a fun activity for your furry friend and he will feel stimulated and enjoy spending time inside the house.

How can I stop my dog from eating leaves?

So, there are clearly many reasons why dogs eat leaves. Boredom, intrigue, and diet are all major factors that play a part in your dog’s strange habit. Knowing why your dog is eating leaves is an important part of understanding how you can effectively stop your dog from doing this, and ensure that he doesn’t partake in this potentially dangerous habit. 

If you’re out with your dog and you see him sniffing at leaves or grabbing one with his mouth the best thing to do is to gently tell him ‘no’ and firmly remove the leaves from his grip. The more times that you do this, the sooner your dog will learn that eating grass and other vegetation is not allowed and eventually he will refrain from doing so. Make sure to keep your dog on a leash in particularly leafy areas, especially during the fall season when there are more leaves around. That way, if you see your dog heading towards a big pile of leaves with a curious look on his face, you can pull him away using the leash and direct him towards another path.

If you see your dog eating leaves, it’s best to stop him mid-action and introduce a new activity to him that will entertain him. Give him a bone to chew on that will take up the majority of his attention, or throw a ball back and forth with him. These activities will make your dog forget about munching on leaves as he will be too preoccupied with playing.

Finally, if you let your dog play unsupervised in your garden and there are lots of leaves in this area, a great way to prevent him from eating fallen leaves is to rake them up before he is allowed out to play. If you’re unable to do this, another solution that many pet owners swear by is to spray the leaves with a safe spray that acts as a deterrent. Apple cider vinegar or water with lemon is great sprays that you can easily make at home and spritz on leaves to prevent your dog from eating them. These concoctions are harmless, so they won’t irritate your pooch’s stomach if he does accidentally ingest a leaf that’s been covered by it. However, he is far less likely to want to eat leaves with an acidic flavoring on top of them. A spray like this will likely stop your dog in his tracks, and dissuade him from eating organic substances!

If you make sure to keep an eye on your pooch when he playing with or inspecting leaves, or take measures to prevent him from doing so in the first place, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful changing seasons with him without having to worry about him eating too many leaves!