Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and How to Feed It

If you have ever witnessed your dog munching on the lawn, you may find yourself wondering if there are any potential benefits of wheatgrass for dogs. Keep reading to find out how safe wheatgrass is for dogs, what the uses and benefits are, and if there are any side effects to look out for.

In this article we will discuss:

• What is wheatgrass?
• Is it safe for dogs to eat wheatgrass?
• What are the side effects of wheatgrass for dogs?
• What are the health benefits of wheatgrass for dogs?
• Ways to feed wheatgrass to your dog

What Is Wheatgrass?

As the name suggests, wheatgrass is a plant variety of the wheat family. You may be familiar with it as a super-food often seen in the media being consumed in health restaurants as a very green drink from a shot glass.

Wheatgrass is very nutrient dense, and while it may be an acquired taste, its health benefits are highly regarded. It contains a vast range of vitamins for a start, not to mention the amino acids, chlorophyll, fiber and enzymes. This is a shot of green goodness that really does pack a punch.

Knowing all of the health benefits, and your dog’s taste for ordinary grass, the burning question is, can I feed wheatgrass to my dog?

Feeding Wheatgrass to Dogs – Is It Safe?

The good news is YES – it is perfectly safe to feed wheatgrass to your dog. As it stands, wheatgrass is not known to be toxic to dogs, and there have not been any associated problems.

In fact, wheatgrass is extremely popular with cats and a great edible alternative to them chomping on your houseplants. It is a good way to get some healthy greens into your pet’s diet.

Wheatgrass is actually much safer for your pet to consume than to chew on your lawn because the grass outside is likely to have been sprayed and treated with fertilisers and insecticides, and these can be harmful to your pets making them ill.

You also never know what other dogs or animals have been hanging around in the grass where your dog is snacking, and if they have been to the toilet in the area, then they could easily have left behind parasite eggs for your dog to ingest.

You can also grow your own wheatgrass indoors, which gives you greater control over what your dog is consuming. Your pooch will be less likely to go searching for nutritional supplements during walks that way.

What Are the Side Effects of Wheatgrass for Dogs?

Before we go on to look at the awesome health benefits that wheatgrass can have for dogs, let’s quickly take a look at the potential side effects.

Wheatgrass is generally very safe for dogs, but you should always think about the size of your dog and what the recommended dosages are.

If a dog eats too much wheatgrass they will probably experience some uncomfortable symptoms, such as indigestion, nausea or vomiting.

What Are the Health Benefits of Wheatgrass for Dogs?

Wheatgrass is a nutritious and cleansing supplement to add to your dog’s diet. Chewing on wheatgrass can be a great breath freshener and provide your pet with an opportunity to floss their teeth.

In the wild, dogs would get good flossing action from chewing on raw meaty bones, grass and shrubs, but many commercial dog foods don’t provide the right texture to help clean inside your dog’s mouth. In fact, they usually do quite the opposite, crumbling or sticking to your dog’s teeth and contributing to tartar and decay. Wheatgrass also has a certain amount of antiseptic activity, which may be beneficial to your pet’s oral care routine.

The antioxidant activity of wheatgrass is good for your pet too. Wheatgrass is an effective digestive aid, helping to prevent constipation. It is also organ and blood cleansing, and a great energy booster. An added perk is that it helps to control body odour, for those of you who have particular stinky dogs.

Ways to Feed Wheatgrass to Your Dog

If you are delighted to hear about all of these wheatgrass health benefits, you may be eager to stock up and start feeding this super-food to your dog. Be aware that it is not a good idea to offer your dog any kind of human wheatgrass supplements, as these may be too potent or contain other ingredients that may be good for you but toxic for your dog.

Here are some perfectly safe ways to offer wheatgrass to your dog:

Grow wheatgrass in a pot – You can create your own mini indoor garden for your dog (works great for cats too) by growing wheatgrass like a plant in a nice big pot. Keep it near your dog’s food and water dishes so that your dog can help himself when he fancies it. As long as you keep it trimmed and watered, with access to sunlight, the wheatgrass should keep re-growing so that you don’t have to keep replacing it.

Chop it up and add it to your dog’s dinner – It’s like seasoning your dog’s meal with a sprinkling of herbs, and it will look so pretty! Your dog may not appreciate the Instagram-worthy aesthetic of your masterpiece, but they sure will wolf it down, leaving you feeling full of satisfaction knowing that your dog has eaten well.

Juice it – Yes you can feed wheatgrass juice to your dog! In order to make sure that you don’t give too much and make your dog sick, as it will be very concentrated, just add a little of the juiced wheatgrass to your dog’s water, or a bit to the food for some added moisture and goodness.

Grind it – Did you know that when you grind wheatgrass up and let it soak in its own juices you can use it as a poultice for minor wounds and scrapes? For more serious cuts and injuries you should always consult a veterinarian, so avoid smearing into deep open wounds, sores that aren’t healing, or anything that is oozing or unpleasant.

Best Wheatgrass Growing Kits for Dogs

The easiest way to provide your dog with the benefits of wheatgrass is to grow some of your own at home. Here are some of our favorite wheat-grass growing kits which can be specifically grown to be fed to your pet.

Summary

Isn’t it great when you discover that something so healthy for you can also be used to boost the health of your beloved dog? Chewing on grass is great mental stimulation for your dog too as this is a natural behaviour.

This means that wheatgrass for dogs not only benefits their physical health, but it can also boost their mental well-being. Now go and spread the word about all of the awesome health benefits of wheat grass so that other dog owners can give their dogs the same boost.

READ NEXT: Why Are Dogs Eating Grass?