Our puppies can really do some strange things, can’t they?
And sometimes that involves eating large amounts of inedible things. I’ve seen my dogs eat sticks, chew toys, and even their own poo (yuck!)…
But I’ve also watched my puppies eating leaves before, and that led me to question whether or not I should allow that behavior to continue…
Well, it turns out that a lot of puppy parents have that same question, and in this article, we’re going to answer it by going over the following information…
- Puppies Eating Leaves – Why Does It Happen?
- Is It Ok For Puppies To Eat Leaves?
- How To Stop Your Puppy From Eating Leaves
In the end, you’ll know why puppies eat leaves, why you shouldn’t allow it, and exactly how you can stop it…
Let’s start by discussing a few reasons why puppies eat leaves…
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Puppies Eating Leaves – Why Does It Happen?
There are many reasons why puppies tend to eat leaves. Because this behavior is observed in wild dogs who are naturally omnivores, it’s possible that your puppy is trying to introduce plants into his or her diet. It’s also possible that your dog has a medical condition called Pica, is trying to make up for nutritional deficiencies, or is simply bored…
Let’s discuss each of the potential reasons in a bit more detail…
Your Puppy Inherited The Instincts Of Wild Dogs…
As I mentioned earlier, undomesticated dogs are omnivorous, which means they eat meat and plants…
And because of that, they do eat things like leaves, sticks, and grass as a way to try and add extra nutrients into their diet…
Many experts believe that domesticated dogs and puppies eat leaves because they still have many of the wild instincts of their undomesticated canine relatives.
Your Puppy Has Pica…
Another potential reason why your puppy is eating leaves is because of Pica. Pica is a medical condition that dogs may have in which they have a desire to eat non-edible objects that contain no nutritional value…
For example, dogs with Pica have been known to eat things like paper, books, shoes, potting soil, and clothes…
If you suspect that your dog has Pica, you should discuss the issue with a veterinarian as soon as possible…
Worried About Your Dog’s Health? Click Here To Get Answers From A Verified Vet In Minutes (24/7)!
Your Puppy Has Nutritional Deficiencies…
Another reason why some puppies eat leaves is because they have a poor diet and are seeking out extra nutrients…
It’s always important to make sure that you have an appropriate and nutritious dog food for your pup’s age, breed, size, and overall level of health (I highly recommend this one)…
In addition to that, you can add extra dog-friendly vegetables into your puppies diet such as:
- Celery
- Carrots
- Peas
Your Puppy Is Bored…
Some puppies tend to eat leaves simply because they’re bored and it’s something to do. Dogs are very curious little creatures, and they love exploring…
When they explore, they like to use their sense of smell and sense of taste to experience the world, and sometimes when they spend time munching on things like leaves, they find out that they like the taste.
Your Puppy Has An Upset Stomach…
It’s also a fairly common thing for dogs to eat grass and leaves as a way to soothe an upset stomach…
Oftentimes, eating these types of plants will cause your puppy to vomit which may help relieve the pain and discomfort he (or she) is experiencing from his gastrointestinal issues…
If your puppy eats leaves often and vomits afterward, you should contact a vet immediately because it may be a sign of an underlying gastrointestinal problem…
Worried About Your Dog’s Health? Click Here To Get Answers From A Verified Vet In Minutes (24/7)!
Is It Ok For Puppies To Eat Leaves?
You should not allow your puppy to continue eating leaves, and there are several reasons why…
Leaves Are Not Nutritious…
The first reason why you should not allow your puppy to eat leaves is because, while they are high in terms of fiber, they do not enhance your dog’s diet…
Again, a nutritious dog food is going to give your puppy everything he or she needs, and if you feel like your pup could use some extra vegetables and herbs…
…you can add things like thyme, rosemary, basil, carrots, and peas to their diet.
The Leaves May Be Toxic…
There are trees and plants out there that have leaves that are toxic for dogs. For example, tomato plants have leaves and stems which contain something called Solanine, which can cause tomatine poisoning…
In addition to that, Japanese Yews and black walnut trees also have leaves that are toxic if dogs ingest them…
But aside from that, many plants even in our yards and gardens contain pesticides and other chemicals which can be harmful to dogs.
The Leaves Can Create A Blockage…
Even though leaves and grass are not toxic to dogs on their own, they can create issues for your puppy…
If your puppy eats a large amount of leaves all at once, they can potentially create an intestinal blockage, which is a life-threatening issue…
It will require surgery to remove the blockage, which is usually quite costly, and your pup will obviously be on a tough road to recovery afterwards…
So if you see your puppy munching on leaves, it’s a good idea to put a stop to it.
How To Stop Your Puppy From Eating Leaves…
There are a number of things you can do to stop your puppy from eating leaves in the future…
First of all, if you think your puppy eats leaves because he or she is just curious and bored while you’re away at work during the day…
…you can invest in chew toys and chew sticks to help capture your puppy’s attention.
I also recommend you check out this. It’s a great way to keep your dog entertained all day when you’re not around, and it does it in a healthy and science-based way…
But all that being said, the best way to stop your puppy from eating leaves (or any other object he shouldn’t be eating) is to start proper obedience training…
Teaching your puppy commands like “leave it!” and “drop it” can go a long way at keeping him safe, and if you need help training your pup, I recommend the Brain Training For Dogs Program…
There are a number of good dog training programs out there, but I like Brain Training For Dogs because it’s easy to follow, it works quickly, and you can access the program from the comfort of your own home…
Part of the reason it’s so effective is that it teaches you how to redirect your dog’s natural intelligence to quickly get the behaviors that you desire…
If you’d like to learn more about how Brain Training For Dogs can help you teach your puppy to stop eating leaves quickly, click the link below…
>> Click Here To Learn How Brain Training For Dogs Can Help You!
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Final Thoughts…
So to sum it all up, it’s not a good idea to allow your puppy to eat leaves because they contain no nutritional value and because they can be toxic or have toxins on them…
In addition to that, eating a lot of leaves at once does have the potential of creating a blockage in your puppy’s intestines, which is a very serious medical issue…
Because of these health risks, you should stop your dog from eating leaves by using effective obedience training techniques, maintaining a healthy diet, and by giving your pup appropriate toys and sticks to chew on.