My Dog Ate a Bug, Should I Be Worried?

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You have perhaps seen your Fido chasing and feeding on bugs in the backyard or when taking him for a walk. While pulling your pup away from the insects, you pause and ask, is it safe for dogs to eat bugs?

It depends. In some cases, dogs shouldn’t eat bugs, but this depends on the type of bugs. Some insects are safe for your pup’s consumption because they are harmless. Nevertheless, other insects might be harmful as they can cause stomach upset. Also, there are toxic bugs that your dog shouldn’t eat because they lead to an allergic reaction and can transfer parasites.

Why Does My Dog Eat Bugs?

Most professionals attest that there are three primary reasons dogs will devour bugs. This will depend on diet, socialization, and personality. They include:

  • A dietary need
  • Interest in the texture or taste of the bug
  • Experimentation or curiosity

Bugs That are Harmful to Your Dog

Most bugs are dangerous for your dog. So, you will need to ensure that you do everything within your power to stop him from ingesting these dangerous insects. They include:

  • Bees, wasps, and spiders
  • Ladybugs
  • Slugs, snails, and earthworms
  • Fleas
  • Cockroaches
  • Monarch caterpillars
  • Stink bugs

What Will Happen if My Dog Eats the Bad Bugs?

What-Will-Happen-if-My-Dog-Eats-the-Bad-Bugs

Your furry pal will often experience stomach upset whenever he eats these types of bugs. Unfortunately, other serious complications might happen. Your pup may acquire tapeworms, parasites, and physaloptera.

These parasites can cause malnutrition and illnesses, prompting a visit to the vet. Your pup will then receive a booster shot or medication to deal with the infestation.

My Dog Ate a Bug. What Should I Do?

Maybe your pup ate a bug, and you don’t know whether it was a bad or a good bug. Since you need to make sure your dog is safe, here are the things to check out:

  1. Obstruction or bites around the mouth
  2. Watch out for lethargy and vomiting
  3. Visit a vet if you are not sure
  4. Give him a blended meal to help in digesting the unauthorized treat

If you think you need an opinion from a professional, don’t hesitate to contact your vet for advice. They may ask you to bring the dog for a check-up to be certain.

How Can I Stop My Dog From Eating Insects?

Preventing your pooch from eating insects is like preventing it from any other bad habit. You can teach it the primary commands like stop, drop it, and no, distract it with a toy or a treat and be watchful when it is playing outside.

A vet can give you some advice when redirecting the dietary issues or texture that your dog is looking for.

Final Words

Dogs eat insects because of curiosity and dietary concerns. This is a normal habit. Some insects such as crickets, houseflies, June bugs, and grasshoppers are non-toxic. Others like ladybugs, bees, earthworms, fleas, stink bugs and wasps are dangerous for your dog. To be on the safe side, train your dog to avoid all types of bugs. Furthermore, enrich its diet such that it includes what your dog is craving.

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