Rose Perry
Have you ever seen your beloved pet dog chomping on bags while you are hanging out with him? Have you ever thought, is it safe for him or not? Well, it’s a common view that we all have noticed at least once in our life. If you are worried, don’t be because you are in the right place to find out all your answers.
Why Do Doggies Chomp on Bugs?
First of all, dogs are curious predators. Even if they see a tiny butterfly flying around, he will go after it. That is because of dogs’ attraction towards moving objects. They are curious about the taste of bugs as well.
You must have noticed that your dog has already eaten different other things like shoelaces, socks, paper, etc. Do you still remember those cute moments when after eating these things, you found him in your bathroom? Well, dogs usually hide after eating something unusual. But keep in mind that some insects are toxic to them.
Let’s find out which bugs are toxic to dogs.
Which Bugs Are Toxic for Dogs?
- We can start with bugs that eat feces. Just because of these insects, they can get worms in their stomach. So if he eats those bugs that eat crickets, fireflies, cockroaches, grubs, or lady beetles, it will be harmful to them.
- The gastrointestinal tract of a dog can be hampered from the smiley secretions of bugs. All of a sudden, they can start vomiting out of this.
- Dogs cannot digest June bug’s shells. Hence if your beloved pet eats these bugs, he can suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, and intestine blockage.
- Spiders, slugs, earthworms, bees, wasps, snails and fleas should be avoided as well. These are also harmful to your dog.
What If Your Dog Eats Flies?
Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal. Household flies can only affect humans. On the other hand, just because of the short acidic digestive tract, your dog will not get harmed by these flies. If he swallows some of these insects including drain flies, gnats or fruit flies, he can get sick.
Parasites Are Also Harmful to Your Beloved Dog
Bugs are usually not extremely harmful to dogs. But the hidden danger lies in parasites. He can easily get infected while eating bugs because of parasites.
Have you heard the name Tapeworm? It’s a common parasite for both cats and dogs. Let say a dog swallows a bug that is carrying the parasite. He can easily end up with this common parasite named Tapeworm. That is why using flea prevention is necessary for your beloved pet.
Dog owners get a big relief when they get to know that these bugs are not life-threatening. You can simply consult a doctor to get rid of parasites like Tapeworm.
Another less common harmful parasite is Physaloptera. This parasite is responsible for stomach worm infections in dogs. They are spread by beetles, cockroaches, crickets, and other harmful bugs. So if you see a symptom like acute vomiting in your dog, you can assume that these bugs somehow are responsible for the infection of your pet.
Other Concerns
Yes, as a responsible dog owner, we cannot avoid all these concerns. That’s because people usually use poison to kill bugs. On the other hand, bugs eat these poisons. As a result, it can become toxic for your beloved pet if he somehow swallows it. So if any of your room is getting treated to get rid of insects, then you should keep your pet out of that particular room to keep him safe.
Along with that, you have to keep in mind that these insects can bite him too. So always use pet-safe chemicals so that your dog can play in your place safely. These chemicals usually kill all these harmful bugs, including spiders, wasps, fleas, and bees. Additionally, keep in mind that these chemicals should not be harmful to your pet as well. So while applying it, you should keep him at a distance, probably out of that place.
Conclusion
You will never find any particular reason why dogs love to eat bugs. It’s probably because of their curiosity. But if you see any symptoms like vomiting, excessive drooling, diarrhea, or anything strange, don’t hesitate to contact a veterinarian. On the other hand, you can train your dog to keep a distance from different bugs. In this way, you can easily protect your friend from getting sick.