With the arrival of trillions of cicadas, you may have noticed that your pup is extra excited to go for their daily walks. Cicadas are noisy, crunchy, novel little critters, and you can’t blame your pup for wanting a taste, or two, or three. But is it safe for dogs to snack on cicadas?
Cicadas vs. Dogs: Fantastic Friends or Formidable Foes
- Thankfully, cicadas are not toxic or poisonous. However, it is wise for your pup to steer clear of treating these critters like an all out buffet. Overindulging may cause discomfort, vomiting, or diarrhea for your pup. The cicada’s crunchy shell can be difficult for dogs to digest and cause irritation to the stomach lining.
- Depending on the size of the dog and the quantity ingested, in most cases, your dog will be fine after eating a few cicadas.
So your dog just can’t help themself. Tips on how to protect your pup
- If your dog doesn’t shake off their bellyache within a few hours after eating a cicada, a vet can treat their upset stomach.
- If you catch your dog sneaking a bite it is best to let it finish chewing and then take your pet back inside. Trying to remove the cicada from your pet’s mouth may cause it to swallow the insect whole, which is a choking hazard. Source: 2021 cicadas: Will my dog get sick if he eats cicadas? Here’s what experts say.
- Be extra vigilant of what your pup is munching on when going out for walks. Even once the cicada cycle ends in late June, it leaves a tasty and tempting shell all over the ground. You might have to hold your pup back for just a few more weeks.
As we are just a few more weeks away until these noisy insects disappear, make sure to keep an extra eye on your pup. While cicadas have made headlines for being an excellent source of protein, this may just be one recipe that you can’t share with your furry friends.
