Why You Shouldn’t Allow Your Pooch to Eat Bugs – Some Can Actually Harm Them!

If your doggy is an avid bug eater, you might want to get him out of that habit. Here is some information on how bugs can be deadly to your doggy!

For the most part, it seems harmless if a dog or cat eats a bug. However, there are a few dangers lurking when it comes to dogs and cats eating bugs. It's definitely a behavior you should try to deter your pets from doing.
Stings and Bites

Many bugs such as bees, wasps, and hornets can and will sting a dog or cat. If your pet is trying to catch a stinging bug, it's likely they will be stung.

There are also biting bugs, like spiders, that pose a threat to dogs and cats. The two most dangerous venomous spiders that come to mind are black widows and the brown recluse. Both of these spiders have a harmful and potentially fatal bite.

Bugs That Are Toxic

Some types of bugs are toxic when ingested and can cause stomach upset. The types of toxic bugs you should watch out for include caterpillars, ladybugs, and stinkbugs.

Parasites

Two of the more common parasites that I've personally seen dogs and cats infected with are Tapeworm and Physaloptera.

Tapeworm is a very common parasite for dogs and cats. That's one reason why it's important to use flea prevention on your pets.

Treatment is easy and there are over-the-counter options available for getting rid of tapeworms.

A less common parasite is Physaloptera, also known as a “stomach worm infection”. Dogs and cats can both become infected with Physaloptera from eating cockraoches, grubs, beetles, crickets, or other bugs who eat feces. Dogs and cats can both become infected with Physaloptera from eating cockraoches, grubs, beetles, crickets, or other bugs who eat feces.

Insecticides
There's no telling which bugs may have toxic insecticides on them, and which ones don't. That's why it's best to NOT let your dog or cat eat bugs. That's why it's best to NOT let your dog or cat eat bugs. You don't want them getting sick from eating bug poison.

While we may not always be around our dogs to monitor their eating habits, at least we know what to look out for in case they get sick. Break your pooch's bad habit and save his life!

For more information on why you shouldn't let your doggy eat bugs, visit Pawsitively Pets.