What to do if Your Dog Eats a Cicada

Every year, we all hear a buzz from the ground or on the ground, this sound comes from cicadas. Periodical cicadas spend exactly 13 or 17 years underground, and 2021 is the end of the 17 years period.

Trillion of cicadas are set to emerge and cover the ground, cars, trees, and houses. They can be damaging to your dogs, so be careful when they are around.

Cicadas can Cause Upset Stomachs

Cicadas don’t bite or sting, so they seem like no problem, right? Completely wrong. If your dog likes to munch on everything, you need to stop them from devouring this treat.

Vets say that in most cases dogs will be fine after eating a few cicadas; however, dogs that gorge on the insects will find the exoskeleton difficult to digest and can lead to serious consequences.

Aftereffects can include severe stomach and abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Some dogs will require fluids, pain meds, gastroprotectants or anti-nausea drugs.

How Long Will the Threat Last?

Cicadas live underground for most of their lives, and they drink from plant roots and develop into adults. They emerge to mate and lay eggs. The cicada cycle lasts about 6 weeks, and typically emerge in mid-May and be gone by late June, depending on the weather. The exoskeletons that adult cicadas shed will be all over the ground past their season, be careful with your dog.

The best thing to do is prevent your dog from eating cicadas. Teach them the “leave it” command to get them to not touch the shells.