Can dogs eat bugs? What to do if your pet gets into backyard cicadas.

“Cicadageddon” is here – two broods of cicadas co-emerged in mid-May, a rare event that won’t happen again until 2245. Last month, seventeen states saw “trillions” of cicadas from Brood XIII and Brood XIX. 

The cicadas will only spend about five weeks above ground before they die off, but their annoying buzzing ensures their presence will be felt. And after they’re done reproducing, we have the piles of dead, fallen carcasses to deal with.

Some humans eat cicadas and consider them a delicacy, but what happens when your pet decides those insects look tasty?

Can dogs eat cicadas?

Cicadas aren’t harmful or toxic to dogs, so eating one or two is okay. But don't let your pets go crazy.

If they eat too many, your dog or cat may experience gastrointestinal issues similar to what happens after ingesting a foreign body, says veterinarian Diana Watkins, who owns 143 Veterinary Services in Massachusetts. This is because the exoskeletons are difficult to break down. It won’t likely cause an obstruction, but the insects may pass through undigested.

“With dogs, they will frequently get pancreatitis when they eat anything that their body is not used to eating. (Cicadas) could definitely cause that,” Watkins says.

Contact your vet if you see any of these symptoms:

• Decreased appetite
• Repeated vomiting or inability to keep down water
• Sitting with a hunched posture

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Are cicadas harmful to pets?

Cicadas are not harmful to pets or humans. They don’t bite or sting and are more of a nuisance than a danger. 

A bigger concern would be insecticides, Watkins says. While the Environmental Protection Agency does not recommend using insecticides on cicadas, the spring and summer are notoriously buggy seasons and some people spray their yards anyway. Insecticides are toxic to cats because they contain a chemical called pyrethrin, which can cause seizures, vomiting, agitation, tremors and difficulty breathing, among other health issues. 

Do not let your cat get into insecticides sprayed indoors or outdoors. Contact your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435, if you think your pet has ingested something toxic.

Why do dogs eat bugs?

It may seem concerning to pet owners, but eating bugs is normal, even instinctual, for dogs. It’s a predatory behavior – wild dogs use bugs as a source of protein in their diet, Watkins says.

Some bugs aren’t healthy for pets to eat, however. As a defense mechanism, ladybugs secrete a substance that can cause painful mouth and stomach ulcers, Watkins says. Caterpillars are a “frustrating” and “uncomfortable” eating experience for pets and can also cause ulcers. Spindly, crawling walking stick bugs also release a substance that irritates the mucus membranes and causes dogs to drool, shake and vomit. 

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