Billions of Brood X cicadas are coming in the next few weeks, adding a bit of crunch to your yard and possibly your pet's diet.
But can your pets eat cicadas? The short answer is yes, but not too many.
Cicadas don't bite or sting, so the biggest issue for pets is overconsumption.
Gene Kritsky, a leading cicada expert and dean of Behavioral & Natural Sciences at Mount St. Joseph University, said it all depends on the pet.
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"If the dog can't stop eating them, it could lead to bowel obstruction," Kristy said.
The exoskeleton of the cicada is undigestible, he said. Some pets might eat one or two and should be fine, but others may eat too many, which would lead to issues.
"In most cases, your dog will be fine after eating a few cicadas," American Kennel Club chief veterinary officer Dr. Jerry Klein said in an article. "However, dogs that gorge on the large, crunchy insects will find the exoskeleton difficult to digest and can suffer serious consequences."
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AKC said dogs that overindulge can:
- Experience mild to serious GI upset.
- Choke on the stiff wings or hard exoskeleton.
- Suffer an allergic reaction.
- Consume unhealthy amounts of pesticides.
Hebron Animal Hospital said dogs who eat too many could have "severe stomach upset and abdominal pain, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea and possible blockages."
"Bottom line: Preventing your dog from eating large amounts of cicadas is the safest choice. Get ahead of the game and teach the 'leave it' command," the animal hospital said. "And if you have a pup who likes to act like an anteater, you may need to be constant companions when he or she goes outside for the next couple of months."
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