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After a year where things couldn’t seem more chaotic, cicadas are emerging after 17 years of hibernation to see if they can make people wish for winter again.
Dogs, on the other hand, will be perfectly happy with emergence of the big, slow, loud bugs. Every few years, depending on which cicada “brood” hatches, dogs across Alexandria discover a new crunchy snack.
For the most part, cicadas are not poisonous or toxic to pets, but moderation is key, according to veterinarians.
That crunchy shell that makes them so irresistible to dogs can cause irritation to the stomach lining when eaten in large volumes, which can lead to unpleasant gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting.
The stiff exoskeleton and wings can also pose as a choking hazard, particularly with smaller dogs, and some pets may suffer an allergic reaction.
Due to the cicada’s long hibernation underground, the bugs could harbor high amounts of pesticides and mercury that could be harmful.
How to Stop Your Dog from Eating Cicadas
Sandy Modell, canine behavior expert at Wholistic Hound Academy, acknowledge that “dogs tend to overindulge,” especially when they see cicadas as millions of tasty, free dog treats.
Modell encourages owners to “teach behaviors to help redirect dogs away from dangerous objects,” something she does in her own classes. In other words, distract them with a command, a ball or a more acceptable treat.
“It starts at puppyhood,” she said, when owners should teach dogs to focus on them and creating a strong name recognition so when called, they would walk away from danger. It’s also important to teach a solid “leave it” or “drop” command to use when they happen to catch a cicada.
Playing games while on walks, hand targeting, and playing “find it,” help to reinforce the dog’s attention on the owner. “If we can teach our dogs how to observe the environment instead of reacting to it, that would be the most ideal,” she said.
Avoiding the threat altogether can be a smart way to prevent dogs from crossing paths with the potential threat. Owners should consider taking shorter walks around dawn or dusk when cicadas are least active, and can opt for open fields instead of the woods or local parks, since cicadas tend to congregate around trees.
If your dog does catch a cicada, let the dog chew it up and then take them back inside. Trying to grab a cicada out of your dog’s mouth might cause the dog to choke or result in an accidental bite.
