Whether your dog recently ate a cockroach, it’s already happened, or you’re just wondering, this is a likely enough scenario for you to know the facts. Depending on your dog’s temperament and, of course, the environment, he may rarely chase away insects or do so whenever one is present. So, is it safe for your dog to eat cockroaches, or is this a cause for concern?
Dogs can eat cockroaches without major risk, but they should not do so.
In case your pet East having a habit of eating these harmful pests or any other unauthorized sources of nutrition, it is always a good idea to make sure they have plenty of fresh, clean water and are fed regularly, as This will help alleviate any minor stomach upset that may result.
5 Ways Cockroaches Can Harm Dogs
Technically, no. Nothing inherent in cockroach physiology can harm your dog. Even so, ingesting a cockroach can still cause bodily harm to your dog. If any of the following occur, or even if you think it might, you should seek veterinary care immediately:
1. Physical damage
First, as arthropods, cockroaches have a hard outer shell (exoskeleton) that protects their internal workings. As you probably know, this shell is hard and brittle to do its job better.
Additionally, as disgusting as it may sound, the chances that the parasite will have expired before entering your dog’s system are very low. Dogs are carnivores, which means they are not very big chewers – that’s not what they are built for.
Between the cockroaches’ tough exterior and the likelihood that they will squirm between the world and the dog’s stomach, it’s possible that even a single cockroach can inflict scratches or lacerations on the inside of the mouth and mouth. your pet’s throat.
![a sick basset hound dog lying on the sofa](https://www.hepper.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/a-sick-basset-hound-dog-lying-on-the-sofa_Daniel-Myjones_Shutterstock.jpg)
2. Allergies
It’s possible that your dog is allergic to cockroaches, which can cause an allergic reaction involving swelling. Fortunately, this is very rare.
3. Disease
Cockroaches are known to travel to all kinds of harsh environments, spending time there and feeding on feces and decaying organic matter. It goes without saying that they can easily carry all kinds of infectious contaminants.
Cockroaches can harbor and carry a range of bacteria, including salmonella, staph, and streptococcus, and ingested bacteria can survive almost indefinitely in the cockroach’s gut and spread if eaten or through feces.
If your dog is unlucky enough to consume one of these diseased insects, likely symptoms may include gastroenteritis, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and general weakness.
As always, if any of these conditions present themselves, take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
![veterinarian holding dog at clinic](https://www.hepper.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/vet-holding-the-dog-in-the-clinic_Dmytro-Zinkevych_Shutterstock.jpg)
4. Pests
Cockroaches often carry parasites, such as physaloptera (stomach worms) and roundworms, both of which can be transferred to your dog after ingestion.
The worms attach to your dog’s stomach and intestinal lining, leading to infection of the digestive tract and diversion of important nutrients. Vomiting, dark stools, and lethargy are symptoms that can alert you to an infestation.
Parasites can fortunately be eradicated with antibiotics or other treatments administered by your veterinarian.
5. Poisoned cockroaches
Poison is often used by humans to get rid of these pests, and it is common for cockroaches to carry the poison on their bodies, as many of these products are not designed to kill the cockroach on contact, but rather to be brought back to the nest to propagate. other cockroaches.
Even if you haven’t prepared poison, your neighbors might have some, and as we know, cockroaches can move freely between homes.
Cockroach poison is toxic to dogs, as you can imagine. However, the dose needed to kill a cockroach is normally low enough that it will not cause serious illness in your dog. That said, negative symptoms can occur, so you should monitor closely and contact the veterinarian promptly if any unwanted signs appear. Digestive disorders are the most likely and can lead to dehydration if left untreated.
![veterinarian examining a dog at the clinic](https://www.hepper.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/vet-examining-a-dog-in-the-clinic_ARVD73_Shutterstock.jpg)
Why does my dog eat cockroaches?
The characteristic activity of a cockroach, scurrying around, can be a powerful trigger for your dog to capture it. This prey hunts is not a bad thing in itself, it can be very healthy for them, but eating cockroaches is not a good time idea for pet owners.
What should I do if my dog eats a cockroach?
If your dog has eaten a cockroach, there isn’t much you can or should do except monitor your dog closely for symptoms. Illness is likely to manifest within 1 to 24 hours of ingestion, most commonly as digestive upset, lack of appetite, lethargy, and possibly vomiting in extreme cases. . If symptoms appear, you should contact a veterinarian promptly.
Although he is unlikely to need treatment, it is important to have your dog examined and monitored. The vet may want you to keep your dog hydrated to recover from any fluid loss due to diarrhea or vomiting.
If your dog has contracted some form of parasite or worm, a veterinarian will hopefully detect it early and provide a deworming solutionor at least prepare yourself to watch out for pests later.
Cockroach Facts
- The most common varieties of cockroaches are German, American, Brown-banded and Oriental.
- Cockroaches have existed on Earth for more than 280 million years.
- Cockroaches can survive without food for a month or more, although they expire after a week without water.
- They are born as perfect miniatures of their adult forms and lose their exoskeletons as they grow.
- A female will lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, with an average production reaching 30 per month, making it easy to mass populate a location in a short time.
- Cockroaches submerged underwater can still live for half an hour.
- They do not need their heads to live, and decapitated cockroaches will die after just a week from thirst, unable to drink.
![Cockroach crawling on the wall](https://www.hepper.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Cockroach-crawling-on-the-wall_1113990_Pixabay.jpg)
Conclusion
It is not at all guaranteed that your dog will be harmed by eating a cockroach or two, as disgusting as that is.
However, if you have noticed your dog attacking one of these small insects, it is important to keep an eye out for them and be vigilant and prepared to do so. ask your veterinarian for help immediately in case of unusual symptoms.
Featured Image Credit: S. Narongrit99