Is your dog snacking on cicadas? Here's how to keep them safe until the insects disappear

INDIANAPOLIS – Cicadas may be a crunchy, tasty snack for people and animals alike – but too much of anything is a bad thing, and some dogs have become sick from feasting on the insects.

The reason for your canine friend's tummy ache is pretty much what you might expect: They simply ate too much. 

"The thing about cicadas is that they’re not toxic … they don’t bite and they don’t sting. So in and of themselves, they’re not dangerous," said Dr. Jerry Klein, chief veterinary officer for the American Kennel Club. "But like anything else, it's if they do it in excess."

Periodical cicadas emerged in the trillions across the United States last month after spending 17 years underground. The members of Brood X, the name for this cycle of cicada emergence, are noisy, and they're everywhere.

Wildlife feasts on these cicadas when they emerge. They are, after all, an easy source of protein for squirrels, rabbits and other animals. Dogs and cats also tend to munch on the bumbling insects. 

This isn't a concern in and of itself, experts say. Eating a cicada or two won't hurt your dog. But their exoskeletons and shells are hard to digest, and eating too many of them can wreak havoc on a dog's digestive system.

“Their exoskeletons have a material in them that can be really hard to digest," said Elizabeth Barnes, an exotic forest pest educator with Purdue University. "And so if peoples’ dogs are eating a lot of cicadas, then that could make them sick or throw up."

When a dog eats too many cicada shells, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or poor appetite. In this case, you should take your pet to the vet, experts say, and your dog may require intravenous fluids or pain, gastro-protectant or anti-nausea medications. Although most Indianapolis vets offices haven't seen pets come in sick from cicadas, some offices confirmed with the Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network, that they have seen a few come in from eating too many of the insects.

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Some dogs may be more sensitive to others, and in rare cases, your dog might be allergic to the cicada shells and require even more attention.

In even rarer cases, dogs have died from eating too many cicada shells.

But overall, problems caused by eating too many cicadas are unusual, Klein said. In his 35 years working as an emergency vet, he hasn't seen many instances.

In fact, there are far more pressing dangers facing dogs during the summer, such as heat stroke or getting into fights at dog parks.

"We have to put things into perspective," Klein said. "There really hasn't been much."

That said, if you're concerned about your pet eating cicadas, Klein suggests monitoring them closely while they're outside. And even though the emergence is set to last only about six weeks, the shells will remain on the ground for longer. So, if you have leftover shells in your backyard, you might want to rake or pick them up so your dog doesn't eat them.

Barnes also points out that cicadas may be covered in insecticides used by people to protect their trees and plants. When dogs eat cicada shells or dead cicadas on the ground, they may be ingesting that insecticide as well.

Cicadas have existed for more than 5 million years. Now, humans threaten their future.

If your dog is acting strangely, call your vet.

“Don’t panic if your dog’s eating cicadas. But at the same time, it’s not something I would necessarily encourage my pet to be eating," Barnes said. “If people are worried or if they’re just throwing up a lot … we’d suggest that they get in touch with their vet just to make sure everything’s good.”

Follow IndyStar reporter London Gibson on Twitter @londongibson. 

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.