My Dog Ate June Bugs Will He Get Sick?

Does your dog enjoy hunting and snacking on June bugs? If so, he’s not alone in enjoying the hunt for these small snacks on legs! For one thing, bugs can be fun to chase (if you’re a dog). But then what is a dog supposed to do when he catches a bug? The answer is the dog usually decides it’s snack time, and down goes the bug. Yuck!

Many dogs enjoy chasing and eating bugs! But what happens if your fur baby eats a June bug?

What are June Bugs?

June bugs, also called June beetles, are actually several beetle species that belong to the family Phyllophaga. These bugs are reddish-brown or black and are especially active at night. In fact, you may have noticed these bugs in late May or early June. When you’re out at night, and there’s a light on nearby, June bugs will fling themselves at the light!

Thankfully these bugs do night bite, though they are large. But what are they safe for your canine companion to eat?

Dogs Eating Too Many June Bugs is a Problem

While June bugs are not toxic to dogs, they can still cause stomach upset, which can be followed by vomiting and diarrhea. After that, your dog should be OK.

However, if your dog eats a bunch of the bugs, he may suffer from a bezoar.

A bezoar is a hard mass that is created by the bugs’ shells in the stomach. The bezoar is so hard that it’s not able to pass through the dog’s digestive tract. This in turn can lead to an intestinal blockage, which may need to be surgically removed.

Symptoms of an Intestinal Blockage

You may notice your dog has some of the following symptoms if he has developed an intestinal blockage:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Straining during bowel movements
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal bloating and/or pain
• Excessive drooling or burping
• Lethargy

If you believe your dog has developed an intestinal blockage, then call the vet immediately. This could be a life-threatening emergency.

The vet may need to run an x-ray, blood work and conduct a physical exam. If he determines there is a blockage, then your fur baby may require surgery. In some cases, the vet may be able to remove the obstruction through the use of endoscopy. This is non-surgical method. If your fur baby needs surgery or an endoscopic procedure, the vet will give your dog anesthesia.

In most cases, with prompt treatment, your dog should be feeling OK once he’s fully recovered.

If your dog has penchant for June bugs, eating one or two bugs won’t hurt him. Just be sure to keep him from eating several bugs, and he’ll be OK!