Dealing with a Dog Eating Cockroaches: What to Do?
This is because, under normal circumstances, the human body can withstand a radiation dose of 5 rems, and once the total radiation dose exceeds 800 rems, death is inevitable. The German cockroach can tolerate 9,000 to 105,000 rems, while the American cockroach can withstand up to 967,500 rems!
Although cockroaches may seem strong, from another perspective, they are also very fragile. Common predators, such as cats, spiders, rats, scorpions, centipedes, toads, and more, can all take their lives.
Not to mention the dogs that accompany us every day. So, today's article will focus on what to do if a dog eats a cockroach?
Why does a dog chase cockroaches?
We all know that the ancestors of almost all dog breeds were skilled hunters, and even today, these skills ingrained in their genes can be activated in special situations, such as a cockroach suddenly appearing in the house.
Most dogs will instinctively chase these insects. Once they catch one, they will instinctively use their mouths to kill the insects, and even swallow them.
Why am I saying this? Besides the simple introduction, I also want to say something to those who scold or even hit their dogs when they find them chasing insects: don't blame them. This is the dog's instinct, and dogs don't know that these insects are not edible.
Poisoning
There are many types of insects, with over 6,000 species so far, and only 50 of them are toxic, which is quite rare. Therefore, dogs biting or eating cockroaches will not cause poisoning.
Why would a dog die after eating a cockroach? Because in most cases, the cockroach has eaten cockroach poison but has not yet died. When the dog bites or eats it, the poison will naturally be decomposed in the dog's stomach, causing poisoning and even death.
However, rest assured that most dogs will not eat cockroaches. They will most likely just hold the cockroach in their mouths and chew on it for a few seconds before spitting it out due to the pain caused by the hard shell of the cockroach.
If it really eats a cockroach, it is recommended to feed it 1 to 2 slices of bread as soon as possible. Bread can protect the intestines from being pierced by the hard shell of the cockroach.
So, most cockroaches will not cause poisoning in dogs. The only thing you need to worry about is the dog's intestines being pierced by the hard shell. Of course, a few dogs may be allergic after biting or eating cockroaches, which is relatively rare. If this occurs, it should be taken to the hospital immediately.
Disease
Of course, it is not said that dogs eating cockroaches should not be worried about. In addition to poisoning, you should also be concerned about the bacteria carried by the cockroaches. These bacteria include Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, E. coli, and more. These bacteria can cause diseases in dogs. However, it is important to note that dogs are generally healthy when eating cockroaches, and the risk of disease is low. If any symptoms occur, it is best to consult a veterinarian.
