Cicadas Could Make Your Pets Sick
http://www.channelcincinnati.com/new...45/detail.html
About five billion cicadas are about to invade the Tri-State, and while
they're harmless to humans, the story isn't the same for pets.
Cicadas are a tasty treat for most cats and dogs, and the invasion prompts
many four-legged friends to overindulge, WLWT Eyewitness News 5's Susanne
Horgan reported.
The bugs aren't toxic or harmful to animals. Rather, some tend to get sick
because they can't stop eating the cicadas.
Gene Kritsky, entomologist at the College of Mount St. Joseph, offered a
comparison in human terms: To an animal, cicadas are like little pieces of
candy flying through the air.
Shauna and Dick Dammel remember the last time the cicadas showed up 17 years
ago.
"I am not looking forward to this," Shauna Dammel said. "I am not looking
forward to it."
The dog the Dammels owned at the time enjoyed quite a few cicadas, and it
caused quite a few messes.
"She would deposit them in a big pile of cicada vomit," she said. "She would
always throw them up, but she ate a ton of them, just a ton."
Veterinarian Dr. Mark Collett said not to worry if your dog or cat eats too
many cicadas. The problem is that animals are unable to digest a cicada's
exoskeleton and wings. The result: diarrhea or vomiting.
"They're not toxic," Collett said. "They don't sting, so as far as causing
harm in that way, it's not going to be a problem. It's like a potato chip: You
just can't stop at eating one."
Anyone have any good recipes for dip? (Sorry...I am gagging over this article)![]()
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