Why does my dog eat flies?
In this brief discussion, we’ll answer the question “why does my dog eat flies?” We will also discuss if eating flies is safe for dogs.
Why does my dog eat flies?
Your dog eats flies because:
- It is feeling bored and is looking for something to entertain itself.
- It is stressed or anxious due to any sudden changes in its environment.
- It is following its natural instinct to hunt and eat its prey.
- It is curious to know what it tastes like.
Let’s talk about why dogs eat flies in detail and what can you do to mend their behavior:
Your dog is bored
Your dog may eat flies because it just enjoys the challenge of collecting flies, in addition to its drive to catch prey. For dogs, it serves as a light sort of entertainment or enrichment.
This activity might give your pet the impression that they are doing something, especially if they become bored fast or have a lot of energy. They keep themselves occupied by attempting to catch and eat flies.
You can plan a fun and engaging activities for your dog to prevent boredom so that they avoid eating flies. One or two flies won’t harm your dog but an excess number can cause many health issues.
It is the natural instinct of your dog
Dogs have an innate need to hunt. They will attempt to catch every moving thing in sight and a fly is one of them. However, just because your pet consumes flies does not imply that they require additional food.
Their instincts and sense of fun are more at play in this behaviour than their caloric intake. Therefore, even though your pet wouldn’t mind, the scale might indicate that you should, there is no need to refill the food bowl.
Your dog is stressed or anxious
Dogs tend to hunt and eat unusual things when they are stressed or anxious. Eating and hunting flies can just be their way of relieving stress or anxiety. If you suspect that your dog is stressed, try to spend more quality time with it and get to the root of this problem.
Dogs can easily get stressed due to sudden changes in their environment. It may be because you moved into a new house or there’s a new family member around.
If that is the case, It will take some time for them to adjust to their new environment. Meanwhile, you should make sure to spend quality time with your dog so it feels at ease and avoids eating flies.
Your dog is curious
Dogs are curious creatures and they tend to explore anything that catches their eye. It is possible that your dog finds a fly intriguing and wants to see what it tastes like. Therefore, it may attempt to catch and eat the fly.
What will happen if my dog eats a fly?
If your dog has eaten a fly he is most likely going to be okay. But if it consumes a lot of flies, it can experience the following symptoms:
- diarrhea and nausea (longer than 24 hours)
- a lack of hunger or thirst
- Vacillation and irritation
- Trembling and fever
- consciousness loss
The more frequently your dog exhibits these signs, the higher the likelihood that he is experiencing a snack-related issue.
What to do if my dog eats a fly?
If you discover that your dog has consumed a fly, don’t become alarmed. One fly won’t be enough to raise any significant health issues. The most likely problem you’ll be facing, if he’s only taken one fly is some moderate indigestion.
It is so subtle that you won’t even notice it unless you actively seek it out. If your dog feels queasy, give him a few liquid potty tricks and maybe some compulsive swallowing.
However, if he’s taken a lot of them, it’s possible that you just observed him consume one while he’s actually consumed several. Look around to see whether there are any other people nearby, either alive or dead.
Call your veterinarian out of caution if you are unsure of the number. They will advise you whether to bring your dog in or simply keep an eye on things at home.
Conclusion:
We answered the question “why does my dog eat flies?” We also discussed if eating flies is safe for dogs.
