“Can a dog eat flies? ” the question reminded me of that national geographic survival shows where the host would eat anything to stay alive. Yeah, they made sure to tell us, that a variety of Ewwww insects can taste yummilicious under the right circumstances. So why shouldn’t our bud try them too? But the first question that may pop up in your mind is:
Why does a dog eat flies?
We all understand that we expect something different and “brave” from our dog. Your dog chasing flies can make you worried. But that’s perfectly ok and normal. You shouldn’t be concerned about why your dog is eating flies because It’s in their genes. They are born hunters and chasing flies is like following their course of nature.
Can dogs eat flies?
Yes! Why not. And trust us some flies could be nutritious treats as well. But catching them could be quite an activity for your pup.
You can positively look at the matter of your dog eating flies as
This can be an entertaining activity
When your dog is getting bored and has nothing to do, chasing flies can be entertaining activity. It requires mastery. That focus and time-consuming wait needed to catch the flying treats can keep your dog busy for a long time. So let him pass those seconds doing something mindful.
It keeps him alert
Well, chasing flies is not an easy deal anyway. Apart from focus, have you ever thought that it’s a good activity to keep your dog alert also? He is not only chasing flies, he is getting prepared to be a warrior.
(Reminding us of Chinese kung fu where they do exercises that improve focus. Well, introduce this one too.;) )
It sharpens senses
Chasing flies doesn’t only improve focus, it enhances overall sensory coordination. Your dog learns to control the connection between its thought process and body movements.
This is a good exercise
It keeps your dog both emotionally and physically involved for hours. This is an exercise both for mind and soul. Ahhh peace!
It eradicates flies
No need to buy expensive fly repellents. Let your fly hunter do the deal. When your warrior will be ready, we bet you will see a visible difference in flies reduction.
Although there is no harm in your dog catching and eating flies still this chase-and-eat companionship between your dog and flies is not very ideal. A coin always has two sides so talking about another side of the story, flies can bring a lot of uninvited problems too. They may be tasty treats but are a bad company
What if they are stingy creatures?
Not every flying creature is friendly or safe. If your dog is in a habit of catching flies, it will attack every flying insect and some of them have those stingy bites.
For example, bees having those little itchy venomous stings can bite your dog causing swelling, irritation, and sometimes infection too.
Flies can bring diseases
Have you paid attention to the fact that mostly flies come where there is a lack of cleanliness? You need to keep your dog and its environment clean. Or you will have to pay heavy bills to vet if your dog catches any disease.
Flies bring parasites
Your dog getting parasites is a horrific thought. Some types of parasites are fatal for dogs and can eat your dog inside out. Parasites must never be given a chance to survive in your pup’s body. Flies can be a carrier to bring those parasites to dogs. Who knows a little fly can prove to be this much monstrosity to your dog. Give your dog deworming medicines often.
You may get a little worried that why your dog is attracting flies in the first place.
Why is my dog attracting flies?
Well, your dog is surrounded by flies, the celebrity moment needs a pause here. You should notice why there are so many flies near your dog?
Maybe its just summer
Flies are summer treats. Trust us, in summers they just come everywhere and that too uninvited. Your dog’s fur is a comfy bed to relax in after a flying session. Flies will surround your dog because they may not only find a relaxing seat to stay in for a while but may also find micro-sized food crumbs on your dog’s fur.
Your dog is not clean
A little moisture along with dirt bath, wow a spa for flies… If you don’t bathe your dog often and don’t care about its hygiene, flies are gonna surround your dog like honey bees on honey. Make sure to keep the dog and all its accessories clean.
Flies need to reproduce
Flies are attracted to body heat. That’s how they allocate living beings. The warmth of a body, moisture of sweat, and soft fur on your dog is best for mating and laying eggs. It’s an instinct of living beings to reproduce in an ecosystem or environment where they feel safe. So your dog is an ideal hideout for a little family starting session.
See if your dog is injured
Well, wounds can invite flies. They will feed on scars and will lay eggs on your dog which will eventually turn into maggots and pus. This situation can get pretty serious if not treated well. Even little rashes and scratches can invite flies on your dog.
Here comes my little dog and fly story.
My little “dog and fly” story
My “Leonidas” went for a walk with me. He is two years old pup but being a sheepdog he looks older than his actual age. He started barking at some street dogs and got into a fight with them. Apart from his size, he is just a cutie innocent pup who was beaten well by fellow horrifying hounds. His wounds were heartbreaking said they will heal by themselves. Give them a day or two.
My nightmare started when I saw little maggots in wounds. Since it was summer, the wound took time to heal and meanwhile flies did their part well. After receiving medicine from the vet, the maggots were clear but I can still feel that cold shiver in my body whenever I think about those yuck maggots in my darling Leonidas. I will never forgive flies for this cruel deed.
So my memory about flies is not good. In my case, flies brought a lot of pain and suffering. I try to keep my dog away from flies as much as possible.
How to keep flies away from your dog?
Here is what you can do to keep flies away from the dog
Use fly repellent
Using fly repellent is a good idea. They can kill flies and keep your dog safe. You need to see what kind of repellent you are using. Be very cautious. My friend once sprinkled that poisonous sugar to repel flies and his dog ended up eating that. Oops!
Keep the environment clean
Remember that flies don’t come uninvited. Your dog must be kept tidy. Make sure its kennel is clean and Sanitize its accessories as well. Make sure to bathe your dog routinely. Shampooing him will keep the ticks and flies away leaving your dog clean, smooth and cute.
Use dog collar or spray
Dog collars and sprays keep ticks and fly away. They release a toxin that doesn’t only kill any fleas and ticks but also keeps flies away from your pup.
Homemade repellents
Trust us they are best for your dog. They do the trick without any side effects. For example, you can use eucalyptus oil with peppermint or apple cider vinegar in lemon. These homemade repellents don’t damage your dog’s skin or health and are the best remedy to get rid of flies. Flies naturally hate the smell of few organic products and you can use them to your advantage.
Use vaseline
Mostly flies buzz in the dog’s ear. Flying them away can become so much irritating that your dog can scratch its ear. Using petroleum jelly in dog’s wounds repels the flies and keeps them away. Wounds need time to heal or flies will lay eggs that will turn into maggots.
What flies can be harmful to dogs?
Flies just don’t mean houseflies only. Let’s talk about a broader spectrum of flying insects. Your dog can catch any of them. It can eat mosquitoes, honey Bees, fireflies, or even blue bottle flies. This is a tale for another time that how your dog is such a pro in catching almost every flying species but let’s just stick to the point for now that what if?
What happens if your dog eats a mosquito?
Mosquito is a nightmare to humans, that’s why dog owners may get worried that if their dog has eaten mosquitoes, it will cause harm to the dog’s health. But that’s not the case. A mosquito can pass diseases from one living being to another but they usually do this through their bite. So eating a whole mosquito will not cause any harm to your dog. Relax and let it go.
If your dog ate a bluebottle fly?
Bluebottle flies feed on decomposing organic materials so there is a chance that blue bottle flies are here on purpose. Check your dog for a possible injury that invited blue bottle flies. They may be eating its flesh. Secondly, if your dog has eaten one of them, don’t get worried. They may be a threat to the outer body but are pretty harmless in your dog’s stomach.
What if my dog has eaten honeybee?
Another common flying insect is a honey bee. Honey bees are venomous. They may look harmless until they don’t bite back. If your dog has eaten one of them, don’t only worry about the dog’s stomach. Check for possible last fight between your dog and a bee too where the bee may have bitten before the final goodbye to your dog’s stomach. Bee venom can cause allergies in some dogs. So if your dog shows any symptoms, consult your vet.
If your dog has eaten firefly what to do?
Fireflies look cute when they blink. Your dog may get attracted to their light and eat them. But they can turn poisonous in your dog’s stomach. It can cause an upset stomach. So look for the symptoms as fireflies are known to be fatal for cats or lizards.
Depending on your living place your dog may eat other insects like grasshopper, ladybirds, etc. Whatever flying insect is poisonous, the first symptom you can catch will always be an upset stomach so keep an eye.
Well, we conclude that your dog eating flies is no big deal. Unless it chases all types of flies and one of them doesn’t bite back or is venomous, your warrior is safe. Ouch!
