My dog keeps eating flies. Is it safe or harmful for his health?

It won't hurt Rocky if he eats any flies, they aren't toxic to dogs :-) I would be worried about bees, however, as the will sting the inside of his mouth and cause toxic reactions. I hope this helps!

Most bugs will not harm a dog if eaten. In general, the more colorful a bug is, the more toxic it may be. Rinse his mouth thoroughly with cool water for at least 15 minutes. Monitor for lethargy, drooling, swelling or pawing at the mouth. See your veterinarian if any of these symptoms develop.

I would definitely try to discourage this type of behavior if possible. While they not likely to cause severe illness or death in dogs, they can still cause problems particularly if the bugs were spending any time near pesticides. I have read about instances of dogs consuming a few of these and ending up in the hospital and then also read about others who have eaten dozens with little to no reaction. As a result, a "better safe than sorry" attitude should probably be taken.

Most dogs like to eat bugs, grass, and other items they shouldn't. Keeping an eye on Molly and stopping her from eating anything potentially harmful is a good idea. It would be hard to say if the bugs are safe to eat or not without knowing what bugs she is eating.

A small amount of dirt and leaves probably won't hurt him much although he can pick up parasites, so I would recommend deworming him on a regular basis. It may also cause him to vomit or have diarrhea. I would worry if he eats rocks or sticks as these can cause a blockage in his stomach or intestines that will require surgery. You can monitor him closely when outside and try to deter him from eating these things by giving him an appropriate chew toy.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Regular earthworms and most insects are not harmful for your pet to ingest. Also as a quick reference you can visit Aspca pet poison control website for a complete list of toxic plants/foods your pet shouldn’t ingest. Otherwise Lucky should be just fine. Best wishes and take care.

While generally eating insects is not detrimental to your puppy (extra protein, and the fun of catching them...), it may be a good idea to teach it not to go after insects, as your puppy cannot distinguish between stinging insects such as wasps and bees and biting insects and spiders and those that do not hurt it. Stings and bites can cause allergic reactions, which can turn into emergencies. Having a full course of vaccinations or not does not make any difference,