If you’re wondering what happens if a dog eats a stink bug, the short answer is: usually nothing serious. Stink bugs aren’t toxic, but their bitter fluid can cause drooling, foaming, vomiting or mild diarrhea that clears within 24 hours. If your dog ate a stink bug, offer fresh water, check the mouth, and call your vet for trouble breathing, swelling or repeated vomiting.
Dogs chase anything that crawls, and slow-moving stink bugs are easy targets, especially in fall when they head indoors. Below are the symptoms to expect, how long they last, and how to keep your dog away from stink bugs and other garden bugs.
What Happens If a Dog Eats a Stink Bug?
Stink bugs are messy. They’re disgusting to us, but they’re just as bad when it comes to dogs. Most potential side effects will fade away within a day or so without permanent harm. Drooling, vomiting and foaming are common immediate reactions. So is diarrhea after having a stink bug due to gastrointestinal distress.
Make sure your dog doesn’t eat anything for three or four hours, but access to fresh water is mandatory.
In some cases, allergic reactions may occur, like heavy breathing or swelling. You should contact the vet in this case. On the same note, dogs that eat too many stink bugs may have the hard shells clump together. Such clumps can lead to intestinal blockage, which also requires your vet’s attention.
My Dog Ate a Stink Bug, What Should I Do?
Rinse your dog’s mouth if your furry friend keeps drooling or pawing. A fresh bowl of water is mandatory, as it clears out the bitterness. Since the stomach must settle, don’t let your dog eat anything for at least three hours. Meanwhile, monitor the symptoms for about 24 hours.
Contact the vet if you observe complications, severe allergic reactions or persistent sickness that worsens over time. Such effects shouldn’t last for more than 24 hours in healthy dogs. You should also see the vet if your dog has had a large quantity of stink bugs and not just one or two.
Can a Dog Get Sick from Eating a Stink Bug?
What happens if a dog eats a stink bug in terms of sickness? The taste, smell and chemical reactions will make the dog vomit eventually. Stink bugs are disgusting, so your dog will learn that the hard way. Symptoms are normally mild and should fade away within hours only with proper rest.
More bugs increase the risk of stomach irritation. Plus, the shells can clump and cause more severe problems, hence the necessity of paying attention to your dog. There’s not much to worry about when it comes to a stink bug, but you have to be cautious when it comes to a large quantity of stink bugs.
Chewed, Swallowed Whole or Just Licked: Does It Matter?
Yes. What happens if a dog eats a stink bug depends partly on how your dog ate it. The bug’s bitter fluid causes the symptoms, and some ways of eating it release more fluid than others.
If your dog just licked it, expect some drooling or lip-smacking at most. Offer water and it usually settles quickly.
If he swallowed it whole, his mouth does not get much of the fluid. Hence, drooling should only be mild. Note that the bug still ends up in his digestive system; hence, expect possible vomiting and diarrhea in the next 24 hours.
Chewing on the insect spreads the fluid around the mouth area. Hence, expect to see maximum foaming, drooling, lip licking and pawing at the face as he tries to get rid of the bitter taste. Rinse his mouth with water and follow the steps above.
It also matters how big the dog is. Eating even a couple of stink bugs can cause a worse stomach upset in a little 10-pound Dachshund, whereas a 70-pound Labrador would probably be fine. If a small dog has eaten several, call your vet.
Are Stink Bugs Poisonous or Toxic to Dogs?
So, are stink bugs poisonous to dogs? No. They carry no venom, and they’re not considered toxic to dogs either. One or two won’t cause lasting harm.
That doesn’t make them completely harmless to dogs. When a stink bug is bitten or crushed, it releases a bitter, smelly fluid. That fluid irritates the lips, gums and tongue, which is why you see drooling and pawing. In the stomach, it can cause vomiting or diarrhea that usually clears within 24 hours.
Stink bugs only become dangerous to dogs in two cases. One is when a dog eats a lot of them at once, because the hard shells can clump in the gut. The other is an allergic reaction. Facial swelling, hives or trouble breathing need a vet straight away.
Can dogs eat stink bugs and be fine? Usually, yes. They just shouldn’t make a habit of it.
Symptoms to Watch for After Your Dog Eats a Stink Bug
Drooling is usually the first symptom, a form of oral irritation. Vomiting can also occur due to the harsh taste and smell of stink bugs. Diarrhea and vomiting are common too. While most dogs won’t eat, you should still keep food away for at least three hours.
Pawing at the mouth is common too.
These are basic, while more severe symptoms include allergies or stomach upset.
Dog Ate a Bug and Is Foaming at the Mouth?
Mouth foaming due to ingestion of insects is mostly caused by the bad taste of insects rather than by any form of toxicity. Various insects, like stink bugs, ladybugs, and several types of beetles, secrete bitter chemicals as they are being bitten. This leads to secretion of excess saliva by the mouth in order to rinse out the taste, which results in mouth foaming during panting and lip smacking.
If your dog ate a bug and is foaming at the mouth:
- Remove the foam and examine your dog’s mouth, including the roof of the mouth, for any stuck parts of the bug.
- Rinse the mouth with water while keeping the head tilted down to prevent your dog from swallowing the water.
In cases where foaming doesn’t stop, the gums become bright red, or your dog shakes, wobbles, or shows signs of an increased pulse rate, contact your vet or animal poison control right away. Your pet might have been exposed to something else, mainly a toad, whose exposure can be mistaken for insect ingestion since both conditions cause heavy mouth foaming. Some toads are toxic enough to make this an emergency.
When Should You Call the Vet?
What happens if a dog eats a stink bug? Should you get to the vet straight away? Not really for a single minor incident. Go see the vet if your dog has a lot of stink bugs. Do the same if symptoms persist for more than a day. Weakness, difficult breathing and other signs of allergies also require professional attention.
Can Stink Bugs Hurt a Dog’s Mouth?
Stink bugs have a defensive odor that can make anyone sick, both people and dogs. While we usually find it disgusting, dogs may also be sensitive to it. Therefore, a stink bug can irritate the dog’s mouth. That explains the drooling, gagging and pawing at the face. These are all signs of irritation.
In most dogs, the irritation fades in less than 24 hours.
Do Stink Bugs Bite Dogs?
So, do stink bugs bite dogs? No. Stink bugs don’t bite or sting, and they don’t carry diseases dogs can catch. Their mouthparts are built to pierce plants and suck out the juice, not to break a dog’s skin.
The only defense stink bugs have against dogs is the smell. When a dog sniffs, paws or mouths one, it releases its bitter fluid. Most encounters between dogs and stink bugs end right there, with a drooling dog and a lesson learned.
If you find a red bump on your dog after time in the garden, a stink bug isn’t the likely cause. Bees, wasps and ants are more likely, and spreading swelling needs a vet.
How to Get Rid of Stink Bug Smell on Your Dog
Stink bug odor comes from an oily fluid, so water alone won’t remove it. To get rid of stink bug smell on your dog, you need something that cuts grease.
Regarding the breath: Clean your dog’s mouth, teeth, and jowls with a wet towel, then offer clean water to drink. The odor usually dissipates within a few hours. Once your dog feels fine, give him a dental chew.
Regarding the fur: If your dog rolled on or crushed a stink bug, you can use dog shampoo to clean the affected area. For a lingering odor, a little bit of dish soap in warm water will break down the oils. Make sure that all the soap is washed off the dog’s skin.
Don’t cover the stink bug smell with perfume, scented sprays or essential oils. Concentrated oils can irritate the skin and make dogs sick if they lick them off. If the smell got onto bedding or blankets, run them through a warm wash.
What If Your Dog Ate a Different Bug or Beetle?
Now you know what happens if a dog eats a stink bug. Other garden bugs aren’t always that mild. Here’s what happens if a dog eats a beetle or another common bug:
- Asian lady beetles: The orange insects that resemble ladybugs are indoor pests during the fall season, just like stink bugs. Their shells can get stuck to the roof of the dog’s mouth, while their fluid can burn the lining of the mouth. Inspect the dog’s mouth if there is excessive salivation or loss of appetite, and take your pet to the vet if you spot these bugs or sores.
- June bugs and ground beetles: Mostly safe for dogs, though eating too many of them may lead to vomiting.
- Blister beetles: Less common, yet very poisonous insects because they contain cantharidin. This substance burns the lining of the mouth and intestines. Take your dog to the vet if you think he ate one.
- Bees and wasps: The danger lies in their sting, not in eating the insects. Swelling of the face or throat requires a vet immediately.
If your dog ate a bug and you’re not sure what it was, take a photo or keep what’s left of it. It helps your vet tell a harmless beetle from one that needs treatment.
How to Stop Your Dog from Eating Stink Bugs
Here are a few handy tips to stop your dog from eating stink bugs.
- Teach your dog the “leave it” or “drop it” command and use it when you see the dog looking at or attacking a stink bug.
- You can also redirect your dog’s attention with a toy.
- Use natural repellents against bugs, such as peppermint oil, on doorways and window frames, but keep them where your dog can’t lick or sniff them, since concentrated essential oils can make dogs sick.
- Block access points, seal gaps, and get mosquito nets for your windows.
Final Thoughts
Bottom line, what happens if a dog eats a stink bug? Stink bugs can be irritating, but they won’t represent a serious problem for dogs. However, dog owners should still monitor their pets for a day or so and call a vet if symptoms are too severe or don’t improve.
Such cases are rare, but if you’re ever unsure, ASPCA Animal Poison Control is available around the clock for guidance.
FAQs
Remove any remaining insect, offer fresh water, and monitor your dog closely. Do not give medication or try to make your dog vomit unless a veterinarian specifically tells you to.
Are stink bugs toxic to dogs?
Stink bugs are not considered toxic to dogs. However, the bitter defensive chemicals they release can irritate a dog’s mouth and stomach, potentially causing drooling or vomiting.
Can a dog eat a stink bug safely?
Yes, in most cases. If a dog eats a stink bug, it may drool, foam, or vomit from the bitter taste, but one or two bugs rarely cause lasting harm. Call your vet if your dog ate several or shows signs of an allergic reaction.
Why is my dog drooling after eating a stink bug?
A stink bug’s bitter defensive secretion can irritate a dog’s lips, tongue, and gums, which may cause drooling, gagging, or pawing at the mouth.
Should I make my dog throw up after eating a stink bug?
Unless a vet recommends induced throwing up, you shouldn’t try to do so.
What if my dog ate several stink bugs?
A large quantity of stink bugs leads to their shells clumping. This issue could cause intestinal blockage, so call your vet if you’re not sure.
How long will symptoms last after a dog eats a stink bug?
Symptoms should be monitored for 24 hours, but they usually fade away in less than that once the chemicals wash out.
When should I call the vet?
Seek urgent veterinary care if your dog develops trouble breathing, facial swelling, hives, repeated vomiting, marked weakness, collapse, or cannot keep water down. Call your vet whenever you are uncertain about what your dog swallowed.
Do stink bugs bite dogs?
No. Stink bugs can’t bite or sting dogs. Their only defense is the bitter smell they release when disturbed.
What if my cat ate a stink bug?
The same rules apply. If your cat ate a stink bug, expect possible drooling or vomiting, since stink bugs aren’t toxic to cats. Offer water, watch your cat for 24 hours, and call your vet if the vomiting continues or your cat stops eating.