Puppy Dies After Eating Cicadas in North Alabama

Bella was a healthy, happy, four-month-old Labradoodle and the absolute joy of her owner in North Alabama. After Bella ate several Cicadas, however, that joy turned to a sudden and devastating tragedy. Bella's owner hopes that sharing her story will perhaps spare other pet owners from the same pain that she endured. Here's what happened and why cicadas may not be as harmless as many people think.

Bella, owned by Shelah Stutts, Florence, AlPhoto byStutts (used with permission)

North Alabama, along with several other states, is experiencing the rare emergence of two large broods of cicadas at one time, filling our forests and backyards with millions of the singing summer insects. One scroll through social media, and you'll see everything from photos of cicadas to recipes that show how to cook and eat them. The insects are not poisonous and are perfectly edible. However, they can pose risks when consumed by pets, especially in small dogs and puppies.

When Shelah Stutts of Florence brought home Bella in the spring of 2022, she did everything right. She made sure the cute and bouncy labradoodle was up to date on all her shots, was kept indoors, and was in a regular routine. That routine included playful summer mornings on the patio with Shelah and her husband. Bella had been a part of the Stutts family for two months and was four months old when the cicadas emerged that year. Like all labradoodles, she was naturally adventurous and curious, and the clumsy cicadas were fair play for Bella.

When Bella found two or three cicadas on the patio, Shelah and her husband laughed and thought it was cute when Bella playfully caught and ate a couple of the insects. Bella did this for about three days in a row, as the cicadas emerged in abundance that year. Little did the Stutts know that in a few days, they would have to say goodbye to their puppy.

It was a Saturday morning when Bella suddenly became deathly sick. In a matter of only a few hours, she became extremely lethargic, had a fever, refused to eat or drink, and had severe vomiting with bloody diarrhea. Shelah rushed Bella to her regular vet that morning. Unfortunately, Bella was beyond saving at that point. She had all the symptoms of the canine parvovirus. Rather than let her suffer for what would probably only be a few more hours to live, Shelah's vet recommended that they euthanize her. In his professional opinion, it was the only humane thing to do for Bella at that point.

The canine parvovirus, or simply parvo, is a deadly virus for dogs, especially puppies. It can be transmitted via direct contact with an infected dog or indirectly from surfaces, food bowls, or contact with the feces of an infected dog. The virus can also live in the ground for a year or more, and that's where Bella may have come into contact with the virus.

Bella had been in the same environment for two months with no problems and no parvo. Shelah and her veterinarian were at a loss for how Bella could have been infected with parvo. When Shelah told her veterinarian that Bella had eaten several cicadas just a few days earlier, that caught his attention. He immediately believed that the cicadas were to blame. That was, after all, the only incident that was different in Bella's day-to-day routine. The veterinarian believed that one or more of the cicadas that Bella had eaten had emerged from soil that was contaminated with parvo.

Bella, Owned by Shelah Stutts, Florence, AlPhoto byStutts (used with permission)

Parvo only needs 3 to 5 days incubation before symptoms appear. Once contracted, parvo hits swiftly and can be deadly in less than 24 hours. Even puppies that have been vaccinated can still contract parvo with a direct infection. Bella became sick 4 days after eating her first cicada. Although there's no proof that eating the cicadas hurt her, Bella's veterinarian believes strongly that the cicadas were to blame for bringing the virus to the puppy.

There is also one more known danger in eating cicadas for small dogs and puppies. The exoskeleton on the cicada is extremely hard to digest. If a small dog or puppy eats enough cicadas, the exoskeletons can cause a severe stomach upset. In the worse case scenario, the exoskeletons can cause an intestinal blockage in the dog. Such a blockage can be fatal. This usually only occurs if the dog has eaten massive quantities of cicadas. Two or three cicadas are very unlikely to cause any problems.

If there's one silver lining to Shelah Stutts' story, it's her willingness to warn other pet owners that cicadas may not be as harmless as people think. Shelah took time during a recent vacation to share her story; she felt it was that important to get the word out. Then there's Charlie. Charlie, also a labradoodle, found his forever home with the Stutts after they lost Bella. The Stutts, along with Charlie, currently reside in Florence, Alabama. As for the cicadas emerging in abundance this year, they've elected to admire them from a distance.

Charlie, owned by Shelah Stutts, Florence, AlPhoto byStutts (used with permission)

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