The Great Dog vs. Mealworm Incident

[brandi]

Just another day at my house. Figured I would share the story...

Finaly got sick of crickets and decided to start a mealwork colony. So I got my tubs and added about 6 cups of oats, some wheat bran, a couple pieces of bread, carrots for moisture, and then dumped in about 200 mealies.

Now, I prepared all this on my kitchen table, since I don't really have anywhere else to do it. We don't eat there, I just pile all the bug stuff there. Well I figured they would be fine sitting the tubs on the table until I found a permanent location for them. :wall: Oh such foolish thoughts.

Came back a few hours later only to find two empty tubs on the floor, and my beloved German Shepherd curled up in corner with that "Oh gawd I don't feel so good" look on her face. :8o She looked so miserable I couldn't even scold her. I gave her some pepto bismol but oh she has got to be miserable!

I guess I will be sticking to the evil crickets for a while.

YUCK!

 

[Texas Blonde]

Im sorry for your dog, I hope shes ok. I dont know if the oats could expand in her stomach, but that could cause some complications. Colic can be fatal in dogs, expecially if they twist a gut.

Maybe you should try roaches next time, lol.

 

[Kriegan]

Oh no, she ate the whole tubs! What's her behaviour right now, is she active? Do you think she'll be ok just with the pepto bismol? I'm no dog expert but if she's not active by tomorrow, i would send her to the vet for examination.

 

[What]

taker her outside and let her eat some grass.

it will make her throw up and hopefully avoid any serious complications.

 

[brandi]

Thanks guys, I called my vet first thing and she prescribed the pepto. She is still miserable, but appears to be eliminating normally. She is on a BARF diet, so her digestive system is a lot stronger than say a kibble fed dog's. Yep, I'm thinking roaches are a better way to go anyway, I just have to figure out a way to keep her out of them!

 

[Texas Blonde]

Yep, I'm thinking roaches are a better way to go anyway, I just have to figure out a way to keep her out of them!

This is actually a more serious concern than you may think. I cannot allow my dogs anywhere near my roach containers, they are absolutely facinated by them. Given any opportunity, the bin is on its side, the the dog is trying to get in to get at the roaches. Since you have a much larger dog than I do (I have a Chihuahua) be extra careful how you house the roaches, and where you put them!

 

[brandi]

Thanks for the warning Texas, I think I am going to have to wait until I can clean out a closet and house them in there. Maybe I can clean out the whole linnen closet and keep all the inverts in there. If I got a small space heater with a thermostadt, I would think it would keep everybody warm enough. Has anyone else tried this?