Is Birdseed Bad for Dogs?
If you like to see small colorful birds in your backyard, you might have already set up a bird feeder to attract more birds. But if you also own a dog, you need to make sure that your canine friend stays away from birdseed.
While birdseeds don’t cause any allergic reaction, they can lead to some medical issues in certain situations. Let’s discuss why is birdseed bad for dogs, and what are the effects of eating birdseed and bird suet in dogs in detail.
Birdseed and Dogs
If a dog eats birdseed in a small quantity, it won’t lead to any serious medical condition. However, if a dog consumes it in a large amount, it can block its intestinal tract and lead to many health problems.
You must take your dog to the vet as soon as possible in both situations to determine if medical treatment is required or not. It’s important to note that old damp bird seeds, even in low quantities, can cause serious health issues.
Bloating
Birdseed can cause bloating in dogs. It’s a serious medical condition in which the dog’s stomach is filled with air and requires immediate veterinary attention. It happens when the birdseeds start the fermentation process in the stomach.
Aflatoxin
Damp seeds can breed aflatoxin and mold, and these are extremely dangerous for dogs. According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) reports, aflatoxin can cause several health problems, and it can also be fatal in the worst cases.
What are the Symptoms of Aflatoxin?
The following are some common symptoms of aflatoxin:
- Sluggishness
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Jaundice
- Liver damage
- Diarrhea
Aflatoxin can also reduce the natural cholesterol and protein production in dogs, leading to blood clotting.
Bird Suet and Dogs
Essentially, suet is animal fat, and it doesn’t cause any toxic effects if consumed in a small quantity. However, a large amount of bird suet can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, you must keep your canine friends away from it.
Long Term Health Issues
Eating bird suet can lead to some long-term health issues in dogs. The extra amount of fat will be stored as the energy that can lead to clogged pancreatitis and arteries. It can also cause heart diseases such as strokes and blood pressure issues in the worst cases.
How to Prevent Dogs from Eating Birdseed and Bird Suet?
The best way to keep your dog from eating birdseed and bird suet is to maintain your bird feeders. Make sure that you always use fresh seeds and follow the following tips to ensure safety.
- Install a dog-friendly barrier under your bird feeders to ensure that your dog doesn’t find any dropped seeds.
- Teach your dog not to eat birdseeds.
- Keep your backyard clean, especially the seeds that birds drop on the ground.
- Sprinkle some spices under your bird feeders.
- Add hot pepper flakes to your birdseed mixed to keep the dogs away.
- Sanitize and wash your bird feeders regularly (at least twice a month).
- Always buy birdseed mixes that don’t contain any harmful materials for dogs.
- Discard old and damp seeds.
- Keep treats with you while relaxing in your backyard to give to your dog. It’ll allow you to lure your dog away from birdseed.
FAQs
Is Birdseed Bad for Dogs?
Birdseed can be bad for dogs.
Dogs usually eat birdseed out of curiosity or when they’re hungry. Eating birdseed isn’t dangerous to them. A small amount of fresh birdseed doesn’t lead to any serious consequences.
However, if it is contaminated or eaten in excess, it can lead to several health problems in dogs, including diarrhea and vomiting.
What Happens if A Dog Eats Birdseed?
If your dog eats birdseed from under a bird feeder, it can lead to serious health issues.
Birdseed dropped under bird feeders may also have parts of bird feces. Such bird seeds can have protozoan parasites and several harmful bacteria that can cause illnesses, including vomiting and diarrhea.
What will Birdseed Do to A Dog?
Bird seeds in a small quantity don’t do any harm to dogs.
However, if your dog eats a lot of birdseeds, it can lead to some health issues such as an upset stomach. Birdseed can even lead to bloat by blocking the intestinal tract. It’s a serious health condition that requires veterinary attention.
Some birdseed mixes also contain sultanas and raisins, and both of these ingredients are highly toxic to dogs.
Is Birdseed Toxic to Dogs?
Fresh birdseed is not toxic to dogs.
Reports regarding pets, especially dogs, eating bird seeds aren’t uncommon. While fresh bird seeds are not toxic to dogs, damp or old seeds can contain harmful germs due to fungi and mold buildups. These materials are toxic to dogs as they can produce mycotoxins.
Is Thistle Seed Poisonous to Dogs?
No, thistle seed is not poisonous to dogs.
Thistle is a well-tolerated herb for most animals. However, there can be some minor side effects, depending upon the amount your dog eats. These side effects usually involve the gastrointestinal tracts like a mild digestive upset or loose stool.
What Should I Do if I Find Birdseed in Dog Poop?
You should immediately take your dog to the vet if you find birdseed in dog poop.
A small amount of birdseed won’t lead to any serious medical conditions. But still, it’s important to take your pet to the vet as soon as possible to determine whether or not any medical treatment is required.
How Can I Keep My Dog from Eating Birdseed?
You can use multiple methods to keep your dogs away from eating birdseed.
Keeping them away from birdseed sources is the most effective method. You should also keep them well-fed and make the area with birdseed undesirable. The following tips are also helpful.
*Place the feeder with birdseed on spots that are not accessible to dogs.
*Mix hot pepper flakes in bird seeds as dogs like to avoid the sharp and bitter taste of peppers.
*Sprinkle the birdseed area with spices.
*Keep treats for your dogs in your pocket to lure them away from the birdseed source.
Apart from your fluffy house pets, there is another way bird seed can pester your home. Here are some ways to prevent bird seed weeds from taking up space on your lawns.
