Asian lady beetles in a dog’s mouth? Here’s what happens:
This article on Snopes links to and quotes from a paper by Ian Stocks and Derek Lindsey published in 2008. The paper is pretty well known in veterinary circles. It details a case study of a dog who suffered injury to his mouth after Asian lady beetles became embedded in it. Here is the abstract of the paper:
Snopes manages to muddy the waters a bit with its analysis (below), which illustrates that the author does not know the meaning of the words “mucus” and “mucosa.”
Although Snopes, of course, is right on the first count, the beetles were not embedded in mucus. They were embedded in mucosa, which is the name for the soft pink tissue that lines body cavities such as the mouth.
What will Asian lady beetles do to your dog?
So, just how much of a risk do Asian lady beetles pose to your dog? Are the beetles attacking dogs’ mouths when they are sleeping? When they are panting? When they are minding their own business?
Almost certainly not. It is true that veterinarians have reported problems — ranging from mild gastrointestinal upset and ulcers in the mouth to intestinal ulceration, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, and death — from dog and Asian lady beetle interactions. But the beetles aren’t attacking the dogs. It’s the other way around.
The Asian lady beetles in the various photographs circulating on Facebook and Snopes most likely ended up in the dog’s mouths when the dogs tried to eat them. Large masses of Asian lady beetles may be found in structures and dwellings at certain times. Dogs, being dogs, may eat large quantities of them when they find them. Some of the beetles may hang on and become embedded in the mouth when this happens.
More specifically, thereâs a species of invasive ladybug, the Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis), that poses a danger to dogs. Although encounters are rare, in 2016, a Kansas veterinarian reported a sudden increase in cases of dogs with dozens of these insects inside their mouths, sparking a viral panic. These bugs can be found across the United States, including Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and the northeast.
The beetles secrete a smelly goo as a natural defense mechanism, and veterinarians believe that slime allows them to cling inside a dogâs mouth to avoid being eaten. While the bugs may cause irritation or minor chemical burns to the dogâs mouth because of these toxins, pet parents shouldnât worry about their pup being poisoned.
Some pet parents have been able to remove the insects themselves using tweezers or a wooden tongue depressor. Depending on your skills, and your dogâs willingness to allow you to work on their mouth, you may be able to remove them at home. Donât hesitate to talk to your veterinarian if your dog shows signs or unusual symptoms, regardless of whether you spot any of these pesky bugs.
Karen B. London, Ph.D., is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer who specializes in working with dogs with serious behavioral issues, including aggression, and has also trained other animals including cats, birds, snakes, and insects. She writes the animal column for the Arizona Daily Sun and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University. She is the author of six books about training and behavior, including her most recent, Treat Everyone Like a Dog: How a Dog Trainerâs World View Can Improve Your Life.
Letâs start by saying Asian lady beetles are not the same as the sweet garden ladybug you know and love. But the two do look incredibly similar. Fortunately, thereâs a simple way to spot the difference: just look at the area between the head and the abdomen (called the pronotum). On a regular ladybug, the pronotum is black with small white spots, but on a multicolored Asian lady beetle, it is often primarily white with black spots, in a âWâ or âMâ shape. These beetles are a nuisance and often swarm and form clusters, especially in the fall, when it begins to cool. Homeowners have found these bugs congregating in their walls, attics, and ceilings.
unexpected insect that may attack your dog
A picture of Asian lady beetles embedded inside a dog’s mouth is circulating social media, but don’t let this picture worry you.
Over the past few days, many Facebook users may have come across an that appears to show ladybugs embedded inside the roof of a dog’s mouth.
The wording of the original post by the Hands & Paws Facebook page made many dog owners nervous.
When the American Veterinary Medical Association saw the post, they decided to clear some things up.
The reportedly came from an incident in which 16 multicolored Asian lady beetles, not the normal ladybug, became embedded inside the dog’s mouth.
The Hands & Paws Facebook page later changed the wording of their post to clear up any confusion they may have caused.