Do you like to feed birds? Like many dog lovers, we also love to fill our bird feeders and watch the birds around our house. We all know that it’s not uncommon for seeds (and maybe even flat seeds) to fall to the ground beneath a feeder – and that seed can be appealing to dogs. If your dog is eating birdseed, under a bird feeder or in your home, we’ll get veterinary advice on possible concerns as well as suggestions from dog trainers about How to prevent dogs from eating bird seeds.
First, Good News
Do you see your dog picking up a snack from under the tray?
Don’t panic.
Dr. Jamie Whittenburg, DVM, leading veterinarian at SeniorTailWaggers.com and Director of Kingsgate Animal Hospital, a full-service animal hospital in Lubbock, Texas, notes, “In the majority of cases, a dog eating birdseed is not a cause for concern. Dogs that ingest small amounts of birdseed that fall from under a bird feeder can experience digestive upset, including vomiting, upset stomach, and diarrhea. “
Of course, as with many other concerns, there are always exceptions, times when dogs feel discomfort rather than colic.
Dangers of moldy seeds
Dr. Whittenburg explains, “There is a small chance that the problem is more serious if the bird seed is moldy. Rarely, consumption of moldy bird seed can lead to systemic illness due to mycotoxins manufactured by the mold. If excessive vomiting or coma is observed, the dog should be taken to their veterinarian immediately. “
Bird seeds – including corn, peanuts and other grains – can be contaminated Aspergillus flavusa type of mold that causes toxins called Aflatoxins.
Toxins in bird seeds can cause liver damage. “Certain types of birdseed can contain toxins that build up in the liver over time and cause damage if eaten regularly for several weeks or months – this is especially true for lupine (alkaloid) seeds. ,” pointed out Dr. Melissa Brock, DVM with Pango Pets.
Dangers of eating bird droppings
Dr. Whittenburg pointed out that bird seed in itself is not the only concern.
“One problem associated with eating bird seeds, which is more common than the disease from the seeds themselves, is parasitic diseaseDr. Wittenburg said.
“When eating from the ground below the bird feeder, it is common for dogs to also ingest bird droppings (faeces). These stools can contain parasites that then infect the dog. If your dog has diarrhea or loose stools after eating known birdseed or bird droppings, you should make an appointment to see their veterinarian. Remember to collect and bring a stool sample for testing.”
Dr. Georgina Ushi Phillips, DVM, vet consultant and writer for NotABully.orgNote, “Salmonella is another major concern and this bacteria can grow rapidly after the bird seed is exposed to moisture. Salmonella can be transmitted to dogs and other animals through feces and bird feeders often have a mixture of seeds and manure underneath them. Again, it’s easy to see how one feeds a bird full of seeds and exposure to the elements that can become hot spots for bacteria or fungi. “
Danger due to impact, torsion
Intestinal obstruction is another concern associated with dogs eating birdseed – or sunflower shells that fall underneath the feeder.
“While they are harmless when consumed in small amounts, if your dog eats large amounts of nuts, it can lead to an upset stomach. In severe cases, it can lead to more serious conditions such as swollenincluding blockages in the intestinal tract that can be fatal if not treated quickly,” says Dr. Sabrina Kong, DVM, at WeLoveDoodles.
“If a dog eats a large amount at once, they can become a sticky mass and form a blockage in the stomach or intestinal tract“Dr. Amanda Takiguchi explains, a veterinarian and founder Varieties tend to.
Danger of Suet
Especially during the winter months, chayote is a popular bird food. Sold as blocks, balls and logs, suet provides extra calories for birds during times of low food availability and high energy requirements.
Dr. Corinne Wigfall, BVMedSci (Hons) BVMedSci (Hons) and spokesperson for Dog training. “This is a high calorie food commonly used in British baked goods and as a binder in birdseed balls (also called fat balls).
“This high fat content when eaten by dogs can cause painful bouts of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed and very painful, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Pancreatitis can take 3-7 days to fully resolve with medical therapy.”
And for dogs with pre-existing conditions, consuming suet can make the problem worse. Dr. Courtnye Jackson, DVM, has been practicing small animal medicine for the past 15 years and is the owner of The Pets Digest. “Depending on the dog’s health and the amount of suet ingested, it can cause a number of gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain. In addition, because suet is essentially fat, the dog is at risk of developing acute pancreatitis and if a dog has pancreatitis or other chronic disease processes such as colitisit can make the situation worse and potentially harmful. “
Dr Brock points out: “The main risk of dogs eating suet is that it can upset the stomach, which can lead to vomiting or diarrhea. This is especially true if the suet has not been fully cooked or has been prepared with other ingredients. In some cases, dogs that eat suet may become constipated or have difficulty having a bowel movement.
“Other potential risks include allergic reaction, such as a rash or swelling around the mouth; however, this is very rare and usually occurs only in dogs that are already allergic to other foods or products.”
However, your dog doesn’t need to eat a lot to cause problems. “If you eat a small amount of suet for a long time, there is a risk weight gain leads to obesityand increased risk of conditions like osteoarthritis and diabetes,” says Dr.
Risks from rodents attracted to bird food
When birds release seeds – or even dispose of oily sunflower seed pods, they are creating an environment that is more appealing to both birds and dogs.
“Bird feeders can attract more than birds, and many rodents are particularly interested in bird feeders. Even if dogs don’t eat birdseed, exposure to rodents can create a host of problems unique to caninesDr. Phillips said.
To reduce the risk from rodents, keep the area under the feeder clean. Scratch or sweep the area (we even have an old Vac Shop that we use to vacuum the hull). Or switch to shelled sunflower seeds (sold as sunflower hearts and fries) to prevent the risk that sunflower pods present both in terms of your dog eating them and their role in attracting rodents.
And don’t forget: rodents around your feeder will also attract snake and coyoteadditional danger to your dog.
Likewise, insects are also sucked into the seeds (as well as nectar that can fall from the nectar feeder provided to hummingbirds). “Bird feeders often attract Bees, wasps and other insects can sting the dog or cause it to have an allergic reaction. The dog can also get stung if it ingests any seeds that fall below the feeder,” explains Dr. Another good reason to keep the area underneath the feeder as clean as possible!
How to prevent dogs from eating bird seeds
The simplest way to prevent your dog from eating bird seeds and gum is to keep your dog out of the bird feeding area.
Do you feed birds in the part of your yard where your dog is unattended?
This has been the case before with our dogs. We’ve got a bird feeder and suet feeder in our fenced yard where dogs can reach. The dogs often join us in the yard – but sometimes they love to hang out on the porch and enjoy the weather.
Well, those are the times when they can get in trouble.
While we can manage sunflower seed pods and discarded seeds underneath the feeder with regular raking, sunflower seeds are another matter.
One day, we went out in search of full feed that was suddenly empty. We knew it was impossible for the birds to eat the droppings within two hours of the tray being filled.
After an hour of worrying and observing the stress of both dogs, we found the abandoned concrete block on the other side of the fence. A squirrel was able to retrieve suet from an open supply tray and carry it out into the yard but dropped it as it jumped among the trees.
SO. After a nearby call, we decided to move the suet feeder to our backyard where the dogs had no access. Problem solved!
Founder of My K9Meg Marrs, a volunteer dog training and shelter, agreed with our decision to move the feeder to an area where dogs cannot reach.
“The simplest option to prevent dogs from eating birdseed and to keep birds away would be to simply place the feeder where the dog cannot reach or get close to it.
“An example might be installing it on one side of the house that is not a dog yard area, or putting a fence around the area below the feeder, where food often falls. This is considered a management technique and is the quickest and easiest way to stop a dog from chasing birds and eating seeds! “
What if you don’t have another yard?
No yard area your dog can’t reach? You can still safely feed your bird with a few extra steps.
“The three best ways to prevent your puppy from gobbling up bird seeds are to use garden fence around the feeder, Keep your dog on a leash and supervised while in the yard or teach them good things command ‘let it go’“Explain Travis Brosenhost of Animal Planet’s My Big Fat Pet Makeover and an expert judge on the Discovery+ dog training competition, Dog games.
Depending on the size of your dog, inexpensive garden fences, X pens, chicken wire, or sheets like CritterGuard prevent your dog from being able to access the area below and around the bird feeder.
Drop it!
Of course, despite your best efforts, sooner or later your dog can steal bird seeds – and that’s where the training begins.
“Another option (or something to use in conjunction with the management strategies listed above) is to teach your dog a “let him go” sign, explains Marrs.
“It will take a lot of work and practice to get a good enough release signal to call your dog away from birds and/or bird food, and you’ll need to keep an eye on your dog when they’re out and about to make effective use of the release signal. “
Dropping snakes or leaving signs is not only useful when using around your bird feeder, but also when dogs are walking when your dog comes across something they shouldn’t have.
With just a little extra work, you can ensure that your bird feeding efforts are benefiting the birds while not putting your dog at risk. Finding our feathered friends and four-legged family members takes a little extra work but ensures that they all thrive on, after all, being an animal lover. What is the object!
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