Cicada edibility: Everything you need to know about pets and humans eating cicadas

Are cicadas dangerous to pets?

‘No, but there's a caveat there," she said. "Okay, not toxic. These are not stinging or biting insects. They're huge and ugly and that's about it. But for dogs and cats, they're fun to chase after and eat. The only thing that I'd be worried about is that these little guys are going to eat so many that those tough exoskeletons, that crispiness will cause inflammation in the GI tract and cause vomiting, or maybe diarrhea."

While it's good to hear that a few cicadas shouldn't cause irreparable harm to our four-legged family members, I did ask Fauth what signs pet owners should be on the lookout for that would necessitate a vet visit.

‘Vomiting is a more serious sign in a dog or a cat, and that should be seen by a veterinarian," Fauth said. "We have some medications and treatment that will treat the symptoms and, he or she will get through it, and it won't be a big deal. Diarrhea is another thing that you might see with a lot of cicada ingestion -- it's maybe a little bit easier to treat, though. Vomiting is a serious sign and should be seen by a vet."