Okay to eat moss?

[Cannonbolt]

My roommate's Scotty dog has grown fond of eating dried clumps of Java Moss that I pull out of my tank. He's just getting a little fiber right?

[Couesfanatic]

and a few intestinal parasites.

[LyzzaRyzz]

Wait, what internal parasites?

Please elaborate!

[Aulonocara_Freak]

Originally Posted by LyzzaRyzz

Wait, what internal parasites?

Please elaborate!

Would you eat the moss? Would you drink your tanks water?

[amberoze]

Originally Posted by Aulonocara_Freak

Would you eat the moss? Would you drink your tanks water?

I wouldn't eat the moss, but I would Ferrell perfectly safe drinking my tank water.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[dtejeda.arias]

It's a dog some eat their own poop. I'm sure a little moss won't hurt him, unless you use crazy chemicals and ferts

[herns]

Maybe.

Animals eat anything. Pig doesnt get stomach upset eating dirt. Well, they are pigs not dogs. lol

[thebuddha]

Originally Posted by dtejeda.arias

It's a dog some eat their own poop. I'm sure a little moss won't hurt him, unless you use crazy chemicals and ferts

+1



moss wouldnt be the worst things my dogs have eaten....
but i wouldnt intentionally give my dog access to it

[Art by Stef*]

I wouldn't allow the dog to eat anything I was unsure of. Contrary to belief, they do not have cast iron stomachs, and WILL eat things not good for them. (like dog beds getting chewed and entwined in their intestines)

There are some things WE can eat, but they can't, like baker's chocolate and tylenol.

Also, some mosses and lichens like Old Mans Beard and Reindeer moss can be very beneficial, and used in medications and foods.

Other's can KILL like Wolfen Lichen, which looks similar to harmless varieties. Wolf Lichen got it's name for killing Canis Lupus!

So, like mushrooms, I would beware and not take the risk.
-Stef*

[Couesfanatic]

Originally Posted by LyzzaRyzz

Wait, what internal parasites?

Please elaborate!

Roundworms are very common in freshwater tanks. I killed a liver fluke in my tank a few months back. Intestinal parasite are common in pond water. Our tanks are obviously cleaner, but many parasites have an aquatic stage in their life cycle. I wouldn't let the dog eat the moss. It's risky.

[hunterlook]

If your dog isn't showing any weird signs for the next week or so, I wouldn't worry about it. My dog just ate an entire bottle of OmegaOne flake food and didn't bat an eye (he's a chocolate lab). The one thing that actually managed to destroy his stomach was when he somehow got a hold of 2 full sticks of butter. It was horrible. So horrible.

[fusiongt]

Moss is okay - I'd say if it's been out for a while (you said it was dry) that it's probably like eating dried grass. Yea 2 full sticks of butter is a no no heh

[Cannonbolt]

I would never give it to the dog but there's been a few times where I've forgotten to empty out the tub I drop my clippings into. I'd say he's eaten it at least 3 or 4 times and he's only interested in it when its dried out. Seems fine. He also ate a bag of pellet food. The bag was the only part he seemed to have any trouble with.

[gSTiTcH]

Originally Posted by Couesfanatic

Roundworms are very common in freshwater tanks. I killed a liver fluke in my tank a few months back. Intestinal parasite are common in pond water. Our tanks are obviously cleaner, but many parasites have an aquatic stage in their life cycle. I wouldn't let the dog eat the moss. It's risky.

Then again, if you're treating the dog with a preventative (ivermectin, I believe) like you're supposed to, intestinal parasites will not be an issue.

[Couesfanatic]

Why let him get the parasite in the first place?

Most people are not treating their dog with preventative medicine constantly.