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Okay to eat moss?

8.7K views 25 replies 17 participants last post by  evilhorde  
#1 ·
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?
 
#20 ·
Most parasites are host-specific. A lot also have a multi-part lifecycle with specific hosts for each stage. I doubt there would be many things that you would find in an aquarium that would be able to use a dog (or a person) for a host.

Not saying it won't ever happen, but your dog is more likely to get a parasite from eating bugs or mice then some dried aquarium plants.
 
#9 ·
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*
 
#11 ·
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. :confused1:
 
#13 ·
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.
 
#16 ·
Majority of dogs happily eat lawn grass, chew on twigs, eat wood, and some eat their own poop when they're puppies....
Though dog stomachs aren't bulletproof, they're sure a lot tougher than ours. :p

If nothing in your dog's behavior changes in the next few days, I wouldn't worry about it a bit.

A dog consuming a bit of moss is the least of his/her digestive worries. LOL

- I have three dogs
 
#19 ·
If the dogs hungry enough for several days, without food, you become its next meal. Mans best friend....yea right. A few deaths were related to dogs hunting down humans after Katrina destroyed NO.

Not sure why but I guess it was an interesting piece to share.
 
#23 ·
If the dogs hungry enough for several days, without food, you become its next meal. Mans best friend....yea right. A few deaths were related to dogs hunting down humans after Katrina destroyed NO.
Folk lore and urban myth. Maybe if you're already dead, the dogs will scavenge your body. Why not? Most Americans are fat enough to feed a feral pack for a week!

However, I don't buy that the family Fido suddenly became a survivalist hunter, tracking and devouring human prey. It was a rain shower, not the zombie apocalypse.
 
#26 ·
My two bits:
1. Don't intentionally feed your dog moss or any other random bits of vegetation, dogs are carnivores. While they can eat veggies, they are much better suited to digesting muscle tissue and organ meat.
2. Don't lose any sleep over your dog eating moss or any other random piece of vegetation of his (or her) own volition. Dogs are stupid and seemingly have no idea what is good for them.

If the moss was mildly toxic, then your dog is going to barf/poop all over your carpet and/or new couch and then be fine in a day or so.
If the moss was highly toxic, it's too late already.