Ask Your Own Dog Veterinary Question. This will allow the wound to drain more freely. First off, both my dogs are up to date on all their shots, so I'm not worried about them getting anything. The first thing that springs to everyone’s mind is the possibility of rabies, and this should be a serious concern. You should also be aware that pets who have been exposed to rabies are usually euthanized to protect their family with whom they may be in contact. Shame on you. They will be able to tell you how to safely handle the situation, and also tell you if laboratory testing is available to confirm, or dismiss, the presence of the virus. My Dog Killed a Rat - Should I Be Worried About Disease? Call your local animal control and follow their instructions. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'gleefuldog_com-box-4','ezslot_1',106,'0','0'])); Ideally, such wounds should be flushed with warm water or hydrogen peroxide. Here's one for you. Like all nocturnal species, opossums are wary of bright lights, so make sure that lights are on before you let your dog out in the evening. Finding small injuries may be difficult, sometimes nearly impossible, if your pet has a particularly thick coat. I am always worried about everything so I'm hoping someone can calm me down. My dog killed a baby possum last night and a pretty bloody scene. What Should You Do If Your Dog Killed A Possum? Disgusting. You don’t want to trap all the bad stuff inside. True possums (those that are native to Australia) do not currently carry diseases which are transmissable to humans. I went to let my dog outside to use the rest room as i do numerous times. My dogs are vaccinated but I'm worried I could get rabies because I took a tuft of the possum fur out of my dogs mouth and I'm worried a piece of the fur got in my mouth or I touched my mouth after touching the fur. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'gleefuldog_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',110,'0','0']));Difficulty in swallowing can be expected and your hound may appear fearful of water and avoid drinking in order to avoid pain. Make sure your yard is well lit at night. Another thing to bear in mind is that if your pet has been injured, he may be in pain. However according to this info: Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection spread via the urine of infected animals such as rats, wildlife and dogs. It doesn't mean she is going to start attacking humans. 4 réponses. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'gleefuldog_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_11',105,'0','0'])); If the inoculation is current, you should have no worries. eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'gleefuldog_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_12',104,'0','0'])); That being said, it is not impossible that the possum could be a carrier of this deadly virus. My dog killed a baby possum last night and a pretty bloody scene. : Last night around 1AM I heard alot of rockus and barking from my dogs. When a dog and a possum meet, the risk is mostly on the side of the possum, but it doesn’t mean your dog should try their luck more than once. Opossums can feign death really well. If your dog has blood in their mouth, consider the possibility that your dog bit the possum and therefore that is not their blood. My Dog Ate A Sponge: What Should I Do Now? But this does not mean that you shouldn’t be concerned. Should I be worried about picking something up from him? Veterinarian's Assistant: What is your dog's name and age? Posted by 6 years ago. She's wiped out an entire possum family in 2 days. Nonetheless, if a possum feels cornered, they might decide to fight back. Possums rarely fight back, but if they do, your dog may bear serious signs in the aftermath of the battle. First of all, you need to check for bites or scratch marks. Archived. By Josie F. Turner, Journalist specialized in Animal Welfare. My great grandmother kept a lurcher that chased and killed a rat and in the process got itself bit, three days later and the dog was dead. They don’t call it “playing possum” for nothing! Opossums are timid creatures, their usual defense mechanism is to flee or play dead. It is recommended to bring your dog to the veterinarian because you may miss some small wounds or punctures and your vet could suggest alternative therapies or additional medications upon examining your dog. My Dog Ate A Toothpick: What Should I Do Now? eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'gleefuldog_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',111,'0','0'])); If you have noticed one in your area, as your dog certainly has, it is possible to become infected from its droppings and urine, which are found in the local soil. Your dog is trainable. I immediately took my dog and washed her mouth with a hose. Should I be worried? My dog just jumped up at the stuff and caught the bird that couldn't get away since it was stuck at the window. If the rabies test is possible, the possum will be tested and you should have the results shortly. For no reason, you should touch the possum or your dog without gloves in this situation. Also watch for excessive drooling, staggering, paralysis, or seizures. What To Do If Your Dog Kills A Possum? Dog killed possum, should I be worried? Opossums, like virtually any wild creature, can carry diseases that can be transmitted to mammals, and to humans as well, such as coccidiosis, leptospirosis, tuberculosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease. Unless a human was bitten/exposed, you probably cannot get the ‘possum tested for rabies. But should I go get myself a rabies vaccine? The animal should be kept isolated and controlled. He was whinning at the door i thought he had to use the restroom like he always does when i let him out i heard a scuffle on the back porch. Teaching your dog not to chase small objects is one way to stop this behavior. A vet will be able to provide relief, as well as more thoroughly inspect your canine for broken skin, and provide professional treatment, so a visit to his office is always advisable. Remember to remove food bowls and any other items that wild animals could find interesting before retiring for the night. Should I take him to an emergency animal clinic tonight for a rabies shot? My dad went to vet school, so it's pretty much like I went to vet school. My dog killed a baby possum last night and a pretty bloody scene. I ran to the door thinking he had attacked a stray cat again. When i looked it was possum when i finally got him to stop i brought it inside. She is up to date with her rabies shots. Pertinence. The first thing to do is to check your dog thoroughly for any open wounds. There really isn't anything a dog can catch from an opossum- as long as your dog has it's rabies shots, don't worry (even though rabies is really rare in most areas) Ours kill possums… In these situations, our dogs are usually the aggressors. He carried it by our garage then dropped it. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'gleefuldog_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',107,'0','0'])); Your vet may also prescribe treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic, best administered within twelve hours of the incident, to prevent any other disease for which your hound is at risk. The best defense against the virus is to make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. However, it would be safer to still have your dog checked. Should i be worried Dog … If any of these symptoms show up, you’re obligated to report it to your veterinarian. CDCPet MDAmerican VeterinarianOpossum Society Us. Since rabies can only be confirmed after the animal in question has died, it is important to confirm the health status of the dead marsupial. If there’s a chance your dog has come in contact with an animal affected by rabies, your dog will need to be quarantined and kept isolated for at least 45 days. What Should You Do If Your Dog Ate Plastic? You should have a copy of your pet’s shot record at your home, so check it immediately. Where i let him out at is the back porch. What Should You Do If Your Dog Ate Nutella? There isn't blood or any wounds that I can see on my dogs, but I think they just broke his neck. So, if you have found any open wounds, you need to pay proper attention to treat them without wasting any time. But no vaccine is one hundred percent effective, so procedures for dealing with pets at risk is the same, whether they are current on vaccinations or not. How Do You Keep Possums Out Of Your Yard. They have your dog’s medical history and should be able to tell you right away if you need to come in. They are so good at it that it may be hard to understand if they’re dead or alive, which could make testing them for rabies a little harder. She is up to date with her rabies shots. Even some of them bear rabies, and they are more dangerous for open wounds. If you can’t let them sleep inside, make them spend the night in the garage or in a similar place. It is important to keep such animals off your property and away from your pets. Lv 7. Répondre Enregistrer. If you have noticed wildlife foraging around your trash, try spraying your trash cans with a solution of one-half ammonia and one-half water. My dog killed a possum should I be worried ? In that case, building a fence around your yard or making sure your dog is never alone outside could be an alternative solution. My dog bit and killed a possum in my back yard. If your dog killed and ate a possum, don’t be too worried. The time recommendation for this is forty-five days. Puncture wounds are the most dangerous, as they are the most likely to contain harmful bacteria or viruses. What should you do if your dog killed a possum with rabies? In 2015 George Wilson was playing in his yard with his Golden Retriever Gavin when the animal dashed into the near woods for no apparent reason. If you cannot immediately verify that your pet is free of such breaks in the skin, the wisest choice is to take him to your vet for a thorough going over. See files for Dogs. He does not have any visible scratch's or cuts and is up to date with all his vaccinations. Blu and his is 5. The common phrase “play dead” actually comes from this peculiar self-defense mechanism of possums. My dog killed a possum. Does he need to see a vet? She is up to date with her rabies shots. Neither dog, the "muttweiler" or the cocker spaniel have any signs of bites or scratches. 1. If any warning signs are observed, a vet must be consulted immediately. What Does It Mean If Your Dog’s Eyes Are Rolling Back? He then carried it in his mouth around the yard and dropped it at the end of the driveway. my dog killed a baby possum should i be worried is important information accompanied by photo and HD pictures sourced from all websites in the world. Do Opossums Spread Disease to Dogs? But it may ease your mind to know that rabies is extremely rare in opossums. Your vet may also prescribe treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic, best administered within twelve hours of the incident, to prevent any other disease for which your hound is at risk. He was barking like mad so I took the rifle and went to investigate. Your first priority should be to check if your dog is hurt or bleeding because sometimes possums can fight back even against large breed dogs. My dog caught and killed a possum in our back yard. Let … Despite their sometimes scary appearance, possums are very peaceful animals that only go out to fetch food and will not try to hurt other animals or children. If your canine has been vaccinated against rabies, it is extremely unlikely that he will contract the disease. No cuts or scratches, no blood. Share this conversation . Many wild animals carry the rabies virus, and when they come into contact with domestic pets it can be a dangerous situation. The wounds should be taken care of immediately to avoid infections. Hunting is an innate instinct; however, you can train your dog not to kill rats. if you see her leaving one alone, praise her.Make sure her vaccinations are up to date. Not only possums rarely attack first, they usually do not attack even when they’re threatened.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'animalnerdz_com-banner-1','ezslot_9',110,'0','0'])); If a possum bites a dog, the dog must have scared them greatly.

The best defense against the virus is to make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. My dog just killed a possum. I fell kinda bad for the possum but will the mother try Attack my dog The chance of your dog contracting rabies is slim, and providing your dog has been vaccinated, the risk of contracting disease from a possum is said to be slim. My dogs killed a possum! Also I noticed that there was another possum on a wall that nite and it was just looking at me and my dog. and I don't have a local vet. Symptoms may appear within as little as one week, or may not show up until a year later. Upon returning, the dog had a possum in his mouth and George was shocked because Gavin had never hunted or shown interest in wild animals before. I'm worried and not sure if I should be. George and Gavin’s story is the perfect example of what you should do if your dog attacks a possum. Could it be the mother? You should also attend to this as soon as possible. And, remember that it is far more likely that the dead opossum is not a carrier in any case. I figured they were barking at the racoon or the possum that like to frequent our yard. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'gleefuldog_com-box-3','ezslot_0',103,'0','0'])); There are certain diseases that can be transmitted during altercations between pets and wildlife, some of which can be life-threatening. This defense mechanism is so engraved in their DNA, that it’s not a voluntary action. This should be done as soon as possible before any infection can gain a foothold.