Disclaimer: If your dog ate a possum or has been attacked, please always seek professional advice. If you find blood in your dogs mouth, its likely that your dog has bitten a possum and that the blood isnt your dogs. Picture. Possums can carry plenty of other illness, but rabies is not one of them. It is not necessary to chastise or physically punish oposums. A booster shot is recommended for dogs with possums in their mouths, eaten one or bitten by one. There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including the severity of the bite and the health of the dog. However, there is a lot at stake. Well, the good news is that possums are usually pretty docile rather than dangerous to dogs. If your dog has been bitten by a possum, then you need to visit Animal Control and ask them my dog attacked a possum what should I do? Are possums dangerous to dogs? Usually, possum bite marks are easy to identify as they have six incisor teeth, two at the bottom and four at the top. But sometimes, the answer is just no, whether they understand it or not. There is no 100% vaccine, so it is better to take the necessary safety precautions to prevent spreading the virus to other pets. Possums average body temperature is 94 to 97 degrees, making them extremely cold. Your pup will produce saliva when eating, which will naturally clean his mouth, and water will naturally rinse away germs and residue. Whilst possums can actually be quite handy for your garden or yard as they eat unwanted pests like bugs, slugs and rodents they can be cause for concern for a dog owner. How To Stop a Dog from Licking a Wound Without Using a Collar (Elizabethan). Are possums dangerous to dogs? No matter if your dog has killed an adult or a baby possum, there are still chances that Rabies will be found in them. Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: MyPetsGuide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, endless.com, smallparts.com, myhabit.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. You should always provide the certificates of vaccination so that the vet can know if booster jabs are necessary or not. Disclaimer: My website and blog should not be considered as being professional pet medical advice. If your dog has killed a possum in the vicinity of your home, here are some precautions you should take. It's actually an involuntary reaction a lot like fainting that causes the opossum to seize up. It is no surprise to find your dog with a possum in his mouth especially if you have a greener compound where an opossum can find a snack. Possums are not typically aggressive animals, so they would not put up much of a fight against a pitbull. Apparently the same scenario applies to dogs. Can a dog get sick from a possum bite? Press J to jump to the feed. If your dog kills a possum, the first thing should be to get your dog far from it. I have been a pet care writer for over 5 years and have extensive knowledge of animal care, health, and behavior. Revealed: The Best Moisturizer for Your Cats Paw Youve Been Missing Out On! They may see smaller dogs as less of a threat and so may feel more comfortable with attacking them rather than playing dead. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Opossums are peaceful and rarely attack. These little animals are cute, and most of them dont cause any harm. Pets may come into contact with more animals with leptospirosis, such as raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and opossums, as the development of previously rural areas expands into more urban areas. My dog killed a possum? Opossums have several defense mechanisms, including growling, belching, and urinating when threatened. If your dog killed a possum, the highest possibility is that your dog started the fight. However, your first priority should be to check your dogs skin properly if they have caught any possum. Your vet will be able to not only properly attend to your dogs wounds, but also test them for any diseases and provide them with pain relief, so a trip to the vets is always necessary after a possum attack, even if your dog appears fine. TikTok video from IAmAlbedo (@ilovekaeya3): "My dog had the gym equipment in his mouth". If there is a chance that the possum had already been poisoned before your dog arrived, you should consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. Your dog should only try to outwit them once. If your dog ate a possum, they may experience some gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea. The good news is that an opossum bite poses a low risk of rabies for your dog. They may want to send it off. Should I Be Worried? Possum meat is thought to be the source of the highest level of fatty acids found in pet food than the vast majority of other sources. However, it is the mother you will have to worry about. 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. Yet, it is important to note that whilst it is very unlikely for a possum to have rabies, it isnt impossible. While its very unusual for a dog to get ill and get disease from biting a possum, they carry a range of illnesses that can be transmitted to your dog. If your dog gets into close contact with a possum, he'll risk getting scratched or bitten. Possums are usually passive beings, and so they will usually ignore a dog until they feel threatened by it. But if you are still worried about rabies, you can test the possum whether it is negative or positive. Handy Hint: My dogs absolutely hate squirrels. This disease is not only dangerous to your dog but you too. The first step to confirm or rule out several causes of a dog bleeding from the mouth is conducted by performing an inspection of the dog's mouth. Possums are frequently killed on the road as a result of drivers mistakenly believing they have died. A scratch or bite from a possum can hurt a dog, and a dog can get ill from eating a possum in certain cases, although it is rare. I write about the things we've learned about owning dogs, the adventures we have, and any advice and tips we've picked up along the way. said @DankerBarrel. Opossums could infect your dog with toxoplasmosis, Lyme disease, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, or Chagas disease by touch or, in certain situations, ingesting unsafe food. Understandably, people are concerned about this. This will also apply if your dog ate a possum. If you need to clean a confined space of possum feces such as an attic, you should wear long-sleeved clothes and gloves, along with goggles and a breathing mask to prevent any skin contact. Make sure that any leftover dog food is also removed once your dog has finished eating, as that also makes for a pretty tempting possum treat. If your dog kills a possum and eats it, he should be evaluated for injuries and given booster shots, as well as to be taken to the vet. It's a good idea to give your dog a good bath before taking him to the vet. Unlike other nocturnal animals like hedgehogs and foxes, possums can also be found during the day looking for snacks. It can be difficult to determine whether an opossum is out of sorts because their usual behavior is so strange and unusual. A pup and a possum had a cute bonding moment in a viral TikTok video. Despite their reputation as sweethearts, we look at whether Golden Retrievers can be good protective dogs as well. The stress of the potentially life-threatening situation can cause the possum to go into shock and a comatose state for up to four hours. Even if your dog does not come into contact with the possum directly, droppings and urine from the animal can still carry diseases that can be passed on to you. But just to be sure that there is no danger, your dog needs to be rabies-vaccinated. If your dog has been bitten by a possum, it is critical that you take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Possums can still carry Rabies in rare instances. My dog killed a possum? If your dog didnt get bitten, You should be fine. Even if your dog doesnt come into direct contact with possum, they can still be susceptible to diseases transmitted within the possums urine and droppings. Next, check for injuries in your dog and then call the vet. This is because you are not an expert, and you can miss some spots. What should I do if my dog had a possum in his mouth? Opossums, commonly known as possums dont just come out at night. Possum feces can spread pathogens, including leptospirosis. Wanna boost your dog's superpowers? Just like with many wild creatures, possums can potentially carry a range of diseases that can be transmitted to dogs. Possum feces are also harmful to dogs as well. Answered by Dr. Loretta in 5 mins 11 years ago. The only thing you would have to worry about is that if the possum DID bite your dog, then infection could set up. Handy Hint: If you have put roadkill or a dead possum in your trash, please secure it properly so dogs and predators dont tear into the trash cans. What should I do ifmy dog had a possum in his mouth? It is an uncommon cause of oral inflammation in dogs. However, it is possible for a dog to contract rabies from biting a possum, so it is important to seek veterinary advice if this occurs. Are Possums Afraid Of Dogs? If your dog is not up to date on vaccines, you should take him to the veterinarian. Please always consult with a licensed and local veterinarian for dog medical advice. A mother possum will defend her babies with her life, and so this possum is far more likely to cause injury to your dog than a childless one. This then means that the safest option is not to allow your dog to get into a situation where they might eat a possum to begin with. Most predators dont eat animals that have already died. My Dog Ate A Baby Possum. So, if you have found any open wounds, you need to pay proper attention to treat them without wasting any time. The opossum's front tracks are about 2 inches in diameter and hind tracks are slightly larger. You should stay composed as the chances of your dog contracting are minimal. If your dog gets Rabies, you might have to put him down. If they have been bitten, do the following: Call the vets: If your dog has bitten by a possum, call your vet to discuss the options. I need advice on what to do on this. What Should I Do If My Dog Killed a Possum That Has Rabies? Possums are very mobile and can maneuver quickly, but their teeth can be quite dangerous. The main focus is whether diseases and illnesses could be risk if the dog kill a possum. It will also include the best course of action to take if your dog kills a possum and how to stop an attack in the first place. Ive been working with dogs since I was a child and have been dedicated to helping them learn and grow ever since. Yet, it is important to note that whilst it is very unlikely for a possum to have rabies, it isnt impossible. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. George had the quick wit to throw the possum into a trash bag and give a thorough bath to his dog, before bringing him to the . Theres nothing to be afraid of if your dog died as a result of eating a possum. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. They have four legs, a pointed face, and are either white or gray in color. The only thing you would have to worry about is that if the possum DID bite your dog, then infection could set up. You may have to look at your dog's gums, tongue, as well as the top of his mouth (hard palate). If you see it in your garden you shouldnt rush to send it away, it helps in eating snails, slugs, and even rodents. But to our surprise, it was a possum! Dogs, though, are intuitive and curious animals, so if they see a possum they may want to take a sniff. 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