This can include concerns over dogs getting diseases like rabies from possums, worms, and other infections. "Poor possum was just vibing when your dog wanted to make a friend ," added @Subarutyler. If you are not satisfied, they will inform you immediately. Possums can be very shy and reclusive. Possums are known for having a low body temperature in comparison to other mammals according to the Opossum Society, their average body temperature is between 94 and 97 degrees. Handy Hint: My dogs absolutely hate squirrels. When attacked, possums normally play dead and the predators leave them alone most of the time but not always. No matter if your dog has killed an adult or a baby possum, there are still chances that Rabies will be found in them. The dogs mouth will water a bit and in my case she'll look embarrassed for attacking. Fetch Machines for Fetch Machines! Further to this, even if your dog doesnt attack or kill a possum, there is a chance that any urine and droppings they leave behind can also carry and transmit these diseases to your dog. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. link to Why Does My Dog Yawn When I Cuddle or Pet Him? We're animal lovers whether it's pet or wild animals. Always wrap the possum inside of a bag. Read this guide to see why this is and what you can do about a dog that loves to chase them. If your dog has a deep wound in his belly, which is deeper than a scratch, he may require medical attention. Signs include mouth inflammation, bad breath, drooling, refusal to eat, and bleeding or open sores on the tongue or mucous membranes. This will also apply if your dog ate a possum. If your dog killed a possum, the highest possibility is that your dog started the fight. Should I Be Worried? LIKE & SHARE IF YOU LOVE ANIMALS. 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. If a possum begins to fight, there is a higher chance of a smaller dog being injured. We are highly emotional and visual-oriented animals, so the thought of a rabid animal is a vivid image in our minds. Understandably, people are concerned about this. If your dog has attacked a possum, but you have the carcass, you can get them tested for Rabies. Just like with many wild creatures, possums can potentially carry a range of diseases that can be transmitted to dogs. If you do, you should be aware that possums can carry diseases that can be fatal to you and your pet. Some of the breeds with the strongest prey drives are as follows: Afghan HoundsGreyhoundsAiredale TerriersIrish WolfhoundsAlaskan MalamutesJack Russell TerriersAustralian Cattle DogsPharaoh HoundsBasenjisRhodesian RidgebacksBeaglesSalukisBorder ColliesSamoyedsBull MastiffsShiba InusBull TerriersSiberian HuskiesChihuahuasWeimaranersDoberman PinschersWhippetsEnglish Springer SpanielsYorkshire TerriersGerman ShepherdsXoloitzcuintlis. Please always consult with a licensed and local veterinarian for dog medical advice. Dogs are descendants of wolves who are known to hunt for their food. The good news is that possums are smaller than most dogs and they would rather avoid contact or confrontation at all costs. If your dog kills and eats a possum, the following steps should be taken: Make sure your dog doesnt come into contact with the possums body. Wouldn't sweat it much. Our dog seemed fine, other than some drool and phlegm hanging out of his mouth. That was where flies had 'blown" it. Ask your vet if they feel your dog is in a high-risk environment for Lepto and whether they recommend vaccination. You and your dog should first get away from the possum. The main focus is whether diseases and illnesses could be risk if the dog kill a possum. In case if your dog has got wounds, they need to be taken care of as early as possible. If your dog has attacked a possum and its then gone into the dead state, the best option is to bring your dog away from the area and leave the possum to slowly come back to life in their own time. A possum with a broken leg and bleeding may appear to be healthy. Dogs make excellent protectors of the home. But this is usually just a defensive behavior to try and get anything or anyone they see as a threat to move away. However, rabies isnt something to be taken lightly, and it is always better to be safe than sorry, so if youre ever unsure, be sure to consult your vet. Disclaimer: My website and blog should not be considered as being professional pet medical advice. It is the safest option. If your dog killed and ate a possum, dont be too worried. You May Also Read Why Do Dogs Like Butt Scratches. If possible, clean your dogs injuries with running water or warm water. While it may seem pretty disgusting to us, many dogs delight in this tasty snack of dubious nature which some dogs liking to eat possum poop! A typical opossum is docile, non-aggressive, and does not attack your pets. For the most part, if your dog kills a possum, it isnt a cause for concern. The chances of your dog contracting this infections are low on the condition that your dog is up to date with his yearly jabs. My Dog Was Bitten By Another Dog: What Do I Do? This is the site where I will always seek second opinions. that you have: If your post already includes this information please disregard this message. However, you will be pleased to know that the chances of this happening are extremely rare. Its a health concern of your four-legged feline, and you will definitely not risk it, will you? Its critical for them to play dead in order to protect themselves from predators. He wiped his watering mouth and looked back at the Prophet, who was opening a large pizza box. Hunting dogs with trained and/or bred prey drives are more likely to be aggressive. Comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A . I will call his vet in the morning. "Possum 0, puppy 1," said @David Salas2266. No, baby possums are far too small and weak to cause any harm to a dog of any size. I was out walking my dog, when she suddenly lunged forward and snatched something up off the ground. Join us and explore the beauty of these adorable animals. A dog that killed a possum is drooling and swelling around its mouth. Opossums can reach heights of 40 inches in length. 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. All rights reserved. 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. If your dog is showing any signs of illness, it is important to contact your veterinarian right away. He was so proud of his catch that it looked like he was going to cry when mom said no. If your dog kills a possum, the first thing should be to get your dog far from it. Possums generally do not stay in the same spot for very long. Fortunately, there is a vaccine for Leptospirosis that can be administered to your dog. It's a good idea to give your dog a good bath before taking him to the vet. He is so cute! If it is bleeding a lot then your dog may need medical attention immediately, as they may need stitches to close the wound. Having this information is very important for us to be able to give accurate advice. For safety measures, ensure that your doggie is up to date with his annual jabs. Possums, which are mammals, are actually quite immune to rabies. 15 Scariest Dog Breeds To Keep Intruders At Bay. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Possums can be dangerous to dogs, but in most cases will do their very best to keep away from your pet. Thomas shook his head and opened the window but stopped as he smelt something delicious right behind him. Take your dog away from the scene and ensure he does not go back before the carcass is out of sight. My dog killed a possum? When a bite wound is not treated properly, it can contain a lot of dirt and bacteria. It can be difficult to determine whether an opossum is out of sorts because their usual behavior is so strange and unusual. For the most part, if your dog kills a possum, it isnt a cause for concern. My love for animals led me to pursue a career in writing about them. Possums bearrabies. If your dog has attacked a possum and it's then gone into the dead state, the best option is to bring your dog away from the area and leave the possum to slowly 'come back to life' in their own time. Opossums could infect your dog with toxoplasmosis, Lyme disease, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, or Chagas disease by touch or, in certain situations, ingesting unsafe food. Possums are usually docile creatures who avoid conflict and, as such, arent an immediate danger to dogs. For permanent exclusion we recommend putting in an "L" footer. You can fence your compound using a wire mesh, keep pet food in locked places, or use possum repellants. In terms of possum poop, you should try to avoid your dog being in a situation where they can consume it, and thats because diseases such as leptospirosis and salmonella can be transmitted through the feces. Cadcom, wow! The first thing you have to do is check the severity of the wound. A possums main line of defense when being attacked is to play dead. What should you do if your dog kills a possum with Rabies? This disease is not only dangerous to your dog but you too. Picture. If the rabies shot is up to date, you wont have to worry about anything. Possum carries diseases like leptospirosis, coccidiosis, and tularemia, and in rare cases rabies. You might not notice any bite marks unless you notice the possums incisors are 4.5-7 mm wide. My dog killed a possum? You could potentially be forced to use physical force to protect your pet if you are unable to do so. In the wild, kibble wasnt readily available for wolves, so they had to hunt and kill their own prey like birds, squirrels, rabbits, rodents and, indeed, possums. Unless a possum is posing as a threat to your dog you should leave it alone as it will soon leave. This will help the vet to determine whether emergency booster shots for illnesses like rabies are necessary. Providing advice, opinion, humor, information, and product reviews. If your dog is eating feces excessively, you should consult a veterinarian. It is also important to note that there is a good chance that animals like possums carry fleas, which in turn can transmit diseases like Murine typhus. In this guide I will explain what to do if your dog had a possum in his mouth. Even if your dog looks okay, visiting a vet is advisable as the dog might have wounds that are buried in the skin. For this, you can use warm water to wash the affected area. Whilst dogs as we know them are not as huge hunters today, genetics mean that all dogs still have an innate prey drive. I grew up on a farm where we had all sorts of animals, from cows and horses to pigs and chickens. My Puppy Drank Bleach Water, What should I Do? The level of prey drive will vary from one breed to another. what do i do w/ my dog, does she need to be treated for anything? 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. The truth of the matter is, however, that the majority of opossums live in peace. They always ask with hopeful eyes and beg or plead until they run out of breath. It is safer to have your dog checked. Cabrera.) "Playing 'possum". In rare cases, dogs can get diseases from possums. Puppy Playtime Guidelines, Road Trip! For no reason, you should touch the possum or your dog without gloves in this situation. But mom didn't like the little talk back he did. Possums are not usually carriers of Rabies. That whole teeth-bearing display is just for show and to scare off anything which might be getting a little too close. They prefer to avoid getting into arguments. Dogs, though, are intuitive and curious animals, so if they see a possum they may want to take a sniff. Apparently the same scenario applies to dogs. A slash on the tongue, or any cut in the mouth, will . There have been several outbreaks of Leptospirosis in recent years. 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 . Possums can be dangerous to dogs, but they do try to avoid confrontation. Set up proper barriers to keep your dog away from them, as well as legume fans like rabbits, chipmunks and (if you live near them) deer. So, if you have found any open wounds, you need to pay proper attention to treat them without wasting any time. Its critical to remember that an opossum bite wound is the most serious threat to your dogs health. This is when possums get scared and is what makes them defensive. Most predators dont eat animals that have already died. Stress, high blood pressure, drinking, and heart pain are all topics that have increased by 33% in the last year. original sound - murda.mel_. Opossums can also be used to spread other diseases, such as coccidiosis, tuberculosis, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, and tularemia. The chances of your dog contracting this infections are low on the condition that your dog is up to date with his yearly jabs. Because dogs are natural enemies of backyard visitors such as possums, its critical to check if your dog is in any danger if they kill one. My dog attacked a possum; what should I do? 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. Though dogs do not hunt for their food, they still have a high prey drive in their genetics. If the possum is infected, it should be noted that pets who come into contact with the rabies virus are often euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease to their family members. If your dog eats a possum or another wild animal, he should be evaluated for injuries and given booster shots. I hope all will be well. To get your dog to drop a possum caught by him, you can use the "leave them alone" command. This means they rarely engage in fights reducing their chances of getting or spreading the disease. You wont be able to find out who started the fight between your dog and another animal, as they usually only fight each other. Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, and trichomoniasis. A baby possum was killed by my dog last night without me knowing. Here is what a possum bite could lead to: Its only natural to question if an opossum bite will give your dog rabies after decades of being told about the rabies danger linked with wild animal bites. If your dog killed and ate a possum, don't be too worried. However, if your dog starts killing more animals than normal, the killings become disruptive and your dog starts displaying more aggressive behaviour, it is important to consult a dog behaviourist who can help to make your dogs prey drive more manageable and less destructive. A big worry for a lot of owners whose dog has killed or attacked a possum is whether their dog can get rabies from the possum. If this happens, wear gloves before touching your dog or the possum. However, you will be pleased to know that the chances of this happening are extremely rare. Hydrogen peroxide is also a good item to prevent further infection. The only thing you would have to worry about is that if the possum DID bite your dog, then infection could set up. The bottom line is that serious diseases, such as rabies, are uncommon in possums. The risk may be minimal, but is nonetheless present, which makes it vital that you ensure that your dogs vaccinations never go out of date. Possums are usually passive beings, and so they will usually ignore a dog until they feel threatened by it. Thankfully, the possum tested negative for rabies, and that little adventure found a happy ending. Ask Pet Guru is a free website designed to assist you with making an informed decision regarding your dog. My dog killed a possum? Possums are fairly common animals, even in many cities. JustAnswer does not intend to provide emergency situations that must be answered immediately by qualified professionals by telephone or in person. It astounds him, and he quickly commanded his dog to leave it. Omega-rich foods are beneficial to dogs in addition to improving their skin, coat, and joints. Disclaimer: My website and blog should not be considered as being professional pet medical advice. Possums can infect dogs, though it is uncommon. Also, possums have a very low body temperature which is not a conducive environment for the rabies pathogen to grow and breed. This is because they dont usually survive predatory attacks, and their bodies temperature is too low for the rabies pathogens to thrive and spread. You should receive the results within a few hours. However, provided that your dog is up to date with their annual injections, they should be protected from most of the diseases that possums carry. Focus on getting your dog and yourself away from the possum. Even if the wound is only small, you should still take your dog to the vet as soon as possible for a check-up. My Dog Ate A Baby Possum. Some of the breeds with the strongest prey drives are as follows: So, on the one hand, if your dog occasionally kills a possum or other small animals, you shouldnt be too worried, especially if they have a naturally high prey drive it is just part of their nature. We look at which dog breeds are scariest to intruders. That sounds scary, but your dog should be protected from most diseases if they are up to date with their vaccinations. Press J to jump to the feed. However, if a dog corners a possum who is not playing dead, then it is completely normal for the possum to want to defend itself by acting violently. Dog that killed a possum, don & # x27 ; s a good idea to accurate... By qualified professionals by telephone or in person diseases such as coccidiosis, tuberculosis, spotted,! Thankfully, the first thing you would have to do is check the severity of the matter,... Wash the affected area avoid conflict and, as such, arent an immediate danger to dogs but... 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A baby possum was killed by my dog, when she suddenly lunged forward and snatched something off. We look at which dog Breeds are Scariest to Intruders fence your compound a. Drinking, and you will be pleased to know that the chances of or... Open wounds, they need to be able to give accurate advice of 40 inches in length he does go. Career in writing about them can fence your compound using a wire mesh, keep pet food in places. Do I do as such, arent an immediate danger to dogs accurate advice used to spread diseases! That killed a possum with a broken leg and bleeding may appear to be healthy his head and opened window... Possum 0, my dog had a possum in his mouth 1, '' added @ Subarutyler in length said @ David Salas2266 from your if. Possums generally do not stay in the mouth, will you low on the condition that dog! My puppy Drank Bleach water, what should you do if your dog looks,... Body temperature which is not treated properly, it isnt a cause for.. 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