Despite our best efforts to educate our dogs to our standards, they retain elements of the wild in their genes. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that she had a baby possum in her mouth. But sometimes, the answer is just no, whether they understand it or not. Also, your dog must be examined if they eat possums. An uncleaned and untreated bite wound can contain a lot of dirt and bacteria, which can make your dog very sick. However, your first priority should be to check your dogs skin properly if they have caught any possum. To get your dog to drop a possum caught by him, you can use the leave them alone command. We can be your friend so you don't have to keep catching possums! Although it is rare for a possum to carry Rabies but not impossible. Then join our exclusive club! 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. It is not uncommon for a possum to become ill with rabies, but it is extremely unlikely. Ask Pet Guru is a free website designed to assist you with making an informed decision regarding your dog. If your dog kills a possum, the first thing should be to get your dog far from it. You might not notice any bite marks unless you notice the possums incisors are 4.5-7 mm wide. Thank you for your prompt answer. Dogs and possums can meet. Body temperature of the possum is not high enough to grow the rabies virus. (Drawings by Kim A. Im dedicated to helping people and their dogs build strong relationships based on mutual respect and trust. This will help the vet to determine whether emergency booster shots for illnesses like rabies are necessary. Examine your dog thoroughly for any injuries that may have occurred. They are usually on the go their entire lives.short lives. The notes in this guide are based on my own online research. 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. I would not think you need to bring the possum to the vet. This website is not intended to replace the professional advice of vets. original sound - murda.mel_. Your pup will produce saliva when eating, which will naturally clean his mouth, and water will naturally rinse away germs and residue. Anytime your dog sees an animal that he can consider as prey, he is tempted to chase and kill it. My Dog Ate Kong Rubber What Should I Do? But if you wish to get any help from me, inform me through the comment section below. If your dog killed and ate a possum, dont be too worried. Hopefully, you have understood the above facts and wont have to ask anyone my dog attacked a possum what should I do. 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. However, they could carry diseases such as tuberculosis or coccidiosis. The main focus is whether diseases and illnesses could be risk if the dog kill a possum. 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. If possible, clean your dogs injuries with running water or warm water. 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. Even if you do all these things, I will always recommend visiting a veterinarian to treat the areas properly. However, you will be pleased to know that the chances of this happening are extremely rare. Possums, which are mammals, are actually quite immune to rabies. Should I Be Worried? what do i do w/ my dog, does she need to be treated for anything? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A possum can look pretty intimidating with their long claws and fifty razor-sharp teeth. All dogs are descended from wild wolves. A lady who was known to be homeless (she would always be panhandling near the store) was found by security to be living in a cabinet on the second floor food court area. If your dog didn't kill the possum and never bit it/contacted any bodily fluids, but found it dead and picked it up in his mouth, he shouldn't be adversely affected. Your dog should only try to outwit them once. They have four legs, a pointed face, and are either white or gray in color. The good news is that possums are smaller than most dogs and they would rather avoid contact or confrontation at all costs. Take your dog away from the scene and ensure he does not go back before the carcass is out of sight. So, command your dog to leave it or the way you command to drop it. If this happens, wear gloves before touching your dog or the possum. Dont waste time, and dont put it inside of your freezer. The chances of catching the rabies virus are extremely low if your dog hadnt killed a possum or contacted an adult possum. 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. What should you do if your dog kills a possum with Rabies? Bout the only thing the vet will do is depending on the dogs age, maybe give it a booster shot and some antibiotics. The chances of your dog contracting this infections are low on the condition that your dog is up to date with his yearly jabs. "Dog- I don't say anything to you when you bring ur toys in the house. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. This thread is archived . This disease affects cats as well, and can even be transferred to humans. If you are unsure, consult your local laws regarding Rabies and vaccines. This can youre your dogs behaviour from escalating and prevent anyone from potentially getting hurt in the future. We were a little confused at first because what he had in his mouth looked like a stuffed animal. Possums, on the other hand, are generally quite docile to dogs and should not pose a threat. The chances of your dog contracting this infections are low on the condition that your dog is up to date with his yearly jabs. If your dog is in a state of shock, approach him cautiously as he might bite you. In this instance, neither you nor the possum should be touched. In rare cases, dogs can even get sick from eating a possum. This will also apply if your dog ate a possum. Press J to jump to the feed. However, there is still a likelihood that a dog can contract rabies from a possum. You should always provide the certificates of vaccination so that the vet can know if booster jabs are necessary or not. Are possums dangerous to dogs? Possums are not typically aggressive animals, so they would not put up much of a fight against a pitbull. A deep bite that does not bleed profusely and evades detection may infect the possums mouth. Also, you will need to pay for the test, but it is better than being left in doubt and not having the ability to act until it is too late. These vaccinations will protect your dog from diseases like rabies, meaning that they may well save them from dying from the disease or having to be put to sleep as a result of it. All animals look for an easy life and wont put themselves in danger unless they really cant avoid it. We scared the possum out of the house with a broom. A vet will prescribe the best medicine or administer a rabies booster. Things could have been worse, and thinking that George took some fences and installed them around his yard to prevent this uninvited guest from visiting the house and keeping the dog secure. Possum feces can spread pathogens, including leptospirosis. This is one of the biggest worries to dog owners when there is a fight between a dog and possum. 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. 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. Body temperature of the possum is not high enough to grow the rabies virus. If you are not satisfied, they will inform you immediately. Every dog is different, so the strength of each dogs prey drive can vary, but you can usually expect certain breeds namely, breeds that were trained and bred to hunting dogs to have stronger prey drives than others. You and your dog should first get away from the possum. It is an uncommon cause of oral inflammation in dogs. This can include concerns over dogs getting diseases like rabies from possums, worms, and other infections. Heres a short answer, followed by more detail on the dangers of possums to dogs. 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. The good news is that an opossum bite poses a low risk of rabies for your dog. If your dog had a possum in his mouth or killed and ate one, it is necessary to visit your veterinarian for guidance, treatment, and maybe booster immunizations. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Possums, on the other hand, may attack if your dog is afraid or provoked. What To Do If a Dog Bites You: Steps To Take Immediately. Handy Hint: My dogs absolutely hate squirrels. Handy Hint: If your dog has killed a possum near your home, heres what you need to do to make things safe for you and your dog. This website is not intended to replace the professional advice of vets. 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. What are the main diseases that a dog can get from possums? Unlike other nocturnal animals like hedgehogs and foxes, possums can also be found during the day looking for snacks. The only thing you would have to worry about is that if the possum DID bite your dog, then infection could set up. Those are fly eggs. To add to the illusion, they also emit a gross smell from their body that is supposed to replicate the smell of a rotting corpse. This will also be safe for you as it can spread infections to you. Take the possum with you to the vet. That then means that possums will generally avoid homes where they are dogs unless they are hungry, and your yard provides a source of food. While they will generally avoid confrontation, there have been instances of possums attacking a dog. The possum will try to get out of the dogs mouth before getting killed; this can end up with some scratches or bites. Disclaimer: My website and blog should not be considered as being professional pet medical advice. In the remainder of this guide, I will explain some of the potential risks of your dog killing a possum and whether you should be worried, or when. Doubt that the Opposum had rabies they are very resistant to catching the virus. Cadcom, wow! Dr. Scott Nimmo was very professional and made my experience at the hospital very pleasant. Far from many peoples judgment, possums can be beneficial to your garden. Well, the good news is that possums are usually pretty docile rather than dangerous to dogs. It is the safest option. Chagas disease is also known as opossum-related haemorrhoids. 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. After that, check your dog for any injuries, and then consult a veterinarian. If you cant remember, call your vet, he/she must have a record, and they know what to do or what medication is going to be suitable for them. Possums can be very shy and reclusive. Disclaimer: My website and blog should not be considered as being professional pet medical advice. They can get rabies, though it is rare because of the low body temperature. If your dog has blood in its mouth, consider the possibility that your dog bit the possum and therefore that is not their blood. Opossum are usually not aggressive, so you may be able to help them on their way by gently nudging them with a broom. In most cases, your dog will not contract rabies virus as a result of a possum bite. If an opossum is hiding on your property, it is likely to be removed as soon as possible. Im a long-time animal lover and owner of two dogs and three cats. Every now and then, an opossum will get into a house through a pet door. His dogs initial treatment seemed to be going well, but George took him to the vet to be sure he hadnt caught rabies. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Also, possums have a very low body temperature which is not a conducive environment for the rabies pathogen to grow and breed. A quick but stern "leave it" after, Gavin had given up on his prey. They will have your dogs medical history. Next, check for injuries in your dog and then call the vet. Opossums, commonly known as possums dont just come out at night. Rabies in dogs can be challenging to recognize because they often exhibit dramatic behavioral changes and become aggressive. Im lovin that dog a real possum killer ehh!! Follow the instructions of your local animal control. Its important to know that the possum doesnt choose to respond in this way; its a biological response to the severe threat which causes it. The DoggySaurus website works as a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Read this guide to see why this is and what you can do about a dog that loves to chase them. It will give you peace of mind. In fact, the most common way a possum reacts to danger is to pass out or play dead as it is known. Usually, possum bite marks are easy to identify as they have six incisor teeth, two at the bottom and four at the top. Possums can infect dogs, though it is uncommon. However, there is a lot at stake. If your dog is eating feces excessively, you should consult a veterinarian. You could potentially be forced to use physical force to protect your pet if you are unable to do so. However, their most famous defense mechanism is "playing 'possum," similar to playing dead. The opossum's front tracks are about 2 inches in diameter and hind tracks are slightly larger. The conditions which can be passed from a possum include: You can be pretty sure that possums also carry fleas, though ticks tend not to be a problem, and thats because its estimated that one possum can eat up to 5,000 ticks in a 2 to 3-month period! Possums razor-sharp teeth and long claws make them appear intimidating. In the remainder of this guide, I will explain some of the potential risks of your dog killing a possum and whether you should be worried, or when. 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? If your dog didnt get bitten, You should be fine. This is because you are not an expert, and you can miss some spots. You may also notice the following signs and symptoms: You are obligated by law to notify your doctor if any of these symptoms appear. Is it dangerous for a dog to bite a possum? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The opossum's long tail often leaves drag marks in snow or mud. "What should I do if a possum bit my dog?" Clean the wound and watch for any signs of infection. 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. You should stay composed as the chances of your dog contracting are minimal. Please always consult with a licensed and local veterinarian for dog medical advice. An adult opossum is usually able to survive an attack by a dog or being struck by a car. Whilst dogs as we know them are not as huge hunters today, genetics mean that all dogs still have an innate prey drive. 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. Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, and trichomoniasis. Efforts to educate our dogs to our standards, they retain elements of the possum to grow and.! Or the way you command to drop a possum to become ill with rabies ill. 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