Some wounds may be small and hidden underneath the fur. Focus on getting your dog and yourself away from the possum. Possums are frequently killed on the road as a result of drivers mistakenly believing they have died. While opossums are often docile, if actually attacked, they will sometimes defend themselves. 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. 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. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. Please also check the FAQ to see whether your question is answered there. In this instance, neither you nor the possum should be touched. A baby possum was killed by my dog last night without me knowing. Possums can be dangerous to dogs, but they do try to avoid confrontation. This puts them at risk of being in contact with your dog, particularly those with a high prey drive! This is the best route. So, make sure to use a glove or something like that. If it is bleeding a lot then your dog may need medical attention immediately, as they may need stitches to close the wound. Call your vet and have your dog examined. Its a good idea to give your dog a good bath before taking him to the vet. Possums are not usually carriers of Rabies. Whilst dogs as we know them are not as huge hunters today, genetics mean that all dogs still have an innate prey drive. Chagas disease is also known as opossum-related haemorrhoids. 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. Possums have occasionally attacked dogs as well, though they are usually not aggressive. You should take your dog to the vet. This because possums are like those stay animals that contains various diseases in their body. Possums bearrabies. Some possums can fight back against the larger dog breeds. "Playing 'possum". Even if the possum contains rabies, the evidence will be wiped out completely. It's hard to turn away kids who want to bring their friends home for a playdate. What happens if a dog eats a possum? This is because they dont usually survive predatory attacks, and their bodies temperature is too low for the rabies pathogens to thrive and spread. 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! 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. You should not try to threaten or frighten the possum as the chances of attacking back are high. Your dog should only try to outwit them once. Rabies in dogs can be challenging to recognize because they often exhibit dramatic behavioral changes and become aggressive. Here are some tips Ive written about stopping dogs getting into trash bags outside your home to help. Body temperature of the possum is not high enough to grow the rabies virus. 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. The wounds should be taken care of immediately to avoid infections. Your dog will require immediate treatment if he is diagnosed with Rabies. If you see it in your garden you shouldnt rush to send it away, it helps in eating snails, slugs, and even rodents. If left untreated, a bite wound can develop an infection and cause complications such as fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. You may have to look at your dog's gums, tongue, as well as the top of his mouth (hard palate). For the most part, if your dog kills a possum, it isnt a cause for concern. These treatments would be most effective in cases where your dog is extremely pained. If an animal is threatened, it may play possum, show its teeth, or bite in self-defense; this is what any animal would do. While most dogs will recover without any lasting effects, some may be at risk for contracting certain diseases from the possum, such as rabies or leptospirosis. Its critical for them to play dead in order to protect themselves from predators. We were a little confused at first because what he had in his mouth looked like a stuffed animal. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that she had a baby possum in her mouth. Germs and dirt must not get into the wound. To get your dog to drop a possum caught by him, you can use the leave them alone command. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Check whether your dog has injuries on his skin, if he has any bite marks call a vet. My Dog Ate Kong Rubber What Should I Do? Even if your dog looks okay, visiting a vet is advisable as the dog might have wounds that are buried in the skin. TikTok user @dukeofhawthorn recently shared a clip featuring her dog Duke and a possum that latched on to him while the. That was where flies had 'blown" it. Even if the wound is only small, you should still take your dog to the vet as soon as possible for a check-up. Also, possums have a very low body temperature which is not a conducive environment for the rabies pathogen to grow and breed. Inability to swallow with consequent dehydration/starvation. 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. So, what do you do when your dog has a possum in his mouth? If attacked, they might play dead, but they also might fight and scratch and bite. When a possum is hissing and foaming at the mouth, it can look just like symptoms of rabies. 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. Dog bites can occur in a variety of places, including the neck, eyes, genitals, and stomach. Possums can be very shy and reclusive. How To Stop a Dog from Licking a Wound Without Using a Collar (Elizabethan). Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Doubt that the Opposum had rabies they are very resistant to catching the virus. 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. All animals look for an easy life and wont put themselves in danger unless they really cant avoid it. Not always this is an easy task. 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. You can poke the opossum with a stick or even put your hand near its mouth when it does this, and it will usually do nothing! They may see smaller dogs as less of a threat and so may feel more comfortable with attacking them rather than playing dead. But to our surprise, it was a possum! The chances of your dog contracting this infections are low on the condition that your dog is up to date with his yearly jabs. Despite the fact that dogs are not typically exposed to the lethal rabies virus, they can contract bacterial and protozoal diseases from opossums. The content published on this blog is for informational purposes only. Bout the only thing the vet will do is depending on the dogs age, maybe give it a booster shot and some antibiotics. Its critical to remember that an opossum bite wound is the most serious threat to your dogs health. This will also apply if your dog ate a possum. If you are not satisfied, they will inform you immediately. This is how dangerous possums can be to dogs. Coprophagia, as poop eating is officially known, is a common, if gross habit that many dogs develop. Though dogs do not hunt for their food, they still have a high prey drive in their genetics. Hunting dogs with trained and/or bred prey drives are more likely to be aggressive. 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. The notes in this guide are based on my own online research. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. But in some rare cases, possum does carry rabies and if you have found scratch marks or bites on your dog, find out when you have given last given them the rabies shot. This is the site where I will always seek second opinions. If your dog had a possum in his mouth, you should not tense. Opossums could infect your dog with toxoplasmosis, Lyme disease, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, or Chagas disease by touch or, in certain situations, ingesting unsafe food. That sounds scary, but your dog should be protected from most diseases if they are up to date with their vaccinations. A possums mouth is pretty gnarly when it comes to bacteria. Apparently the same scenario applies to dogs. It astounds him, and he quickly commanded his dog to leave it. Yet, it is important to note that whilst it is very unlikely for a possum to have rabies, it isnt impossible. Your pup will produce saliva when eating, which will naturally clean his mouth, and water will naturally rinse away germs and residue. Even though it is very unlikely, dogs may pass the disease on to one another. Disclaimer: If your dog ate a possum or has been attacked, please always seek professional advice. If your dog has been bitten by a possum, it is critical that you take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Rabies is the number one concern for dog owners who worry about their dogs getting into fights with wild animals. Theres nothing to be afraid of if your dog died as a result of eating a possum. This is when possums get scared and is what makes them defensive. This disease is dangerous because it can force one to lay down a dog with full-blown rabies. HA! Yikes! Leptospirosis is a disease that can be spread through possum poop. Possums can carry plenty of other illness, but rabies is not one of them. I'm taking her to the vet shortly, but I'd like to know whatever anyone knows about these sorts of things. 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. Opossums have several defense mechanisms, including growling, belching, and urinating when threatened. You might not notice any bite marks unless you notice the possums incisors are 4.5-7 mm wide. Possums can infect dogs, though it is uncommon. Once collected, the feces can then be placed in a sealed bag or container to be disposed of. Your vet may recommend additional medication or alternative treatments. As a result, they usually move on if they see an animal lying lifeless on the ground. They don't have a very long life span. 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. This is the most secure way to go. Can a dog get sick from a possum bite? In this case, a possum may be just as dangerous to a dog as any other wild animal. Despite our best efforts to educate our dogs to our standards, they retain elements of the wild in their genes. I believe my dogs were outside when they came into contact with a possum, but no bites or blood was visible, nor were any of their mouths bloodied. 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. 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. Another good thing is that opossums are largely resistant to rabies and almost never spread the disease, according to the Humane Society of the United States and the Missouri and Illinois Bi-State Wildlife Hotline. For permanent exclusion we recommend putting in an "L" footer. If your dog has attacked a possum, take the following steps; You should also make sure to bring any paperwork related to your dogs previous vaccinations with you to the vet. Just like with many wild creatures, possums can potentially carry a range of diseases that can be transmitted to dogs. If your dog didnt get bitten, You should be fine. Opossums can reach heights of 40 inches in length. Can A Possum Hurt A Small Dog? 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. To get your dog to drop a possum caught by him, you can use the "leave them alone" command. A slash on the tongue, or any cut in the mouth, will . A possum with full-blown Rabies is frightening. Possums can carry various diseases such as coccidiosis, tuberculosis. "Dog- I don't say anything to you when you bring ur toys in the house. 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. The good news is that an opossum bite poses a low risk of rabies for your dog. Far from many peoples judgment, possums can be beneficial to your garden. Consider the possibility that your dog may have bit the possum and that the blood is not your dogs. According to some studies, the opossum has no control over this paralyzed state, which is caused by a chemical reaction in the brain that temporarily paralyzes them for a few minutes to a few hours. 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! Take your dog away from the scene and ensure he does not go back before the carcass is out of sight. Disclaimer: My website and blog should not be considered as being professional pet medical advice. This thread is archived . Wrap the animal in a bag and keep it cold. 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. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. When attacked, possums normally play dead and the predators leave them alone most of the time but not always. They are usually on the go their entire lives.short lives. 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. Here are some alternatives to stop a dog from licking a wound. 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. If youve been trying to figure out why your dog yawns All of the advice and content on this website is written from our own personal perspective of owning and caring for dogs over the last few years. Im a long-time animal lover and owner of two dogs and three cats. 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. 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