If Rabies has been diagnosed, the dog will be put to sleep, and its brain examined. 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. Ticks are invasive parasites that can cause a lot of pain to your dog and even make them very sick in some cases by carrying diseases such as Lyme. A booster shot is recommended for dogs with possums in their mouths, eaten one or bitten by one. If the dogs shots are up to date you should be fine, if you dont think she was bit. Usually, possum bite marks are easy to identify as they have six incisor teeth, two at the bottom and four at the top. At first, the possum will most likely just stand still with their mouth agape at the dog. Inability to swallow with consequent dehydration/starvation. In rare cases, dogs can even get sick from eating a possum. "Poor possum was just vibing when your dog wanted to make a friend ," added @Subarutyler. This because possums are like those stay animals that contains various diseases in their body. 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. Mechanism. After that, check your dog for any injuries, and then consult a veterinarian. Possums can still carry Rabies in rare instances. Read this guide to see why this is and what you can do about a dog that loves to chase them. However, when possums do attack dogs, this will typically be when the possum is cornered, cant get away, and is left with no choice other than to attack to save itself. 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. Despite the fact that dogs are not typically exposed to the lethal rabies virus, they can contract bacterial and protozoal diseases from opossums. Let the dog get some water and stay away from the opossum. The Best Automatic Ball Launchers for Dogs, How Long Should I Play with My Puppy? (Drawings by Kim A. The possum will try to get out of the dogs mouth before getting killed; this can end up with some scratches or bites. These real but unlikely possibilities are enough to make people fear the disease. This is an automated general reminder to please follow The Sub Rules when discussing this question: Do not comment with anecdotes about your own or others' pets. You can teach "leave it" at home with treats (something you know your dog wants to put in his mouth). Pitbull Rottweiler German Shepherd Mix: A Powerful Trio. Can Dogs Be Retarded or Mentally Challenged? If your dog accidentally kills a wild possum or other animal and eats it, check for injuries and bring him to the vet for booster shots. But sometimes, the answer is just no, whether they understand it or not. However, you will be pleased to know that the chances of this happening are extremely rare. 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. said @DankerBarrel. If an animal is threatened, it may play possum, show its teeth, or bite in self-defense; this is what any animal would do. Since the possum might have been the aggressor and we have other pets in our neighborhood, I put the thing down, and it's still lying near where it fell. Germs and dirt must not get into the wound. Aww! Some wounds may be small and hidden underneath the fur. This is the site where I will always seek second opinions. If discarded compost piles and garbage cans are ingested, the stalks can be eaten. 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. Your dog would have a better chance of getting rabies from a squirrel than a possum.that was a big possumany pics? 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. For this, you can use warm water to wash the affected area. Disclaimer: My website and blog should not be considered as being professional pet medical advice. Dogs are never ill if they eat one, as long as they are properly vaccinated. The progression of Rabies is slow, and symptoms can appear in a matter of days or months. 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. A possum with a broken leg and bleeding may appear to be healthy. The level of prey drive will vary from one breed to another. Maybe the little growl was his version of please? 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. If your living area is greeny, then you might have a few wild guests to visit you. Bout the only thing the vet will do is depending on the dogs age, maybe give it a booster shot and some antibiotics. Those are fly eggs. A vet will prescribe the best medicine or administer a rabies booster. Your comment will be removed, and you may be banned. 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. The best thing you can do to avoid your dog becoming ill from eating possum poop is to avoid situations in which they can consume it. It's hard to turn away kids who want to bring their friends home for a playdate. My Dog Attacked a Possum What Should I Do? Well, he did good because that's an impressive catch. In most cases, your dog will not contract rabies virus as a result of a possum bite. Despite their reputation as sweethearts, we look at whether Golden Retrievers can be good protective dogs as well. 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. What Should I Do if My Dog Ate Wax Paper? My dog attacked a possum; what should I do? I will call his vet in the morning. If your dog kills a possum or any other wild animal for that matter and eats it, you should check for injuries and take him to the veterinarian for a booster shot. You should not attempt to break up the fight on your own. Once you clean the area, use some antibiotics and wrap them up. Is it dangerous for a dog to bite a possum? The main focus is whether diseases and illnesses could be risk if the dog kill a possum. If your dog kills a possum, the first thing should be to get your dog far from it. They can hide well and only make contact with other species if they are desperate. If your dog had a possum in his mouth, you should not tense. This puts them at risk of being in contact with your dog, particularly those with a high prey drive! But sometimes, the answer is just no, whether they understand it or not. Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, and trichomoniasis. You and your dog should first get away from the possum. The wounds should be taken care of immediately to avoid infections. You should take your dog to the vet. Some possums can fight back against the larger dog breeds. However, the mechanism isn't the opossum pretending. Keeping your dog up to date with all the veterinary recommended vaccinations will provide them with the best protection from these types of infections. In this case, a possum may be just as dangerous to a dog as any other wild animal. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. If the possum is clean, as it happens often, consider your dog very lucky and take all precautions to prevent it from happening again. He was so, SO upset that he could not bring the little fella and new friend into the house. Should I be worried? Fortunately, there is a vaccine for Leptospirosis that can be administered to your dog. 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! Providing advice, opinion, humor, information, and product reviews. Possums generally do not stay in the same spot for very long. It was later found out to be a dead cat. 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. Doubt that the Opposum had rabies they are very resistant to catching the virus. Possums can carry plenty of other illness, but rabies is not one of them. 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. Your dogs veterinarian will be able to correctly assess his or her wounds, test them for any diseases, and give him or her pain relief. Please always consult with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog. 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. This thread is archived . Some wounds may be small and hidden underneath the fur. Disclaimer: If your dog ate a possum or has been attacked, please always seek professional advice. In this instance, neither you nor the possum should be touched. But to our surprise, it was a possum! Dr. Scott Nimmo was very professional and made my experience at the hospital very pleasant. Hunting dogs with trained and/or bred prey drives are more likely to be aggressive. Despite the fact that mosquitoes cannot carry rabies, they can carry a variety of other nasty diseases. 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. Pitbulls are powerful dogs and can easily kill smaller animals. The first shot is usually given to puppies around three months old and repeated yearly. I regularly write about how other animals and dogs interact. Encourage them to leave by closing the doors to all rooms and opening the doors to the outside. If the wound is in the tongue, then let the blood flow.Take your dog to the veterinarian if the blood continues to flow even after 15 minutes. Heres a short answer, followed by more detail on the dangers of possums to dogs. 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. If you are unsure, consult your local laws regarding Rabies and vaccines. 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. 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. They may see smaller dogs as less of a threat and so may feel more comfortable with attacking them rather than playing dead. This is an affiliate advertising program that is designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees and revenue by advertising and linking to amazon.com with recommendations. You should take your dog to the vet if he isnt up-to-date on his vaccines. All rights reserved. Opossums, commonly known as possums dont just come out at night. The firstly you should be to get your dog far from the possum. This means they rarely engage in fights reducing their chances of getting or spreading the disease. This greatly reduces the chance of them spreading the disease. What To Do If a Dog Bites You: Steps To Take Immediately. A possum with full-blown Rabies is frightening. How Can I Tell If A Possum Has Bitten My Dog? You may also notice the following signs and symptoms: You are obligated by law to notify your doctor if any of these symptoms appear. 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. Is the Kong Classic the Best Dog Toy Ever? That sounds scary, but your dog should be protected from most diseases if they are up to date with their vaccinations. As I have said before, possum doesnt carry rabies because they are not capable of surviving any predatory attack. However, you can rest easy knowing that rabies is extremely rare in North America. Don't worry, the creator wrote in the video that the possum walked away unharmed! You might also like the following guides: 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. Use all precautions, and avoid touching the animal with your naked hands. In case if your dog has got wounds, they need to be taken care of as early as possible. Though dogs do not hunt for their food, they still have a high prey drive in their genetics. 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. Should I Be Worried? The opossum's front tracks are about 2 inches in diameter and hind tracks are slightly larger. Opossums could infect your dog with toxoplasmosis, Lyme disease, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, or Chagas disease by touch or, in certain situations, ingesting unsafe food. 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. We look at which dog breeds are scariest to intruders. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. They hunt and eat in the dark, during the night. Consider the possibility that your dog may have bit the possum and that the blood is not your dogs. Possums can infect dogs, though it is uncommon. 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. Possums can also be carriers of diseases such as tuberculosis and coccidiosis. However, there is still a likelihood that a dog can contract rabies from a possum. The truth of the matter is, however, that the majority of opossums live in peace. Apparently the same scenario applies to dogs. The chances of possums carrying a disease like rabies are so minimal that when combined with up to date vaccinations, the chance of your dog contracting that disease or any other one for that matter are next to impossible. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. It can also mean that homeowners believe that this little marsupial is already dead and dispose of the body in the trash or by burying it. Your dog will require immediate treatment if he is diagnosed with Rabies. Why Is My Adult Dog Pooping in the House Suddenly? Possums razor-sharp teeth and long claws make them appear intimidating. We cannot believe he did this! My Dog Ate Dryer Sheets What Should I Do? When playing dead the possums body goes limp, and they start to secrete a green mucus from their anal glands, which smells as if they have become a rotten carcass. This can inflict some serious harm to your dog, given how sharp their claws and teeth are. If your dog didnt get bitten, You should be fine. I tried to get her to drop it, but she wouldn't. She just sat there and stared at me with a look that said, "I'm not giving this . Toxoplasmosis, Lyme disease, coccidiosis, trichomoniasis, and Chagas disease can also be transmitted to your dog by direct contact or by ingesting contaminated food; parasites and Protozoan Opossums can also cause toxoplasmosis, Lyme disease, co. Because these animals are so close to one another, they may face a confrontation with a pet if they approach. In this guide I will explain what to do if your dog had a possum in his mouth. 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