The odds of a healthy, vaccinated dog getting rabies from a possum bite is almost zero, but for unvaccinated dogs, the chances are a bit higher, even though very few possums actually carry rabies. Possums can carry plenty of other illness, but rabies is not one of them. I would not think you need to bring the possum to the vet. Despite the fact that possums are generally regarded as pests and frequently damage gardens and property, they are not always dangerous to dogs. An opossum's body temperature is lower than most wildlife, so fortunately you and your dog are safe from diseases like rabies that other wildlife might carry. Consider the possibility that your dog may have bit the possum and that the blood is not your dogs. You might not notice any bite marks unless you notice the possums incisors are 4.5-7 mm wide. Dogs make excellent protectors of the home. A possums mouth is pretty gnarly when it comes to bacteria. Ask your vet if they feel your dog is in a high-risk environment for Lepto and whether they recommend vaccination. How Can I Tell If A Possum Has Bitten My Dog? 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. 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. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 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. If your dog comes in contact with a rabies-infected animal, you must quarantine it and keep it isolated for at most 45 days. Thank you for your prompt answer. Dogs, though, are intuitive and curious animals, so if they see a possum they may want to take a sniff. 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. Disclaimer: If your dog ate a possum or has been attacked, please always seek professional advice. Cabrera.) If your dog had a possum in his mouth, you should not tense. Focus on getting your dog and yourself away from the possum. Possums average body temperature is 94 to 97 degrees, making them extremely cold. Possums are fairly common animals, even in many cities. This means that if your dog sees a small animal, they will consider them prey, and then get the impulse to catch and kill it. If there is no threat of poisoning, your dog may become ill if he eats a dead opossum. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can also call your local animal control and follow their instructions for further help. 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. This means that the opossum has a natural inbuilt instinct to play dead when confronted by larger animals, particularly people. They just come to your house in search of food. This greatly reduces the chance of them spreading the disease. If your dog is not up to date on vaccines, you should take him to the veterinarian. Possums generally do not stay in the same spot for very long. Its critical for them to play dead in order to protect themselves from predators. http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/apr/26/boy-bitten-opossum-rabies/, Problem with my older dog -seeking advice. 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. This is especially crucial if you are ever unsure about anything. If this happens, wear gloves before touching your dog or the possum. Please also check the FAQ to see whether your question is answered there. My Dog Attacked a Possum What Should I Do? A possums mouth is pretty gnarly when it comes to bacteria. I'm taking her to the vet shortly, but I'd like to know whatever anyone knows about these sorts of things. If your dog gets into close contact with a possum, he'll risk getting scratched or bitten. Possums, which are mammals, are actually quite immune to rabies. You can find some relief in knowing that rabid Possums are very rare. I need advice on what to do on this. However, there is still a likelihood that a dog can contract rabies from a possum. However, there is a lot at stake. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My love for animals led me to pursue a career in writing about them. Body temperature of the possum is not high enough to grow the rabies virus. If an opossum is hiding on your property, it is likely to be removed as soon as possible. Is my dog at risk for Rabies from a Possum? Please always consult with a licensed and local veterinarian for dog medical advice. 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. The good news is that possums very rarely become infected with rabies, and thats thought to be because they have a much lower body temperature compared to most other warm-blooded animals. If your dog didnt get bitten, You should be fine. 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. Generally, dogs that eat possum poop wont have too many problems unless the dog becomes obsessed with hunting it out. Possums like to eat fruit, grains, and insects, but they will also eat leftovers from compost piles and garbage cans if they can get into them. 2023 My Pets Guide. Keeping your dog up to date with all the veterinary recommended vaccinations will provide them with the best protection from these types of infections. Even if your dog is not injured by a possum, if they got too close there is a chance that the possum couldve passed on a tick to your dog. The main focus is whether diseases and illnesses could be risk if the dog kill a possum. Its best to keep your dog and yourself away from it. She just sat there and stared at me with a look that said, Im not giving this back. I had no choice but to take her home and keep an eye on her until the possum was gone. Examine your dog thoroughly for any injuries that may have occurred. Possums can infect dogs, though it is uncommon. It is usually thought to be associated with other oral diseases, longterm antibiotic treatment, or a suppressed immune system. link to Why Does My Dog Yawn When I Cuddle or Pet Him? Guide to Traveling with Dogs in a Car Long Distance, Which Stores Allow Dogs? The content published on this blog is for informational purposes only. Dont try to scare or engage the possum. However, it is the mother you will have to worry about. Well, he did good because that's an impressive catch. To keep possums away you should make sure that all garbage cans are closed with tight lids, collect any ripe fruits that might fall from the trees. I was out walking my dog, when she suddenly lunged forward and snatched something up off the ground. In fact, some wounds require alternative therapy or any special medications. Call your veterinarian. For this, you can use warm water to wash the affected area. For the most part, if your dog kills a possum, it isnt a cause for concern. I regularly write about how other animals and dogs interact. However, you will be pleased to know that the chances of this happening are extremely rare. 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. HA! This is the real threat you should be concerned about if your dog gets injured by a possum. JustAnswer does not make any warranty or representations as to the qualifications of its experts, nor does it provide any services or website. I hope all will be well. 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. Puppy Playtime Guidelines, Road Trip! This will help the vet to determine whether emergency booster shots for illnesses like rabies are necessary. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Even if the wound is only small, you should still take your dog to the vet as soon as possible for a check-up. Opossums carry diseases such as leptospirosis, tuberculosis, relapsing fever, tularemia, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, coccidiosis, and trichomoniasis. Despite their reputation as sweethearts, we look at whether Golden Retrievers can be good protective dogs as well. Taking good care not to touch the dead animal with your bare hands should be your first priority when disposing of it. Always wrap the possum inside of a bag. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. A possum with full-blown rabies can be hostile and his bites can cause serious health problems to your dog. With some of these having the potential for fatal consequences, it becomes incredibly important for your dog to be up to date with all of their vaccinations. Revealed: The Best Moisturizer for Your Cats Paw Youve Been Missing Out On! This website is not intended to replace the professional advice of vets. This is a sub for professional veterinary advice, and as such we follow strict rules for participating. 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. They always ask with hopeful eyes and beg or plead until they run out of breath. If the dog didn't hurt it, and you can let it stay around and leave on it's own, that would be the best and kindest thing to do. "Possum 0, puppy 1," said @David Salas2266. 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. Just like with many wild creatures, possums can potentially carry a range of diseases that can be transmitted to dogs. This website is not intended to replace the professional advice of vets. Elizabethan collars can cause many dogs to become disoriented and depressed. If your dog gets Rabies, you might have to put him down. The first shot is usually given to puppies around three months old and repeated yearly. Anytime your dog sees an animal that he can consider as prey, he is tempted to chase and kill it. Well, the good news is that possums are usually pretty docile rather than dangerous to dogs. All rights reserved. Heres a short answer, followed by more detail on the dangers of possums to dogs. This is the site where I will always seek second opinions. The kangaroo is the only animal in North America that is native to that region. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast . Opossums have several defense mechanisms, including growling, belching, and urinating when threatened. Even when threatened, though, possums have another line of defense before deciding to attack, and thats to play dead. 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. Those are fly eggs. Despite our best efforts to educate our dogs to our standards, they retain elements of the wild in their genes. Unless a possum is posing as a threat to your dog you should leave it alone as it will soon leave. You and your dog should first get away from the possum. Not always this is an easy task. Usually, possum bite marks are easy to identify as they have six incisor teeth, two at the bottom and four at the top. Your vet may recommend additional medication or alternative treatments. But mom didn't like the little talk back he did. Are possums dangerous to dogs? Dr. Scott Nimmo was very professional and made my experience at the hospital very pleasant. "Playing 'possum". Although there are good reasons for this, the chances that your dog will contract Rabies from an opossum are very low. 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. George then flung the possum into a trash bag, and he took his dog for a refreshing bath. 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. If you find blood in your dog's mouth, it's likely that your dog has bitten a possum and that the blood isn't your dog's. If this happens, wear gloves before touching your dog or the possum. If Rabies has been diagnosed, the dog will be put to sleep, and its brain examined. Opossums can also be used to spread other diseases, such as coccidiosis, tuberculosis, spotted fever, toxoplasmosis, and tularemia. Dont touch the possum as it can be playing dead and it is hard to know if it is dead. Examine your dog for wounds: If your dog has been bitten by a possum, it should be fairly obvious, so check the fur and skin for wounds. This disease affects cats as well, and can even be transferred to humans. Ha! Opossums, commonly known as possums dont just come out at night. And with the largest possums reaching the size of a cat, its no surprise that pet owners are left wondering whether their dogs are safe around these marsupials. that you have: If your post already includes this information please disregard this message. My Puppy Drank Bleach Water, What should I Do? Possums, like other stray animals, could transmit diseases to humans. JustAnswer.com has seen a spike in legal questions about employment and unemployment since October. If your dog didnt get bitten, You should be fine. Im lovin that dog a real possum killer ehh!! 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. The piece you use must be clean. Check whether your dog has injuries on his skin, if he has any bite marks call a vet. What Should I Do? Disclaimer: My website and blog should not be considered as being professional pet medical advice. 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