Aww! This can inflict some serious harm to your dog, given how sharp their claws and teeth are. 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. The content published on this blog is for informational purposes only. Far from many peoples judgment, possums can be beneficial to your garden. A typical opossum is docile, non-aggressive, and does not attack your pets. So when your dog encounters a possum, is there any risk that they will be dangerous or present risk to your pup? You wont be able to find out who started the fight between your dog and another animal, as they usually only fight each other. Customer: my dog just attacked a possum in our back yard, there is small amt of blood on possums neck but it is still alive. Use all precautions, and avoid touching the animal with your naked hands. But this is usually just a defensive behavior to try and get anything or anyone they see as a threat to move away. George then flung the possum into a trash bag, and he took his dog for a refreshing bath. "Playing Possum" The opossum is a slow runner and when threatened will usually growl, hiss, and bare its teeth or try to escape by climbing the . We're animal lovers whether it's pet or wild animals. 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. In this article, I am going to discuss all those essential things that will help you to act quickly with accurate methods. My Puppy Drank Bleach Water, What should I Do? How can it be treated? "Dog- I don't say anything to you when you bring ur toys in the house. A baby possum was killed by my dog last night without me knowing. First of all, you need to check for bites or scratch marks. As a result, they usually move on if they see an animal lying lifeless on the ground. Either way, its a good reminder to keep your furry friend on a leash when possums are around. 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. Almost all dog fights are not as serious as this one. It is an uncommon cause of oral inflammation in dogs. 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. that you have: If your post already includes this information please disregard this message. He is so cute! Some of these diseases, which in some cases can be fatal, include Chagas disease, coccidiosis, tuberculosis, trichomoniasis, and leptospirosis. Nevertheless, it is doubly Why Does My Dog Yawn When I Cuddle or Pet Him? Usually, possum bite marks are easy to identify as they have six incisor teeth, two at the bottom and four at the top. Possums razor-sharp teeth and long claws make them appear intimidating. 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. If the dogs shots are up to date you should be fine, if you dont think she was bit. You should not try to threaten or frighten the possum as the chances of attacking back are high. My dog killed a possum? It can be difficult to determine whether an opossum is out of sorts because their usual behavior is so strange and unusual. Description. 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. Possums can carry various diseases such as coccidiosis, tuberculosis. However, your first priority should be to check your dogs skin properly if they have caught any possum. 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. Unlike other nocturnal animals like hedgehogs and foxes, possums can also be found during the day looking for snacks. All dogs are descended from wild wolves. Some of these diseases, which in some cases can be fatal, include Chagas disease, coccidiosis, tuberculosis, trichomoniasis, and leptospirosis. An adult opossum is usually able to survive an attack by a dog or being struck by a car. This disease is not only dangerous to your dog but you too. 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. They hunt and eat in the dark, during the night. It is the safest option. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Im Dolev, a passionate dog trainer and expert. 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Consider the possibility that your dog may have bit the possum and that the blood is not your dogs. link to Why Does My Dog Yawn When I Cuddle or Pet Him? If there is no threat of poisoning, your dog may become ill if he eats a dead opossum. The chance of rabies is very, very slim (a possum's normal body temperature is too low for the rabies virus to survive)but if your dog has NOT been vaccinated, you should take him/her to the vet asap. Even when threatened, though, possums have another line of defense before deciding to attack, and thats to play dead. His dog was not an aggressive one, but one day he saw that his dog rushed into the woods and came out with a possum in his mouth. Answered by Dr. Loretta in 5 mins 11 years ago. These diseases can easily transmit to the human body. The heavenly smell of hot cheese, meats, and garlicky buttery bread clawed at the starving wolf's nostrils. To get your dog to drop a possum caught by him, you can use the "leave them alone" command. Keeping your dog up to date with all the veterinary recommended vaccinations will provide them with the best protection from these types of infections. Possums average body temperature is 94 to 97 degrees, making them extremely cold. Thomas shook his head and opened the window but stopped as he smelt something delicious right behind him. This is a clever technique that possums use to persuade their opponents into thinking that they had won the battle, causing the threat to then leave them alone. A pup and a possum had a cute bonding moment in a viral TikTok video. At first, the possum will most likely just stand still with their mouth agape at the dog. Generally, dogs that eat possum poop wont have too many problems unless the dog becomes obsessed with hunting it out. However, when threatened, they might still attempt to scratch or bite your dog. How To Stop a Dog from Licking a Wound Without Using a Collar (Elizabethan). If your dog has attacked a possum, but you have the carcass, you can get them tested for Rabies. 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. Dogs, though, are intuitive and curious animals, so if they see a possum they may want to take a sniff. Even if the wound is only small, you should still take your dog to the vet as soon as possible for a check-up. That is, until this dog finds him again tomorrow . Apparently the same scenario applies to dogs. Those are fly eggs. what do i do w/ my dog, does she need to be treated for anything? For safety measures, ensure that your doggie is up to date with his annual jabs. How Can I Tell If A Possum Has Bitten My Dog? You might not notice any bite marks unless you notice the possums incisors are 4.5-7 mm wide. Ask Pet Guru is a free website designed to assist you with making an informed decision regarding your dog. In a fight, a possum will be able to seriously injure your dog through scratching and biting, and this can lead to many issues or illnesses for your dog. 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? Read this guide to see why this is and what you can do about a dog that loves to chase them. Some wounds may be small and hidden underneath the fur. A Guide to Pet-Friendly Retailers (2022). The chances of your dog contracting this infections are low on the condition that your dog is up to date with his yearly jabs. A possums mouth is pretty gnarly when it comes to bacteria. For no reason, you should touch the possum or your dog without gloves in this situation. I will call his vet in the morning. Most predators dont eat animals that have already died. This is when possums get scared and is what makes them defensive. 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. However, dont freeze it, as it can cause infection. 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. The chances of catching the rabies virus are extremely low if your dog hadnt killed a possum or contacted an adult possum. Even some of them bear rabies, and they are more dangerous for open wounds. My dog killed a possum? I didn't want to clean up the mess that late at night, and right now it can wait until after I see a vet, unless I need to bring it with me. If your dog kills a possum, the first thing should be to get your dog far from it. 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. But if you set your dog free during the nighttime, they might hunt them down for protecting your house from unknown threats. Possum carries diseases like leptospirosis, coccidiosis, and tularemia, and in rare cases rabies. This will also apply if your dog ate a possum. I was out walking my dog, when she suddenly lunged forward and snatched something up off the ground. Customers from all over the country have chosen Dr. Michael Salkin Veterinarian DVM 58,310 times. These treatments would be most effective in cases where your dog is extremely pained. They always ask with hopeful eyes and beg or plead until they run out of breath. 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. Maybe the little growl was his version of please? 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. This is because they dont usually survive predatory attacks, and their bodies temperature is too low for the rabies pathogens to thrive and spread. So that means that if a dog gives a possum them their space, and then both your dog and the possum will be no threat to each other but there still can be some dangers as I will explain below. The only thing you would have to worry about is that if the possum DID bite your dog, then infection could set up. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The best approach if you have a possum poop problem is to be careful to minimize any feces disturbance because when you do that, they can release spores and bacteria. After that, check your dog for any injuries, and then consult a veterinarian. Or Pet Him with hopeful eyes and beg or plead until they run of... That if the possum or contacted an adult possum obsessed with hunting it out his dog for any injuries and! To check your dog up to date you should not try to threaten or frighten the possum a!, and in rare cases rabies unlike other nocturnal animals like hedgehogs and,... It, as it can cause infection but stopped as he smelt delicious... Usually just a defensive behavior to try and get anything or anyone they see animal. 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