My new dog ate a dead animal, no rabies shot. Should I be worried?

A dog must come into contact with saliva or nervous tissue (brain, spinal cord, etc) of an infected animal in order for the risk of rabies transmission to be present. Once the saliva or tissue have dried, the risk is quite minimal. Sniffing a carcass will not pose a risk. Blood, urine, feces, or muscle tissue are not infectious. As long as James remains current with vaccination, he should be fine. It is always recommended to keep him away from roadkill or dead animals anyway.

It depends on where you live, as rabies is more common in some areas than others. It won't like cause problems. Rabies virus from infected saliva must enter through an open cut, wound, scratch, or mucous membrane. Live rabies virus will not survive for more than 24 hours in dead animals when temperatures reach 70F.

Oh dear! Dogs are bad about eating random things off the ground, and it can definitely be worrying. If it looked like a piece of meat, the most likely problem that this would cause is a minor upset stomach if it was spoiled or rotten. It's not possible to get rabies from eating meat like this, so no need to worry about that :) Some types of tapeworms and other parasites can be transmitted this way, so it would be a good idea to deworm him sometime soon to be safe. You can monitor him for the next day or two for any problems. If he has repeated episodes of vomiting, severe or bloody diarrhea, or if he's acting strange or lethargic, I would recommend having him examined by a vet since these can be signs of a more serious problem. Otherwise, you shouldn't need to worry.

Since your dog is vaccinated against rabies (and if the vaccination is up to date) he is protected and will not contract rabies. It is also very unlikely that this squirrel had rabies. However, should your dog get a fever within the next 6 or 7 days , you should take him to the vet as squirrels can carry tularemia and the plague, which caan be transmitted to people and are potentially fatal diseases. They can be treated with antibiotics.

If your dog is vaccinated against rabies, you do not have to worry about rabies. Dogs can eat stinky things without getting ill. Sometimes they get a tummy ache. If he starts vomiting or gets diarrhea, you can withdraw all food for 12 hours, then put Minho on bland food for a day or two, such as boiled white rice and boiled white boneless chicken meat, fed in small quantities over several feeds and then transition back to his regular food slowly over a few days. If this does not clear up the diarrhea or if the vomiting increases, or if he gets lethargic, he needs to see a veterinarian for an exam as there may be something more serious such as an infection going on.

She could just be worn out but since you said she isn't very responsive, I would recommend to take her to the vet. The vet may want to run some blood work on her to ensure she didn't get into any toxins or poison while she was missing. They will also be sure she is well hydrated and doesn't need any additional treatment. I hope this helps and she starts to feel better soon. I am so glad you found her.

Rabies is always a possibility if there are sick dogs in your area, or other wildlife that carry it. There is a rabies vaccine available for people, however if you are caring for the animals, watching for signs of illness and bringing them into a vet for care right away is best as well as seeking care immediately if you are ever bitten. If you are able to capture the animals, getting them vaccinated can also help prevent the spread of illness from them to you and to other animals. You can also continue to feed any strays by setting out food without interacting or petting them, and then making sure to thoroughly clean any dishes used in between uses. Seeing if there is a local animal shelter or rescue in your area that you can volunteer for can also help you care for the animals in a safer, more structured manner.