My dog ate a dead squirrel. What should I watch for? Is he okay?

It is very unlikely that this will be a problem. She may vomit or have some diarrhea, as gastroenteritis (inflammation of the GI tract) may result. If she vomits more than once, or if the diarrhea lasts longer than a day, is very watery, or becomes bloody, or if she becomes lethargic, take her to your vet. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

She will likely be fine. Monitor for vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite or abdominal pain. Intestinal parasites are a concern if Sophie is not on any monthly preventatives​. It should be fine to let her inside with your cats as well.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for dogs to eat dead animals found in the yard or on walks. Thankfully, in most cases the worst that may occur is some stomach upset (vomiting or diarrhea). Monitor for GI upset ([vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/vomiting-1/) and/or [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/diarrhea-1/)), lethargy, loss of appetite or abdominal pain. If your dog is behaving normally otherwise, you can [manage minor GI upset at home](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-you-can-do-at-home-if-your-pet-has-diarrhea) by first withholding food for 12-24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte during this fasting period. Resume feeding a bland diet ( boiled boneless / skinless chicken and plain cooked white rice) in small, frequent amounts. Begin with 1 tablespoon of food every hour and gradually increase the amount if there is no vomiting. Continue feeding bland until there is no vomiting for 48 hours and/or the stool is normal then transition slowly to the regular diet. If the vomiting or diarrhea don't stop or if you see other symptoms (lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, etc.), see your veterinarian.

Oh no! Since we do not know why the other animal died, it is concerning that Sasha could have secondarily ingested rat poison, spoiled meat with an overgrowth of bacteria, or could develop an intestinal obstruction from the bones of the other animal. Sasha should be evaluated by an emergency vet immediately so that vomiting can be induced as soon as possible. From there, the vet will be able to determine if further monitoring or treatments are indicated. I hope that all goes well!

Hello. Other than the possibility of either dog vomiting up the bones in the middle of the night, they probably will be fine. Bones, while not recommended to be fed, will be digested. If this was a large carcass, like from a deer or cow, a dog can consume enough bone to either cause a blockage of severe constipation. But since this was a much smaller critter, I see no problems. Disease/parasite problems are nil, but may be a very small possibility. If your dogs are on a broad spectrum heartworm preventative, they are covered for parasites, otherwise a good wormer would not hurt. Watch for any signs of abdominal discomfort, prolonged diarrhea, inappetence or vomiting that lasts longer for a day or so, but if there are no issues, the bones will be gone in the next 12-18 hours. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

There isn't much that could be passed from the squirrel to your dog. Cases of rabies are almost unheard of in them. Bury the squirrel in the yard where your dog does not have access to it. If you live somewhere where you cannot bury it, bag it securely in two layers of plastic garbage bag and call a local vet clinic to see if they will take it, if not call Animal Control for them to pick it up to dispose of.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It could be that the bone scratched his throat and that's way he has been hacking. Please, offer Wilbur soft food only as it may be easier for him to swallow. However, if the symptoms persist for longer than 24-48hrs, you should get him checked by your local vets.