My dog ate a squirrel. Should I be worried or what should I do?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Unfortunately, dead animals can transmit bacterial infections and various parasites. I recommend keeping a close eye on Buddy for vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. Pieces of bone or hair can cause intestinal blockages which result in similar signs. If Buddy exhibits any of the signs above, he should be seen by a vet right away. I hope all is well!

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.

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.

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Eating a mouse is a fairly natural thing for a dog to do. Most likely Daisy will be just fine. You will want to monitor for any signs of illness, such as lethargy, inappetence, vomiting, or diarrhea, and seek veterinary care if these develop. I hope you don't have any problems while Daisy is in your care.

Killing the rat shiuldnt be an issue, my only concern would be if she had eaten the rat and it had been baited with rat poison. If she didnt ingest any i wouldnt worry, but if she did eat it you could have the vet make her vomit just in case.

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.