My dog killed a rat. Should I be worried about my dog's health?

The mouth is not the problem, the problem is if they ingested the rat or not and if they are vaccinated or not, these are the two important factors when dealing with a dog the kills a rat, the mouth is irrelevant. if your dog ingested the rat you must take him to the vet urgently, because of the high risk of rat poison (this will likely be deadly if left untreated), the second issue is vaccination, if your dog is not vaccinated he is in risk of contracting a disease called leptospirosis which can cause severe health problems and in some cases can be fatal as well.

[Rabies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/rabies/) in rats and other small rodents is extremely rare. I would be more concerned with the possibility that the rat had been poisoned elsewhere and its weakness was why your dog was able to catch and kill it. Leptospirosis, an infectious disease that affects the liver and/or kidneys, is also a high risk from contact with rats. Other possible diseases your dog could contract from contact with rats are: • Rat Bite Fever (*Streptobacillus moniliformis* form). Dogs can be infected by the bacteria by biting or eating infected rats. Dogs do not themselves get sick, but serve as carriers for the infection, passing it along to humans. • [Tularemia](https://www.petcoach.co/article/tularemia-rabbit-fever-in-dogs) is caused by the *Francisella tularensis* bacterium. Rabbits, hares and rodents, including rats, are particularly susceptible to the organism, and often die in large numbers during an outbreak. If a dog eats a rat (or other animal) infected by this organism or drinks water contaminated by infected rodent waste, the dog can become ill as well as passing the disease on to humans. Symptoms in dogs include refusal to eat, fever, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea. If not caught and treated, it can lead to death. In humans the symptoms are specific to the mode of infection (deer fly, ticks, contaminated water, handling dead infected animals, etc.) but can include: chills, eye irritation, fever, headache, joint stiffness, muscle pain, ulcers on skin, shortness of breath, sweating and weight loss. • [Bubonic plague](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/plague): dogs can become carriers of the *Yersinia pestis* bacterium if they are bitten by the flea of an infected rat. Dogs do not tend to be sickened by bubonic plague but can pass the disease on to human caretakers. • [Salmonellosis](https://www.petcoach.co/article/small-pet-rodents-can-pose-a-salmonella-risk-to-humans) can be transmitted to a dog that encounters the fecal material of rats, other rodents and especially reptiles. Symptoms in canines include: fever, diarrhea, dehydration and shock. Death can occur if untreated, and the dog can spread the infection to human through its feces.

Examine your dog for any sign of injury due to the fight with the rat (if any). If any (which is likely, sometimes even inside the mouth) take him to your veterinarian for an examination. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid licking/scratching at the wound. If your dog is not vaccinated for Leptospira, take him to your local vet anyway. Antibiotics may be needed. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I wouldn’t be too worried at this point. If Oden develops any illness or odd symptoms, I would make sure to mention it to the vet. But since the likelihood of a disease is low, there wouldn’t be any treatment recommended at this time.

If she did not eat the rodent, then I do not think you have to worry about. Check her small bite marks, as the rodent could have bitten her, and if you finde bite marks, take her to your veterinarian for an exam and prescription antibiotics. If she ate the rodent then I would be worried that it may have been a poisoned one and suggest you closely monitor your dog's mucous membranes for paleness, or have your vet do a coagulation panel to determine whether Lux's clotting ability is compromised. If you notice your dog getting ill, you should also take him in to the vet. In general, it is not a huge problem if your dog kills a rat.

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.

In these cases close monitoring is needed both for any possible wound/injury from the fight and possible poisoning (some of these rats can be poisoned with rodenticide). Any external wound, lethargy, inappetence, signs of cough, vomiting or diarrhoea should be checked by your local vet.