My puppy met a sick rat. Should I worry about a bite without marks?

If this is a rat bite there is a risk it will get infected, and it may turn into an abscess, or the infection may spread elsewhere, which can be dangerous to Bini’s health. Rats can carry a number of diseases that can be dangerous to humans as well, so I advise you to have Bini seen by a vet to address the potential bite. The area is likely very sore, and Bini will probably not let you clean it appropriately at home. Although rabies transmission from a rat bite is uncommon, it is not impossible, so your vet will need to address monitoring/vaccinating Bini accordingly. She may also need antibiotics, which can only be prescribed by a vet. Good luck!

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.

Oh no! While it's not good Thalia had a dead rat in her mouth, she's a very good girl for dropping it right away. If she did not chew on the rat, eat part of the rat, and if there was no blood, then the likelihood that she picked up any disease from the rat is very low. The biggest concern would be if she ate part of it, chewed on it, or if you saw any blood from it in her mouth. If any of those scenarios apply, then yes, I would take her into your asap. Should the rat appear intact, there are no signs she chewed on it, and she was simply carrying it, I would wash her mouth out with water very well (use gloves to be safe!), and that should be fine. To be safe, you can get her checked out, but just carrying the rat should have no issue. Definitely get her the vaccine on Monday. I hope this helps!

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.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Good job Jackson. Probably not but I would monitor Jackson closely since the rat could've scratched or bitten him somewhere. Rats and other rodents don't transmit rabies so that is not a concern. I would just watch for any areas that become swollen, painful, or have some discharge which could indicate infection from the rat scratching/biting. Good luck with Jackson.

A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are usually needed. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking/scratching. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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.

Rat bites do have the potential to cause illness and fever. If you notice fresh blood from the mouth, even after rinsing the mouth with water, then chances are the rat bit Lilly somewhere inside the mouth that isn't readily visible. An ER visit is needed if the bleeding doesn't stop and is profuse, requiring cauterization. However, a regular vet visit on tomorrow is needed, even if the bleeding stops for tonight, because if the rat did bite Lilly then a prophylactic treatment with antibiotics should be considered to prevent an infection from festering.