My dog sniffed a dead animal on a walk. Should I be worried?

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!

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.

I am sure that was a very lovely surprise! Of course there are no guarantees what s/he chewed on but many dogs do this without us even knowing and without any long-term concerns. I think you are right to keep your dog from licking your child for a while, just in case, as well as monitoring your dog for diarrhea. Be aware that peroxide can cause vomiting in dogs. If you would like something topical to spray on, you could try something like this: Finally, it would be a good idea to discuss checking for internal parasites with your vet as these can easily be transmitted to children. They can typically screen for them with a simple stool test. I hope this is helpful!

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.

Most shelters will provide vaccines, so if you aren't sure of Redd's vaccine history, contacting the place you adopted him from to get a record of his vaccines is best. If you think he may have been exposed to rabies or another serious illness, seeking out veterinary care immediately is also a good idea to prevent accidental injury to yourself, or to Redd. In some cases, eating a dead animal carcass can cause severe digestive upset, or other issues due to the bones, bacteria, etc. Signs of this can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, inability to produce stool, not wanting to eat or drink, fever, etc. If you see any signs of illness at all, seeking out veterinary care ASAP is best.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry you saw this happen. Most likely Mocha will be fine. If the cat was rotten she may or may not vomit or have diarrhea. You can start feeding her a bland diet of boiled chicken or hamburger with rice for good measure. Feed about 1 cup per 20lbs per day for 3-5 days. If any gastro-intestinal upset happens call your Vet. I hope this helps and I wish you both the best!

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.