My dog swallowed a small bird. Is it dangerous? What to watch for?

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend that you monitor her for signs of a gastrointestinal obstruction such as vomiting, nausea and/or abdominal pain. If any of these are observed, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Otherwise, she could be just fine. Have a great day!

At this point if leia is acting normal I would not be concerned. The bird will get digested in the stomach and small intestine and it is possible you will never see any of the material pass. I would only get concerned if Leia starts having diarrhea and vomiting. If this occurs a vet visit is best for an x-ray to look for a blockage. hope that helps

Hello and thank you for your question. If you were in an exam room setting, I would ask you questions such as “ is this the first bird that cookie has ever killed?” but I am going to go on the assumption that it is and will answer the question accordingly. Dogs are carnivores and their gastrointestinal tract can handle the eating of dead animals. With this in mind, however, she could get sick from eating a dead bird but it is not very common at all. The best advice I can give is to immediately take the bird away from her first. Then simply provide her with her regular food and plenty of water for the next 24 hours and simply wait and watch. If she continues to eat, drink, urinate, and defecate normally, then there should be no problem at all. But if she is acting sluggish, not eating or drinking, and has no interest in playing, within the next 24 hours, please take her to your veterinarian to make have a full physical examination performed. I hope this helps and hope that you have a great day.

Vinnie is such a cutie! Eating a dead bird can make him sick, but dogs eat really gross things all the time like poop and are fine. Just keep an eye on him. If you see vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, or lethargy, have him seen by a vet. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While he could develop stomach upset resulting in gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea, I think it is more likely that Jeter will be just fine. If he does develop symptoms, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. In that case, they may be able to administer medications to support him until he feels better. Good luck and have a great day!

She will probably be fine, worst case scenario she will vomit once or twice and might have some diarrhea later.