My puppy swallowed a dead bird with maggots. Is he okay? What to do?

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.

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.

Hello. Asta should be just fine, although she might throw the bird up. There is a chance of stomach upset if the bird was already dead, so if anytime in the next few days Asta starts vomiting, develops diarrhea, stops eating or just seem to feel unwell, please contact your veterinarian for recommended treatment. Otherwise, her stomach should be able to digest a small bird. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, thank you for your question about Luna. Generally, the viruses/diseases that dogs are vaccinated for are not commonly transmitted from ingesting dead birds or other animals. However, it is possible that Luna may experience GI upset or a GI infection secondary to this. If Luna develops any vomiting, diarrhea, or inappetance I would recommend having her evaluated by your veterinarian. In the meantime to try and help settle her stomach you could offer her a bland diet such as boiled chicken/hamburger and white rice. Hope this helps, good luck!

Hello, sorry to hear about storm. Birds do not carry these viruses as they only affect mammals. Therefore Storm will not contract either rabies or parvo from the bird. However, he may get a pretty severe gastrointestinal inflammation which may cause vomiting and diarrhea. Some parasites may also be obtained from birds. If he does develop any GI signs then have him evaluated by his veterinarian immediately. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello. I would not worry about the dead bird. If he did not vomit it up with the peroxide, then his digestive tract will take care of everything else. As for the peroxide. It can be very irritating to the GI tract, especially if he has not vomited. Side effects can include diarrhea, lethargy, protracted vomiting & nausea. The peroxide can actually cause corrosive damage to the lining of the gut, as well as oxidative changes in the blood ( intravascular hemolytic anemia ). If Cooper is at all unwell today, or in the next 4-5 days, you must get him to the veterinarian immediately. I would even suggest that if he has not vomited this much peroxide yet, then take him to your vet now so as to prevent possible problems. I hope that he will not have any problems, but that was a lot of peroxide to give. Take care.

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.