cool. my dog killed another opossum.

hover · #1 09-12-2009, 07:33 PM

too late to call animal control. Dog is in the basement cooling off.

anything else I should be doing? how would I know if the opossum had rabies or whatnot? Any "warning signs" I should see in my dog? He has no cuts or anything...not a scratch.

Armbruster · #2 09-12-2009, 07:35 PM

If he doesn't have any bites, or scratches, he should be safe.

Quote:

The prodomal stage lasts two-to-three days. The signs can include behavioral changes, fever, slow eye reflexes, and chewing at the bite site.

hover · #3 09-12-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armbruster

If he doesn't have any bites, or scratches, he should be safe.

thanks. I will be keeping a careful eye on him. just sucks. I don't like leaving him out, but sometimes you gotta go, ya know? I think it might have been going for his kibble.

Armbruster · #4 09-12-2009, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

thanks. I will be keeping a careful eye on him. just sucks. I don't like leaving him out, but sometimes you gotta go, ya know? I think it might have been going for his kibble.

I know; my retriever that passed away last year killed every animal alive, he had a strong prey instinct. Just squirrel's, lizards, birds; stuff that 'asked' to be killed, and teased him 'till he got it.

He actually once got in a fight with a rabid Raccoon. I got him to the animal hospital before anything happened; just to be safe, you know?

Inspect your pooch's body for any bites, scratches, and check his temperature (feel his head; is it hot?). Is he acting unusual? Eating?

Jazz Ad · #5 09-12-2009, 07:44 PM

Your dog isn't vaccined against rabbies?

hover · #6 09-12-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Your dog isn't vaccined against rabbies?

of course he is. I'm checking him over again. I put the oppossum in a crate in the back yard, and will call animal control in the morning. I want the thing tested, you know? I want to be aware of what is up with animals in the neighborhood considering I have two kids that play in the yard.

CityEscape · #7 09-12-2009, 08:37 PM

I always thought O'Possum would be a good band name, and then the logo could be a oppossum wearing a leprachaun hat.

DigMe · #8 09-12-2009, 09:35 PM

If you really want to test a dead animal for rabies then you need to get it's head on ice so that its brain matter will be preserved long enough to do the test. You don't have to worry about the dog so much since he's vaccinated...it's yourself or other humans you'd have to worry about. I believe coons are a lot more common carriers of rabies than possums though.

bc

whoatherechunk · #9 09-12-2009, 09:36 PM

no pics no opossum

BBMS · #10 09-12-2009, 10:42 PM

From another website: Answer: Any mammal can get rabies. However, the chance of rabies in an opossum is EXTREMELY RARE. This may have something to do with the opossum’s low body temperature (94-97º F) making it difficult for the virus to survive in an opossum’s body.

Bobbo 77" · #11 09-13-2009, 05:46 PM

Attachment 139845
This Bad boy was in my Mom's back-yard in Chicago, and I took this pic on Christmas day, about 6 inches from his mug...

Arranger · #12 09-13-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoatherechunk

no pics no opossum

Ha - good one.

Our Chessie put a 20lb groundhog (PA definition) out of everyone's misery some years back. Not a scratch on the pooch - not to worry.

Good doggie!

IconBasser · #13 09-14-2009, 12:08 AM

lol, if your dog is anything like, well, any single one of the dogs I've owned in the past 17 years, that oppossum wasn't alive nearly long enough to bite back.

One dog in particular, Cinnamon, an australian sheppard mix, could kill one of those things in 5 seconds flat. The oppossum population very quickly vanished from our neighborhood once she was on the hunt...

Arranger · #14 09-14-2009, 05:14 AM

Yes. Ours just lifted it in the air by it's back jerked it high and laid it down dead with an instant broken neck. The groundhog never got its teeth on anything.

hover · #15 09-14-2009, 06:35 AM

yeah, my dog is a boxer / pit mix, and tho the most gentle dog, is very protective too...when I say "another" opossum, I say because the last time, a couple years ago, an opossum spooked him, and somehow got caught up and tangled in his runner. And with that, my dog tried to "free" him by ripping him into 5 pieces.

bleearrgh.