Last nite my dog chased down and killed a possum. Is there any health issues I should be concerned with? This happened at 2am. By the time i got dressed and went to the yard to look for the possum, I couldnt find it. I guess he buried it
Eddy I think the Possum played possum! They are famous for that.
My dog ran down a possum and it faked being dead. He bite him any way and the Possum continued to just laid there. Though I could see it breathing pretty heavyly.
I called him off and we went on for our nightly walk. I was thinking I would need to look at his shot records and maybe take him in for a booster Possum are known to carry rabies. But usually they act out of character then and will attack a dog or person, when infected.
Long story short after our walk I release them to play and we went over to check the area and the possum was gone, no sign of him in the immeadiate area. I notice that I didn't see any blood during or after the affair.
Just in case I'd check the yard for freshly dug mounds are sure sign that a dog buried some thing. Is your dogs rabies shots up to date? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
My dogs rabie shots are up to date. I am pretty sure my dog killed the possum. At first I heard the possom growling and making all kinds of noises...then there was total silence....my dog wouldnt even come to me when called (at first i through a racoon may have gotton the best of my dog). I used a flashlight and watched from my bedroom window and saw the possom laying there. I watched my dog bite and chew and carry the the possom around for at least 5 mins before running into the bushes. Wouldnt a possom try to escape/fight if a dog was chewing on it?
Funny this came up. I was watching animal planet's show "most extreme" and they had the possum on there. I guess the possum can make themselves actually go into a coma. Their bodies will also excrete a nasty smell, making it seem like they really are dead to any potential predators. More than likely, if your dog didn't kill it; the possum was in a "coma". Amazing stuff, isn't it? I used to have a opposum for a pet as a youngster one summer before I let it go. I never knew that about them until a couple of weeks ago when that aired on tv. I never knew they actually went into a coma... that is crazy.
I am glad I didnt try to pick the possom up by the tail. I may have gotton bit thinking it was dead. I took some video of the possom from my window. It did seem like it moved a little more when my dog bit it. i was thinking it was still twitching from being killed.....if it ever happens again, i may spray it w/ a hose to see if it wakes up.
When searching for the possom, I saw what appears to be possom feces. My dog also smelled it and ate it before i got to him. It was dark when I searched last nite. I will search again when i get off work (daylight).
Eddie, having hunted many critters with my terriers I can tell you I've never had a problem with diseases (shots are up to date). I would be concerned if the dog eats the feces because of the possability of picking up parasites. I've seen possum take really hard maulings from dogs and later walk away. I wont allow my dogs to do this.
The hose wont work. They are in a state of shock and not just "playing"
you were taking a video of your dog killing the possum???
One of my boys can and will kill a possum if it comes into our yard and he is outside...not a pretty site and not something I'd ever want to stand and watch aimlessly much less video-ewe.
My boy has never had any ill-effects after messing w/ a possum however I do make sure he is always current on his rabies vaccine just in case. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Patrick Hennigan Webboard User Reg: 09-01-2001
Posts: 308
Loc: Boston, MA
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Eddy-
My boy ran down and ate a rabbit once and got a tapeworm. Since your dog didnt eat it I dont think you have to worry. Just a pill anyways to kill the tapeworm.
Pat
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