Since there are so many small animals in the park, I worry as a dog owner about taking my pet there. However, even though my dog will be driven crazy by them, that wasn’t my biggest concern.
I was concerned that one of the numerous birds there might infect my dog because I didn’t know whether or not birds could transmit diseases to dogs, so I naturally started reading about the subject. Here is everything you need to know.
Birds can make dogs sick, but only if your dog licks or consumes the bird’s poop. This doesn’t mean that your dog will become ill from mere physical contact with a bird; rather, you should take precautions to keep your dog from consuming any bird food or water.
Continue reading to find out how and which diseases that birds can transmit to dogs.
Birds and Their Poop
Although pigeons are attractive birds, they can be a pain if they leave poop all over the place. Pigeons, also known as Rock Pigeons, are among the oldest domesticated birds in the world, having been domesticated for the first time in ancient Mesopotamia more than 5,000 years ago, though some experts believe their domestication dates back over 10,000 years.
Pigeons have served as helpful messenger birds during times of war, and they have also been raised for food. But nowadays, people view pigeons more as an annoyance. In some parts of the world, these birds are also considered to be an invasive species.
Consider the picturesque locations in Europe that are home to statues, pigeons, and stunning architecture. If there are a lot of pigeons around, the statues and architecture will be obscured by a layer of poop. Not very appealing, to say the least!.
Can your dog get sick from pigeon poop? Is that pigeon poop poisonous for your dog?
What happens if your dog eats a bird?
When dogs do eat birds, it’s usually a dead bird because most dogs won’t eat a live bird.
So what happens if your dog consumes a dead bird? Well, first of all, you should definitely take them to the doctor, or at the very least call their doctor to inform them of what happened because they are already familiar with your dog’s medical history and their recommendations will be based on that.
However, you should anticipate one or more of these symptoms if your dog did consume a bird.
If your dog consumes a bird, there are numerous health risks.
One: Depending on the size of your dog and the amount of poison consumed, if the bird ate any kind of poison or toxin, the poison may still be present in the bird’s digestive system and affect your dog.
Two: chlamydia psittaci, histoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, botulism (in ducks and gulls), or, worst of all, salmonella
Side Effects of Eating Bird Poop
The thing is:
The type of bird that produced the poop will largely determine how it makes you feel. There is absolutely no risk if it’s a house bird. Pet birds are typically immunized, disease-free, and in generally good health. Therefore, their poop is free of viruses.
If the bird droppings were outside your home, there is a possibility of minor to major health problems. Problems can arise when the bird itself was infected or sick. Such birds’ poo is also a source of bacteria. In case the droppings did come from an infected bird, your dog could get affected by salmonella, giardia, histoplasmosis, and coccidia. However, it may take a few days for these problems to show up.
Similar to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, lethargy is another potential side effect that may take about a week to manifest.
The good thing is:
The majority of healthy dogs have robust immune systems that can combat bacteria. However, the infection may prevail in young dogs or those with compromised immune systems.
The list of possible side effects from eating bird poop is not a long one. A shorter list means that the problems are easier to identify and treat accordingly. Your dog will only become sick if a particular virus affects dogs as well as birds. Certain viruses and bacteria can only thrive in specific animals. For instance, according to the USGS, dogs can contract the West Nile virus by being bitten by an infected mosquito, but they cannot acquire the virus by eating an infected bird.
FAQ
Can dogs get sick from licking bird poop?
There shouldn’t be any issues if you have a pet bird and your dog likes to forage underneath the cage. Wild bird poo also poses little risk.
Can a dog get sick from a pigeon?
Pigeons and other birds may carry harmful fungi and bacteria that pose a serious risk to your pets, especially your dog. You should be aggressive about pigeon control whenever these pests invade your property because there is a chance of spreading a disease to your pet.
Are pigeon droppings toxic?
Diseases associated with pigeon droppings include Cryptococcosis, Histoplasmosis and Psittacosis. By inhaling the dust created when cleaning droppings, you could contract these diseases.
How do I get my dog to stop eating pigeon poop?
Make the poop taste bad. Making the poop taste unpleasant to our dogs is one of the most popular methods for stopping stool eating. One method to achieve this is to include meat tenderizer in dog food. Canned pumpkin, spinach, and pineapple juice may work as well.