My dog regularly consumes rabbit droppings from the yard. Do I need to be concerned about that? .
It’s important to note that your dog eating rabbit droppings is just a disgusting habit and does not indicate that your dog has a dietary deficiency, which is a common complaint I hear from pet owners. Additionally, dogs are not infected by the same kinds of parasites that rabbits can pass in their stools.
Finding the parasite, coccidia, in the stool can occasionally provide veterinarians with proof that a dog consumed rabbit droppings. The canine is not harmed by the rabbit form of coccidia; it merely passes through the digestive system. There is a type of coccidia that can make dogs sick and then make them have diarrhea. Professional veterinary technicians can tell the difference between dog coccidia and rabbit coccidia.
But if they consume the entire rabbit, dogs can contract parasites from rabbits. It is possible for rabbits to carry tapeworms, and these cysts may be embedded in the muscle tissue of the animal. Your veterinarian will likely advise giving your dog a tapeworm dewormer if it has eaten a rabbit.
Rabbits can also carry fleas and ticks. If your dog came into contact with the rabbit, not only could he possibly pick up fleas or ticks from it, but these parasites can also spread the plague and Tularemia, two very dangerous bacteria.
Tularemia is caused by a bacteria called francisella tularensis. Either eating a rabbit or coming into contact with a tick that recently consumed a rabbit can cause dogs to contract tularemia. Humans can also get Tularemia from rabbits. Minnesota has tularemia, but fortunately there have only been five cases reported in the past ten years. Tularemia patients experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and poor appetite.
Fortunately, there has never been a case of plague reported in humans in Minnesota. Yes, rabbits can carry the plague, the same bubonic plaque that wiped out 30 to 50% of the population of Europe in the 14th century, creating a severe labor shortage and permanently altering the economic and political structure of modern societies. (The nearest human plague case was in Illinois). However, there is still plague in the lower western United States. About 5–15 Americans contract the plague each year, according to the CDC. Plague is spread by fleas. The plague bacteria, Yersinia pestis, can be spread by fleas when they bite their victims. Symptoms include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes and sometimes death.
In conclusion, while rabbit droppings won’t hurt your dog, they are a sure sign that rabbits are visiting your area, so it’s a good idea to protect your dog from fleas and ticks and discourage him from going after rabbits.
Dr. Veterinarian Teresa Hershey works at Westgate Pet Clinic in Linden Hills. Email her your pet questions at drhershey@westgatepetclinicmn. com.
Why Do Dogs Eat Rabbit Poop?
We can never be certain of a dog’s motivations, as with any other question about dog behavior. However, we can reasonably assume that eating rabbit poop frequently happens for one of the reasons listed below:
Although it isn’t a very satisfying response, it is important to keep in mind that dogs engage in odd behaviors, just like their owners (although, ideally, your odd behaviors don’t involve scavenging rabbit poop from the yard).
Is Eating Rabbit Poop Dangerous for Dogs?
Rabbit feces is generally not dangerous for dogs. But we should take every precaution to stop them from eating it.
Feces could theoretically act as a food source for bacteria and other microscopic pathogens, which could potentially make your dog sick.
In addition, during daily life, your dog slobbers all over you and everything you own, so it just seems sensible to prevent poop from getting into his mouth.
Having said that, your dog won’t probably get sick from eating rabbit poop. The majority of parasites and pathogens found in rabbit waste are largely confined to their own species and are unable to infect dogs.
For instance, it’s common to find excretecoccidia (a single-celled parasite) in the feces of dogs who consume rabbit poop. These coccidia organisms, however, are harmless to your dog and will simply pass through his system.
Despite the fact that dogs are usually unaffected by rabbit poop, you should always call your veterinarian if:
What If My Dog Eats A Rabbit?
While eating a rabbit can be dangerous to our canine friends, eating rabbit poop probably isn’t. In addition to having pockets of tapeworm in their muscles, rabbits can also carry deadly bacteria that can cause life-threatening illness.
These microorganisms not only have the potential to harm our canine friends, but they also have the potential to infect humans.
It is not something to take lightly that rabbits have even been known to carry fleas that carry the bacteria that causes the bubonic plague.
Even though your dog’s consumption of rabbit poop may not require immediate veterinary attention, it should be taken into account if your dog also consumes the rabbit.
If you catch your dog in the act of vomiting, it may be helpful to induce it at your veterinarian’s office. You may also want to schedule a deworming appointment for your dog a few days later.
FAQ
What do you do if your dog eats rabbit poop?
Even though rabbit poop is usually safe for dogs, you should always call your veterinarian if: Your dog eats rabbit poop and starts vomiting Your dog eats rabbit poop and starts experiencing diarrhea.
Can rabbit poop upset a dogs stomach?
Dogs’ stomachs can become upset by various nasty germs found in rabbit poop. You might notice that your dog becomes lethargic, eats less, and experiences vomiting and diarrhea a week after consuming rabbit droppings. If they already have pancreatitis or a sensitive stomach, this is more likely to occur.