My Dog Killed a Squirrel! 10 Things to Do Next
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Anyone who has ever walked a dog knows how interested they are in squirrels. Chasing squirrels can be a dog’s favorite pastime! While most dogs will never actually catch one, it can happen. If your dog kills a squirrel, you may be concerned they’ll pick up parasites or get sick from eating it.
In this article, we’ll discuss the hazards involved in dogs killing squirrels and whether you should be worried about your dog after the squirrel encounter.
The 10 Things to Do When Your Dog Killed a Squirrel
1. Don’t Worry About Rabies
Rabies is a significant concern whenever dogs interact with wildlife. The good news is that squirrels rarely get rabies (the same goes for rabbits, birds, and other small rodents).
Rabies will kill a squirrel before it can infect anything else, and a dog can’t contract rabies by eating it. Raccoons and bats are the animals that most commonly infect others with rabies.
2. Look Out for Worms
Squirrels carry worms, so having your vet check your dog for any worms or diseases is a good idea. Roundworms are among the most common worms that dogs can get from squirrels.
The signs of a worm infestation can include the following:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Dull, dry coat
- Bloated belly
- Excessive scooting
- Little white segments around the dog’s rear end and in their feces (they look like grains of rice)
Sometimes, the worms will appear in their feces and vomit.
3. Check for Squirrel Bites
The squirrel may have bitten your pup before they were killed. If the wound seems superficial, clean it with an antiseptic and apply antimicrobial cream a few times daily. Keep an eye on it and watch for any redness or swelling.
A more serious wound, particularly a puncture, requires immediate veterinary care. It will need a deep cleaning and possibly stitches.
4. Know the Dangers of Your Dog Running Off
Even the most obedient dogs can forget everything when they chase squirrels. They can get hit by a car or run too far and get lost. Walking a dog off-leash has advantages, but there are also a few downsides. Before attempting it, you should be sure your dog is well-trained and ready to walk without a leash.
5. Watch for Leptospirosis
The chance of your dog catching leptospirosis from a squirrel isn’t likely, but there’s always the possibility. This disease is contracted through the urine of an infected animal, such as a squirrel.
It can become fatal, so it’s an emergency situation when your dog becomes infected. Leptospirosis is also transmissible to humans and other pets.
6. Check for Ticks and Lyme Disease
While squirrels don’t have fleas, they do have ticks. With ticks comes the potential for Lyme disease, which has the following signs:
- Loss of appetite
- Joint inflammation and pain
- Lameness
- Fever
- General illness
If left untreated, it can lead to kidney damage. Fortunately, it’s treatable, and your dog should be receiving annual tick, flea, and heartworm preventative treatments, anyway.
7. Look for Signs of Rodenticide Ingestion
This is not that likely, but there’s a chance that a dog might eat a squirrel that has ingested rodenticides. Some homeowners use poison to get rid of pests, and they might place the rodenticide around the perimeter of their homes. If a squirrel eats the poison and your dog eats the squirrel, they can also ingest the poison.
While it will be diluted by that time, small dogs can still become quite sick. Signs can include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Bleeding nose or gums
- Bloody urine
- Difficulty breathing and panting
- Gagging and coughing or wheezing
- Seizures
If you see your dog with any of these signs after encountering a squirrel, go to your vet or nearest emergency clinic immediately!
8. Dispose of the Squirrel
When the deed is done, you must remove the dead squirrel if it’s on your property. How you dispose of it depends on your municipality and its bylaws and where your dog killed the squirrel.
Generally speaking, if it happened on your property, you can bury it in your yard. Make sure to bury it deep enough that your dog can’t get at it.
If your community’s laws prohibit burying it, place it in two garbage bags and check with a local veterinary clinic to see if they can dispose of it. Otherwise, contact Animal Control, which will likely pick it up and dispose of it.
9. Stay Away From Dead Squirrels
If your dog didn’t kill the squirrel but found one already dead, eating it can lead to problems.
Food poisoning, parasites, and bacteria that can lead to serious illnesses are risks. For these reasons, try to keep your dog away from dead animals.
10. Don’t Punish Your Dog
Even if you feel horrified that your dog killed a squirrel, don’t punish them. This behavior is 100% instinctive and entirely natural for dogs.
When a dog brings the squirrel back to you after the deed, they are bestowing a gift. Instead of punishing them, consider training them not to hunt squirrels.
Quick Tips
If you don’t want your dog to kill squirrels, you can train them not to do so. There are a few methods that you can use to tame your dog’s prey drive.
Remember, you must train and redirect in the moment. In other words, if your dog kills a squirrel, it’s already too late to do anything. Instead, the moment that your dog becomes fixated on a squirrel is when you redirect them. Keep them leashed throughout this process.
Additionally, if the problem is occurring in your yard, try to keep the squirrels out:
- Remove food sources (including birdfeeders).
- Trim long branches so squirrels can’t jump to your roof or other locations.
- You can use lemon and orange peels in your garden. Cayenne pepper and garlic powder also work, and commercial squirrel repellents are available.
- A motion-activated sprinkler might work to startle the squirrels.
Final Thoughts
Hunting and killing squirrels is an instinct that is bred into dogs. It helps explain why dogs seem to have such a fixation on them! It’s unlikely that your dog will get sick from eating a squirrel they caught and killed, but it’s a different story with a squirrel that’s already dead.
If you notice strange behavior or signs of illness after their encounter with a squirrel, take them to your vet immediately. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
- See also: Lyme Disease in Dogs
Featured Image Credit: RyanTaylor, Shutterstock
