should i be concerned if my dog eats moles etc?

I noticed that he found a mole a few days ago and was wondering if there is any problems. I have seen my cats eating them etc w/o any problems.


So basically if a dog eats a raw animal like a mole or squirrel are there any health risks i need to be aware of ?

 

I am glad you posted this as I found Asia with an opposum hanging from her mouth by the tail. LOL She did not eat it. I took it away from her and threw it over the fence. But, I am sure she would have if I had not found her with it. I was wondering the same thing...what if she had eaten it? Lookin' forward to the responses.

 

What MAY be concerning is the possiblity that the ingested animal(s) MAY have rabies. Also, if ingested, the possibility that the rodent, or whatever, had any internal parasites, which, in turn can be passed onto your dog. I would just moniter your dog's behavior: watch for any changes and take it from there. Most animals that eat rodents, etc fair very well, but those two issues came to my mind immediately. Perhaps others will list other concerns as well. If worried, you can have your vet do a fecal to check for parasites. and again, just watch your dogs' behavior for any signs of change, and report any concerns/issues to your vet.

 

Cuddles used to always be a "moler" at my home in PA, but now it seems Tess is the "moler" around here...I haven't yet had a problem with any sicknesses, but I agree, just watch the behavior, and any signs of trouble, go to the vet. Otherwise though, I am sure it's fine.

 

I have had a lot of cats most of my life and my cats have never eaten a mole. They kill and leave them lying around. They will eat mice, birds, rabbits but never voles or moles.
My dogs and my daughter's APBT dig up moles and kill them but also never eat them. My husband told me they make an animal sick if they eat moles so that is why they won't eat them. I don't know how true that is though. But my husband's father was raised on a working farm in Rhode Island.
Have to be careful of dogs eating something a cat killed. If you don't know how long since it was killed. Had a dog years ago that ate a cat kill and developed toxic poisoning. Don't know what they call it now but cost a fortune to save the dog.

 

I think the only thing I would worry about would be the dog ingesting pest poison via the mole. I am not sure, but I think they make poison for moles & if a dog ate a poisoned mole (or rat or mouse) the dog could get poisoned itself.