Luckily for dogs, they seem to be quite resistant to the bacteria Francisella tularensis that causes Tularemia, and cases tend to be rare and self-resolving. Signs may include reduced appetite, lethargy, and a mild fever.
In rare cases, conjunctivitis, enlarged lymph nodes glands , and formation of abscesses pockets of infection have also been reported. Though rare, this is an important disease to be aware of as it is easily transmittable to humans and your veterinarian must report any suspected cases to the relevant public health authority. The good news is that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC report that rats and rodents are very rarely found to be infected with the rabies virus in the US.
The major carriers for rabies are skunks, raccoons, and foxes, however, any encounter with a wild animal is best reported to your veterinarian immediately, as rabies is deadly in both dogs and humans. Unfortunately, rats are known to carry diseases that can kill a dog if they become infected after the encounter.
The most common of these is leptospirosis which can cause mild to severe disease in dogs and even death. Your dog can be vaccinated against leptospirosis to help protect them. Most commonly, encounters with rats will occur outside the house, so bring your pets inside to stop them from chasing or investigating.
If the rat was encountered indoors, make sure none of your pets can access the rat or its environment areas that might contain droppings or urine. This might mean confining them to a separate room in the house while you clean up. Always wear gloves to carefully clean up and dispose of any mess. This will help your vet identify some of the possible risks. Did you see a rat bite your dog? Was your dog chasing or playing with a rat? Was the rat chewed up or swallowed?
Where did the incident take place and what time? Do you know if there is rat bait or poison used on the property? If so, what type? Bring any packaging with you to the vet. The more information you can provide, the better. In most cases, your vet will want to examine your dog at the clinic to treat the wound correctly.
Your veterinarian will examine your dog and thoroughly clean and disinfect the wound to help prevent infection. From here your vet may recommend monitoring your dog closely for any signs of illness, or they may consider performing diagnostic tests including bloodwork, urine examination, and leptospirosis testing if they are concerned there is a high risk of exposure.
Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics as well as supportive care such as placing your dog on an IV drip in hospital to try and stabilize and reverse the effects on the body. If your dog has recently eaten a dead rat and there is a possibility it was poisoned with rat bait, your vet may make them vomit to reduce the amount of poison absorbed. Never attempt to make your dog vomit at home as there can be unexpected consequences to forcing vomiting, including your dog choking and inhaling vomit.
There are a number of different rat and mouse poisons each with different toxic effects. Treatment will depend on which toxin was eaten, as well as the amount and its effect on your dog. Vitamin K is an effective antidote for rat poisons that cause internal bleeding anti-coagulant.
If your dog is vaccinated against leptospirosis the prognosis after a rat bite is good and the major risk is infection from the bite wound. Streptobacillary rat-bite fever is the more common type in North America, while spirillary rat-bite fever also called Sodoku is more common in Asia. However, the following symptoms can pop up within one to three weeks after the bite:. If you have a rat bite, wash the area with warm water and soap as soon as possible. Dry the area with a clean towel and apply an antibiotic ointment.
Cover with a clean bandage. Rat bites are prone to turning into potentially serious infections. For more severe bites, you may need intravenous antibiotics. Rat-bite fever and infected bites usually respond well to a standard course of antibiotics. But rat-bite fever can cause some lingering fatigue, joint pain, or a rash. With quick treatment, you can avoid rat-bite fever or an infection.
Just make sure you take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. In some cases, you might still have a slight fever or joint pain after a bout of rat-bite fever. These symptoms will eventually go away over time. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can all cause skin infections. Infections can range from mild to severe. Learn what to do if you have a skin….
Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection. Learn more about its symptoms, how it's treated, and how you can prevent it in the first place. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can cause acute kidney failure and liver disease in dogs. The early signs can be vague — look for fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or a soft cough. If you are worried, go to the vet early.
The City of Sydney plans to double the number of rat baits in the inner city and inner west. Rat baits are toxic to dogs. Keep your dog on a lead in the vicinity of rat baits.
Some dogs are incredibly persistent with chewing and getting things out of containers. It is very important to exercise caution. Do not walk a dog off-leash in affected areas or in the vicinity of rat baits. Avoid putting rat baits in the home or backyard without veterinary advice.
The last thing you want is your dog coming across a bait and mistaking it for a treat or toy. There is an antidote which is most effective if given early.
Remember that rats can chew and eat anything. Secure all rubbish in bins with a tightly-fitted lid and restrict access to compost. Rats can get in and access the fat trays. Keeping your outdoor BBQ clean is a good idea. Having pets makes no difference. Rats are not deterred by cats or dogs. Brown rats in inner city Sydney. Residents can make their yard less attractive to rats by securing all rubbish in closed bins, keeping a lid on compost and avoid leaving pet food out at night.
Six confirmed cases of leptospirosis in the inner west have been reported. All the dogs died or were euthanased. While it is thought that the recent outbreak could be due to major construction occurring in Sydney and therefore increased exposure to rats and contamination of subterranean water, the current source of infection and the strain of bacteria involved is unknown.
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