Page 4 | My dog ate a hedgehog

VandaMay · 2023-02-26T16:50:25+00:00

I think it was was dead already and my dog has just eaten all of it whilst out walking. He was a little distance away and I thought it was a stick. He’s eaten all of it, should I be worried about rabies?

CrapBucket · 26/02/2023 19:12

Oh he's utterly gorgeous. Look at his face. He didn't eat a hedgehog. He is totally innocent. The hedgehog probably jumped into his mouth as it died. Naughty hedgehog.

My pet insurance comes with a 24/7 video vet which is brilliant for situations like this. Might be worth checking if you have access to something like that.

Barleycat · 26/02/2023 19:12

Another reason to never get a dog!

Withnailandeye · 26/02/2023 19:13

rocksonrocks · 26/02/2023 19:09

I realise Sunday evening will be significantly more expensive but it might actually be the difference between a good outcome or not.

Argh! Posters like you are so annoying! Stop fear mongering, the dog isn’t going to die ffs. Spiky bum is the only bad outcome OP needs to worry about.

Why are there so many irresponsible dog owners kicking about allowing their dogs to eat things regularly susceptible to poisons and then unwilling to take them to the vets?

Minfilia · 26/02/2023 19:14

Mine ate a rotten chicken carcass from the bin (5 days old in the height of summer) but because he’d eaten the bones the vet wouldn’t make him sick… so he needed an x ray and overnight stay and was treated for gastroenteritis…

he also managed to open a door, climb onto a chair, onto the table and then reached the shelf and ate an entire Easter egg 🤦‍♀️ another expensive vet bill…

he lives to see another day though 😁

OneHundredPercentCompostable · 26/02/2023 19:16

He's absolutely gorgeous. I'd probably phone the vet tonight though, just because of the spines, if it wasn't for the spines I would wait until tomorrow. Have you looked in his mouth? Any signs of damage from or actual spines?

I wouldn't take any notice of the dog food snobs on here either, feed what suits you/him.

Posyapocalypse · 26/02/2023 19:17

Can't help but think labs really do eat everything!

I read that labs will eat anything apart from themselves.

He’s looking good after his extra crunchy snack. Hope there’s no after effects. I think I’d phone the vet just to check if there’s any anti-hedgehog meds he might need.

rocksonrocks · 26/02/2023 19:20

@Withnailandeye if you pop your pearls down for a second you might care to realise that:

A) no pet owner is allowing their dog to eat animal carcasses, however:

B) it is an unfortunate part of dog ownership that they will scavenge (as is part of their primal nature) and:

C) much like parenting, dog ownership requires a certain air of critical thinking which means that we’re able to assess what is a dire emergency and what requires some monitoring. From OP’s post you’ll see her dog appears to be in good spirits.

Perhaps reserve your snotty opinions on dog food choices and dead hedgehogs for your own pets. Cheers.

rocksonrocks · 26/02/2023 19:21

Snooty *but if the sh-

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/02/2023 19:22

Withnailandeye · 26/02/2023 19:11

It’s a fairly common sense approach to seek medical assistance when your dog has eaten something which is highly susceptible to poisons. My retriever ate a mouse last year and living on a farm, I knew it was likely poisoned so it went straight into the vet to induce vomiting. Hedgehogs aren’t in the habit of dying for no reason but they do induce a lot of poison used by households as a non target species. A dog is fine for several hours after eating a poisoned animal before they have absorbed enough to create internal bleeding. I’m actually just trying to offer some advice - why people post on the internet instead of talking to their medical professionals never fails to amaze me.

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But I don't think OP posted for vet advice - I think she posted on here for reassurance from other people whose dogs have done similarly disgusting things.

Dogs are scavengers by nature and most can eat all sorts of vile muck without becoming unwell or needing veterinary intervention, and unless the dog is taken to the vet within 1-2 hours of ingesting the item, there's very little to be done except to monitor them and bring them back if they appear to become unwell anyway.

I don't think it's helpful to post things like "They need to see a vet today or it could be the difference between a good and a bad outcome". OP isn't stupid and I'm sure she'd take her dog to be seen if she was concerned.

Withnailandeye · 26/02/2023 19:22

rocksonrocks · 26/02/2023 19:20

@Withnailandeye if you pop your pearls down for a second you might care to realise that:

A) no pet owner is allowing their dog to eat animal carcasses, however:

B) it is an unfortunate part of dog ownership that they will scavenge (as is part of their primal nature) and:

C) much like parenting, dog ownership requires a certain air of critical thinking which means that we’re able to assess what is a dire emergency and what requires some monitoring. From OP’s post you’ll see her dog appears to be in good spirits.

Perhaps reserve your snotty opinions on dog food choices and dead hedgehogs for your own pets. Cheers.

If your dog is off the lead for long enough to eat a hedgehog, you’re not in control of it. I’ve had three separate dogs chase our sheep this week and I’ve received similar responses to the above- you are irresponsible and I have two retrievers.

switchin100 · 26/02/2023 19:25

Would you not be best calling the vet? Just thinking about all those little spikes in his stomach and then making their way out again...could be a problem?!?

rocksonrocks · 26/02/2023 19:26

If your dog is off the lead for long enough to eat a hedgehog, you’re not in control of it. I’ve had three separate dogs chase our sheep this week and I’ve received similar responses to the above- you are irresponsible and I have two retrievers.

Cool cool cool. I’d love you meet your peerrrfect retrievers.

Dogs being dogs for a second (which really is all it takes for a dog to snarf a hedgehog) is not synonymous with poor control of your animal. As an owner of sheep and dogs, you’d like to think you would have a bit more understanding of, y’know, animals.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/02/2023 19:26

Withnailandeye · 26/02/2023 19:13

Why are there so many irresponsible dog owners kicking about allowing their dogs to eat things regularly susceptible to poisons and then unwilling to take them to the vets?

Show quote history

Because it's about assessing the risk and acting accordingly - like you do with children.

Dogs scavenge - they don't need to see a vet every single time they've snaffled something off the street or out of a bush - it's just not necessary. Mine has eaten all sorts and I've never once thought about taking him to the vet.

If he became unwell, then that's different, but they really don't need to be taken in to vomit every single time they eat something they shouldn't do. Most dogs have cast iron stomachs and will be absolutely fine. Yes, they may vomit the offending item up all over your carpets or have an upset stomach, but neither of those things require medical attention.

alwaysstressed · 26/02/2023 19:28

Id call the emergency vet straight away with any chance it may still be in the stomach.
If it reaches the intestines they are soft like tissue paper and the spikes with poke holes in the intestines and cause a peritonitis.
Id feed him lots if soft food now too to try and "coat" the spikes.

Withnailandeye · 26/02/2023 19:30

rocksonrocks · 26/02/2023 19:26

If your dog is off the lead for long enough to eat a hedgehog, you’re not in control of it. I’ve had three separate dogs chase our sheep this week and I’ve received similar responses to the above- you are irresponsible and I have two retrievers.

Cool cool cool. I’d love you meet your peerrrfect retrievers.

Dogs being dogs for a second (which really is all it takes for a dog to snarf a hedgehog) is not synonymous with poor control of your animal. As an owner of sheep and dogs, you’d like to think you would have a bit more understanding of, y’know, animals.

Have you ever seen a hedgehog? It’s not going down in one mouthful is it. I’ll admit that mine are both trained working dogs so they’re more obedient than you would require for your average household but if you are allowing a prey animal the amount of range to pick up and eat a hedgehog, you are not in control of it, which is actually a legal requirement in the UK.

UnfinishedBusiness · 26/02/2023 19:31

I think I’d be more worried about if the hedgehog had been poisoned to be honest.

Waterfallgirl · 26/02/2023 19:31

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 26/02/2023 18:36

I bloody knew it was a lab before I'd finished reading the post, he looks so proud of himself 🤣🤣🤣

Yes me too! They will eat anything. Mine loves all dead things, better if they are rotting 🤢. the worst things she’s tried to eat was a dead duck, my god the feathers were literally everywhere.

And @LozzaChops101 yes 🤢 BUT a field dressed deer would be heaven for my dog just likes yours!

He is very handsome @VandaMay 😍

alwaysstressed · 26/02/2023 19:31

The emergency vet will be able to do something tonight. He needs an exploratory laparotomy to get that out. Any other animal id wait till morning but those spikes with poke 100 holes in his intestines.
Source: Veterinary Nurse

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/02/2023 19:32

alwaysstressed · 26/02/2023 19:28

Id call the emergency vet straight away with any chance it may still be in the stomach.
If it reaches the intestines they are soft like tissue paper and the spikes with poke holes in the intestines and cause a peritonitis.
Id feed him lots if soft food now too to try and "coat" the spikes.

Equally, the vet won't make the dog sick because the risk of tearing up the throat on the way out is too great.

alwaysstressed · 26/02/2023 19:33

They won't make him sick they'll open up his abdomen

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/02/2023 19:33

alwaysstressed · 26/02/2023 19:31

The emergency vet will be able to do something tonight. He needs an exploratory laparotomy to get that out. Any other animal id wait till morning but those spikes with poke 100 holes in his intestines.
Source: Veterinary Nurse

OP hasn't said whether he ate the spikes or not. If he did, I'm sure she's smart enough to see a vet.

If he "just" ate the body, he doesn't need to see anyone tonight.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/02/2023 19:34

alwaysstressed · 26/02/2023 19:33

They won't make him sick they'll open up his abdomen

But that's not necessary unless he ate the spikes.

OP hasn't said he ate the spikes, just that he ate a hedgehog - I would assume that means the body or something. I can't imagine many (any) dogs eating a spiky hedgehog and not showing severe symptoms several hours later.

alwaysstressed · 26/02/2023 19:34

Are the spikes not on the body like?

Axahooxa · 26/02/2023 19:40

Gorgeous dog! Why am I not surprised it’s a lab 😆

RahRahOhLaLa · 26/02/2023 19:40

alwaysstressed · 26/02/2023 19:34

Are the spikes not on the body like?

This is what I’m thinking.
Surely there’s a risk of perforated bowel or something?