Dead rat or squirrel? Disgusting dog!

[XelaM]

Ahhh! Took our usually laid back and not prey-driven pug for a run-around in a new park and he managed to find a dead animal in the bushes (pic attached) 🤮 Not sure if it was a dead rat or a squirrel? The photo was taken after I managed to catch him and put him back on his lead. He now totally stinks of this dead animal! 🤢

Is there something I should be doing now? Can he get ill from this? He didn't eat it as far as I can tell. He just ran around with it in his mouth, but he may have eaten a bit before I got to him. He is up to date with his worming tablets.

I'm never kissing him again 😖

Yes,he can get ill from having a dead rat in his mouth.I would closely watch him and any sickness,vomitting and diarrhea,I'd take him straight to the vet.Rats and rat pee is very bad for dogs.

@Chuechebache Thank you! I can't tell if it was a dead rat or a squirrel. I think it looks more like a squirrel, but I'm not sure.

He seems to be ok so far, but I will keep an eye on him and take him to the vet on Monday. He absolutely stinks

Ewww it looks squirrel like to me but could still be risky. Keep a close eye. Mine found a dead hedgehog in a pile of leaves once...luckily didn't try to pick it up as she was onlead at the time thank god!

He looks v pleased with himself 😂

Looks like squirrel to me.

We've had a lot of dead things, many both bigger and significantly more manky than that. We won't mention the time one of mine managed to eat and then coat herself liberally with dead deer the day before she was due to perform at crufts - I spent the whole day going, "She's not fat, she's bloated" and hoping she wouldn't crap in the arena.

Dogs have powerful guts. I really wouldn't worry. I certainly would only take him to the vet if he actually became unwell.

I wouldn’t give this a second thought. I have retrieved rats, birds and all sorts from my boy’s chops!

If he does get sick/diarrhoea before you can get him to the vet just make sure he's well hydrated.

Is he up to date on his leptospirosis jabs? Rats do carry lepto (also known as Weil's disease)

I really wouldn't think twice about this as long as he's up to date on his jabs.

Mine has caught and killed rabbits before and will happily roll in all manner of dead things

Thank you all so much for the replies! Just to update that (bar the smell the lingered for several days) he seemed completely unaffected by his disgusting endeavour

Some of the replies made me laugh!

@Motorina Love the dead deer and crufts story 😂

Mine luckily don't seem interested in dead animals but loves to hunt for a human poo, which seems to be more common than you think .... horrible!!

Am I the only one that thinks this looks like a glove instead of a dead beast?!

My friend's dog ate a whole dead squirrel in one go and was fine.

She may never recover.

@ShirleyPhallus It was definitely a furry animal 🤢 initially I was sure a rat, but on closer inspection it may have been a squirrel, but it had legs and a head and everything 🤮

@CornedBeef451 I can imagine 🤣

@XelaM really good to hear he came to no harm!

(Dogs are gross.)