Puppy exposed to rat, I’m distraught

[helpplease123456]

10 week old puppy, had first vaccination and been toilet training in back garden fabulously. Today whilst sniffing for a poo spot, a huge nasty rat ran out of a bush and disappeared under the gate. I am absolutely distraught and am terrified pup will get ill from rat urine.

Phoned vets who said no garden until after second vax because of the possibility of rat wee. We live in a town centre terrace and I feel like such an absolute moron thinking it was okay to take him in that garden after just the first jab. The advice about puppies being fine in the garden is clearly written for people with nice secure suburban gardens. Mine is a town centre and probably has fucking all sorts in it weeing at night, foxes etc. I’m thick.

I had severe PND with my DD (now 13) and the paranoia and guilt and this feels just like that. Have been absolutely fine with pup so far, absolutely loving it but I have a rat phobia so this experience has sent me quite irrational, I’ve been crying. Can somebody provide reassurance that pup will be alright? Any similar experiences of exposure where dog has been fine?

I am aware of that yes. Yet wildies run over the grass in the park where kids play, dogs run and people sit and have picnics. They are everywhere and wee everywhere. Their urine doesn't harm anyone that I've ever heard of.

Well I won’t quote figures as it’s not helpful to the OP and not relevant to her situation and I don’t want to create unnecessary anxiety.

But I can categorically assure you that leptospirosis exists in wild rats, and is not very nice.

Even if you’ve never heard of it.

Harmful things my dog has managed to ingest - onions, grapes, chocolate. Times my dog has been ill from these - nil. As someone else said - if dogs were as frail as all that, they would have died out years ago.

I have said I am aware of lepto. Read my post. I grew up in Africa where there are many more rats than here and kids (and dogs) are always outdoors. Nobody I have ever heard of (and I'm in my 50s) have ever gotten sick from being on the same grass where wild rats run around.

So you’re aware of lepto but believe that Their urine doesn't harm anyone that I've ever heard of.

how do you think Lepto is transmitted then?

Literally no one has suggested anyone will get sick from being in grass where wild rats run. In fact several of us have categorically said to the OP that the dog needs to ingest contaminated urine/water for there to be any risk, and that’s why I’ve said the Lepto infection stats aren’t relevant to the OP

Thats not the same thing as saying Of course wildies carry diseases, but their urine isn't going to do your pup any harm

Yes dear - I'm not getting into a cat (or rat) fight with you.

@FurAndFeathers - just to clarify - the OP was talking about her pup being in the garden, which is why I said about being on grass. That is all I meant. I never once suggested he won't get sick from ingesting it, just that playing on the grass is safe.

Yes I know exactly what the OP was talking about - if you read my posts you’ll see I’ve been clear her pup is not likely to be at any risk.

that doesn’t mean that you aren’t spreading misinformation.
telling people that wild rat urine is harmless is frankly, nonsense.

Yes dear - I'm not getting into a cat (or rat) fight with you.

you can be as passive-aggressive as you like 🤷‍♀️
It doesn’t make you any less wrong! 😁

Sigh. I did not once, anywhere, say that wild rat urine is harmless. What I did say was that playing on the grass where a rat might have peed isn't going to cause any harm.