Although dogs external appearances have changed due to selective breeding, their digestive systems remain similar to their wolf ancestors. The combination of raw meat, stomach contents and bones provide a tasty treat that appeals to your dogs primal instincts. While healthy dogs will not be adversely affected by bacteria in the rabbits digestive tract or ingesting some of its hair, rabbits can carry rabies and you should make sure your dogs vaccinations are up to date.
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Todays domesticated dogs are descended from wolves, and most retain predatory instincts. Small animals, such as rabbits, trigger your dogs prey instinct when they startle and flee from your dog. If your dog is able to catch the rabbit, he will usually take it and tear into it, eating some or all of his catch.
Is It Safe If My Dog Ate a Rabbit?
Selective breeding, particularly over the last two hundred years, has created approximately 340 purebred dog breeds.
While the dogs we see today are vastly diverse, some digestive traits may have been unaffected by domestication and are similar to those of their wolf ancestors.
So the good news is that eating a rabbit probably won’t make your dog sick. After all, many dog foods contain rabbit meat for protein.
However, wild rabbits can carry parasites and other diseases that could pose problems for your pooch.
If your dog eats an entire rabbit, they could possibly become infected with a tapeworm.
These nasty parasites are long, flat, and segmented, with a head that attaches to your dog’s intestinal wall.
Dog owners often find out their pet has tapeworms when they notice segments in their dog’s feces.
These segments contain numerous tapeworm eggs and look similar to grains of rice.
Rabbits can carry fleas and ticks, which could be passed on to your dog.
It should also be noted that dogs can commonly get tapeworms from eating infected fleas, which may have been on the rabbit.
Ticks and fleas can also carry serious bacteria, like tularemia.
Tularemia is also referred to as rabbit fever since they are the animal most commonly involved with outbreaks of this disease.
The disease is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis.
Although uncommon in dogs, they can contract tularemia by killing or eating an infected rabbit or from ticks that may carry the bacteria.
Humans can also get Tularemia from rabbits.
Although highly uncommon, there is a risk of your dog getting rabies from a live, wild rabbit. The disease is contracted through the blood or saliva of an infected animal.
But as long as your dog is up-to-date with their vaccinations there is no cause for concern.
What Symptoms Will My Dog Show If They Have Eaten a Rabbit?
If your dog has eaten a rabbit and shows any of the following symptoms you should take them to the vet immediately.
It can be disturbing to see tapeworms crawling out of your dog’s anus.
You may also see dried white or cream colored segments on the surface of fresh feces or stuck to their fur under the tail.
If you notice your dog is scooting their bum along the ground or another rough surface, they’re probably trying to alleviate the irritation caused by tapeworms. Other signs include
Excessive scratching, licking, and biting, are sure signs of fleas and ticks.
Thankfully tularemia in dogs is rare.
Nonetheless, symptoms of the disease to watch out for include
Rabies is also rare but it’s worth knowing the symptoms. They include
Is it safe for dogs to eat rabbit droppings
It is not very harmful to your dog to eat a rabbit. It is just a source of protein for them, and there have been very few reported cases of diseases or toxicity caused by the consumption of rabbits. Dogs love the taste of rabbit meat, and they can chase and eat them as soon as they get a chance.