My Dog Ate a Mouse, What Should I Do? Vet Approved Advice

The information is current and up-to-date per the latest veterinarian research.

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Let’s face it—our canines are usually not the best mousers. However, sometimes your canine can get ahold of the mouse, and they might even eat the whole thing. Eating mice can be problematic for a few reasons. These disease carriers not only infect your dog with specific ailments but put your dog at risk. To understand this is a medical emergency requiring veterinary attention and Poison Control Center contact.

## Contact Your Vet Immediately

Without delay, you should contact your veterinarian. Try to get them in quickly so you can get the problem taken care of right away. Sometimes your vet must administer treatment, including medications that induce vomiting, to remove the mouse from your pet’s system.

Your dog eating a mouse could be completely harmless, but not always—and you don’t want to take that chance. Mice can be full of disease, but that’s not even the most troubling part. Often, if your dog can catch a mouse itself, it could indicate that the mouse is very sick. Or worse—the mouse could have already been dead, which can be even more troubling. If your dog has eaten a poisoned mouse, it can lead to a wide spectrum of problems that can develop quickly. So action is necessary.

Detail as Much Information as Possible

To best help your veterinarian, you should catalog as many details as possible. Some important tidbits of information include:

– Weight and age of the dog
– Day and time of occurrence
– Rodenticide information (if available)
– Signs noticed after consumption

There will be a lot of chaos and commotion as this is a very time-sensitive matter. It’s OK if you are leaving in a panic and don’t have all of the information right up front; the best action route is to ensure your dog is getting the medical attention they need now. Even if you don’t know that the mouse your dog consumed is poisonous, don’t take any chances. If you know that you put rodent insecticide in the home, you will want all the information about it regardless. So, if you know there’s any chance of your dog coming into contact with these toxins, bring in all of the packaged information so your veterinarian can look it over. Sometimes, the products we put out to eliminate rodents are pet safe and can help your vet rule out larger problems.

What to Expect at the Vet

Before you get there, it’s helpful to call the poison control hotline for your region. Upon arrival, your vet will start performing tests immediately. Your vet will assess the situation to see what action should be followed.

Your dog might not show any signs. However, they can quickly start to develop troubling signs. Rodenticides are formulated to kill rodents, and this high level of toxicity can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, and organ failure. Even small amounts of rodenticide can be lethal.

If your vet determines that inducing vomiting is necessary.