My dog and the now dead muskrat
 

So..I opened the front door and found the dog with his muzzle inside the neck of a headless - and recently alive - muskrat. Not exactly sure when he got it, or if he killed it or exactly how it got dead. But he's a big dog and it is certainly possible that he caught it. In any case, I shooed him away.

But the wife wasn't real pleased about the whole situation. Was even less pleased when I advised my 12 year old girl to come and take a look (circle of life and all). Pretty sure I lost some husband points there.

That's all I got.

That's all you need.

Not everything we need to learn about life is pleasant. :shrug:

Your daughter now has a grand story to tell to her schoolmates tomorrow!

So..the dog has a bit of a lump (swollen?) on his muzzle/jowls on one side. I'm now thinking that the muskrat bit him prior to its demise. Looks like a trip to the vet tomorrow.

You are fascinated.

Years ago I had a black lab who "beat up" muskrats. Ferocious little buggers! Make sure your dog didn't get bit!

Exactly what you should be doing at this point. Also, do you still have the muskrat? It is possible to test for rabies and other nasties without the head (but would be much easier if you also had the head).

Yup, he went to the vet. It's all good.

Good thing too. I thought they tested rabies from the head/brain..would have been difficult this time.

We've actually been quite pleased with our Riley, she digs up & kills the moles that have turned our yard into an ankle-twister...when she presents us with the evidence, she gets praised, I get the shovel & the ex-mole gets burial-at-creek...

Scotziod...et a rat snake. A dog might dig up a mole and kill one every once in a while.

Snakes are built for getting into the nest and wiping the whole thing out.

Sounds like a good idea, except this dog will not back down from a snake either...

Not to mention, try suggesting to my wife that we actually put a snake in in our yard...hint: make sure you have an escape route cleared when you try this.

:roflmao: