whippets and rats

[albert_2006]

hello chums!

before posting my new question I would like to inform you that we are getting a new girl after all, soo very excited about that!!
If I could load pics I would but it doesn't seem to happen.

anyway back to the topic. my partner woke up at night last night and found a small rat feeding off our trash can, GROOOOOOSSSSSSS

we live on the ground floor with a back yard, and apparently in london there are 2 rats per person, which would mean about 24 million rats.

but back to the crime scene, here we are, my partner and I chasing the rat out of our kitchen while albert is locked in our bedroom in order to avoid any contact with the rat.

the question is, are rats dangerous for dogs? what would have happened if albert would have caught the rat?

as alway any response will be much appreciated.

thanks

luca

[tag]

Congratulations! How fun that you're getting your second pup. In my experience, it really is the way to go. Very happy for you.

Regarding the ratty rodent....there are a couple of hazards I know. First, there is the issue of fleas and other infestation that rats carry with them, so...keep the anti-flea measures up to speed. But also, rats can be pretty vicious and its not uncommon for dogs to go after them and get bitten by the rat before they get the kill. They can be nasty bites. Best defense is to keep all the jabs up to date.

And maybe most important...rat poison is extremely deadly to dogs. So...with pups in the house, that's not a line of defense you can use. Even if the rat ingests the poison and then the dog goes after the rat, the poison in the rat's system can poison the dog. So if your dogs ever even get into a dead or near-dead rat (i.e., your neighbors may be using poison), you'd need to consider induced vomiting.

Congrats again on your new addition. Very exciting.

[albert_2006]

Congratulations! How fun that you're getting your second pup. In my experience, it really is the way to go. Very happy for you.

Regarding the ratty rodent....there are a couple of hazards I know. First, there is the issue of fleas and other infestation that rats carry with them, so...keep the anti-flea measures up to speed. But also, rats can be pretty vicious and its not uncommon for dogs to go after them and get bitten by the rat before they get the kill. They can be nasty bites. Best defense is to keep all the jabs up to date.

And maybe most important...rat poison is extremely deadly to dogs. So...with pups in the house, that's not a line of defense you can use. Even if the rat ingests the poison and then the dog goes after the rat, the poison in the rat's system can poison the dog. So if your dogs ever even get into a dead or near-dead rat (i.e., your neighbors may be using poison), you'd need to consider induced vomiting.

Congrats again on your new addition. Very exciting.

thanks for your prompt reply tag, we bougth an electric device that gives out ultrasounds which should work as deterrent. fingers crossed it'll work.
cheers, luca

[tag]

I kind of figured you had it under control. Sounds like you guys are pretty darn concientious. Just figured I'd mention the whole litany of things....

Congrats again. Can't wait to hear the details about your girl. Let us know when you have her in hand and what her moniker is? It's sooooo much easier to have two!

And good luck with those uninvited four-legged visitors. I used to live in New York City and I think our ratio of vermin to people was kind of similar to London's. Sometimes you'd see them on the streets and be convinced they were cats, based on the size.

[Inquisitive Snoop]

I had a rat in the house one time that one of the cats brought in, released it, thought it was dead and with 4 dogs standing over it the sucker got up and walked away. I had one of those electronic tings - didn't work. Set up a rat trap, put peanut butter on the trap, lock the dog/dogs in a room so they can't get at the trap, go to bed and with any luck you'll have a dead rat in the trap in the morning. I set mine up while I was at work and had a dead one when I got home. Good luck with the rat.

[Pennymeadow Whippets]

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[Inquisitive Snoop]

Is that breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack?

[bamalizzy]

Oh my- what a proud looking whippet!!! And a giant..rat? That thing is huge!

[Inquisitive Snoop]

Jeff, I just noticed, your Whippet only has 3 legs. What happened. Obviously he's doing quite well - the evidence is in his mouth.

Diane

[bamalizzy]

Oh wow- I just noticed that too! He looks like it hasn't slowed him down one bit though!!

[Pennymeadow Whippets]

[Removed by Pennymeadow

[gasbag]

Personally, I prefer whippets over rats for a pet.

But that could be just me.

[Inquisitive Snoop]

Jeff, you can post pictures in any thread if it applies, like the Whippet with the rat - perfect place for that picture. Everybody here loves to see pictures, the more you post the happier they all are.

Diane

[Kirislin]

Not sure about in the UK but in Australia rats carry Leptospirosis. I think dogs, cats & humans can be infected by the rat &/or it's wee. Not sure what this disease does but it's nasty. Check with your vet to see if it's a danger over there too.

Linda

[Pennymeadow Whippets]

Your right but that is why your dogs must be fully inoculated here's a link

http://www.dhpe.org/infect/Lepto.html