I think I am winning my war on mice but I recently discovered my specialty dog food has been raided. A mouse jumped out of the bag when the cupboard door was opened. I know they carry infectious diseases that can be passed to humans but are my dogs at risk? This is a rather pricey bag of food and I'm a little low on funds at the moment or else I wouldn't ask I would just toss it but until Friday will it be ok?
2007-08-29 19:11:08 · 10 answers · asked by kwazeeme 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Not all rodent-borne diseases require the animal to bite you (or your dog) in order to transmit the disease. If the mouse left any droppings in the food, or urinated in it, it could be a source of infection. However, how much danger there is from one mouse would be a subject to discuss with a vet or biologist.
"Arenavirus...Mode of Transmission: Contact with infected rodent urine, droppings and nesting materials.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome...Mode of Transmission: Contact with mouse urine, droppings and nesting materials.
Leptospirosis...Mode of Transmission: Ingestion of contaminated food or water with the urine of rats and mice.
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis...Mode of Transmission: From exposure to infected House Mouse urine, feces and saliva.
Salmonellosis...Mode of Transmission:...Wild rodents transmit this disease by contaminating food and drink with their feces and urine."
Other diseases can be transmitted by fleas that were on the rodent.
http://napamosquito.org/Rodents/RodentBorneDiseases.htm
2007-08-30 03:08:06 · answer #1 · answered by margecutter 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If the rodent left a disease...and your dog eats a little by Friday...you could lose more than the price of the food...when you end up at the vets...or lose your pet due to the illness it gets...
so throw it away...share your own food or pick up a few cans till friday...
also don't know how big your dog food bag is, but I keep mine in geyser water bottles, it keeps the food fresh longer, and keeps the invaders out..and I would keep it in the fridge till the rodents learn that it is gone...my dog food invaders were ants, they even ate holes in the bags...so I was already feeling bad about throwing away those big water jugs from the bottled water geyser..they are nice and have a great handle...and the top is big enough even if the kibblei is large...
also if you borrow a cat...for a day or two...the cat will rub its sent all over your place and the rodents will get a really strong message to stay the hell away...
2007-08-29 20:41:34 · answer #2 · answered by teri 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear Lord! I can't believe how misinformed the general public is! Ignore every other answer that you have received, OK?
Mice DO carry many different deceases and parasites. However, to be infected by these deceases, the mouse must BITE you or your pet! Your dogs are more at risk from being bitten by fleas or ticks that are commonly carried by the mice than by eating the food that they have raided.
To keep the food safe, but it in baggies and then but it in your freezer! Good luck!
***EDIT -- There is very little likely hood of a mouse defecating or urinating where in its own food. Common sense is really lacking here. So, that is why I wasn't concerned about those issues.
2007-08-30 01:42:28 · answer #3 · answered by Katslookup - a Fostering Fool! 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think you should call your vet and ask if the mouse can transmit anything to your dog.I doubt it.Farm dogs are around mice all the time,and many dogs even eat them,so I think ,if you remove a little of the food on the top,that the rest should be OK.
2007-08-29 19:23:24 · answer #4 · answered by Dances With Woofs! 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I doubt so because rabies is typically transmitted by a bite. This is only my opinion, however if the mouse is eating the food, it is unlikely that any transmission would happen, although there is a possibility, however it would be rare.
2007-08-29 19:19:15 · answer #5 · answered by Boomer 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It will be Ok . Just tell your dog to get the mouse or no more food for him.
2007-08-29 19:25:43 · answer #6 · answered by canivieu 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your dog should be ok. But you might want to consider keeping your dog food in a plastic tote in the future.
2007-08-29 20:20:04 · answer #7 · answered by Bindi *dogtrainingbyjess.com* 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Calling the vet would be the best option -- none of these here are probably vets, or can give you veterinarian suggestions.. Sorry though!
2007-08-29 20:13:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Personally, I would throw it out.
2007-08-30 03:47:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
witch is more important life or money of course you have to throw the bag away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-08-29 19:20:16 · answer #10 · answered by crystalzhang98 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋