Can dogs eat moles? Your dog may love to chase small animals, such as moles, and may even be able to catch some. But just like human food, there are some animals your dog can eat without any health issues and some that may be dangerous to your dog’s health.
Dogs are some of the most faithful companions you will ever know, and it’s only natural to look out for their health, safety, and well-being. Unfortunately, in doing so, you have probably found that dogs love to eat anything they can get their paws on, regardless of how it can affect their bodies. For example, they love the taste of chocolate, which is fine for people to consume but is very dangerous for dogs.
Here’s everything you need to know about the potential risks of your dog eating a mole.
Before scrolling down this article, “Can Dogs Eat Moles,” check out: Can Dogs Eat Gummy Worms or Bears? (2023) and Can Dogs Eat Crawfish? (2023).
Health Hazards
Do you need to worry? The general answer to this question is it depends on the dog and the mole.
Yes, some dogs eat moles and are generally fine afterward. However, moles may carry several diseases and pose other potential health hazards.
Several common examples of these health hazards are listed below.
Rabies
Rabies transmission should be one of your most significant concerns if your dog eats a mole since moles are common disease carriers. Bites most commonly transmit the disease, and otherwise docile moles may attempt to bite a dog attacking them. However, researchers now believe eating an infected animal also transmits rabies.
It’s possible for rabies to transmit through contact between open wounds and an infected animal’s bodily fluids. If your dog attacks a mole, this is an entirely feasible scenario, despite the typically chill temperament of most moles. However, a rabid mole may be more aggressive than normal.
If your dog eats a mole, pay close attention to its behavior. There are many symptoms to look out for, including seizures, increased drooling, mouth foaming, paralysis, and fever. Be on the lookout for behavioral changes as well, such as staggering and disorientation.
If you notice any of these changes in your dog, bring them to a vet immediately.
Mole Poison
Another major concern if your dog eats a mole should be whether the mole ingested any mole poison, as the most common toxins are also highly toxic to dogs. The poison may transfer if your dog eats a mole with poison in its stomach. Again, this is a hazardous scenario for your dog, as the most common mole poisons have no antidotes.
These common mole poisons include zinc phosphide and bromethalin. Pay attention to your dog’s behavior post-mole meal, checking for tremors, seizures, paralysis, and mental confusion. These symptoms are caused by bromethalin, while zinc phosphide causes heart, lung, and neurological issues.
As such, these poisons are exceptionally dangerous to your dog. The only treatment options in this scenario tend to be incredibly aggressive, such as induced vomiting and IV fluids.
Just like with rabies, if you notice any symptoms in your dog, go to the vet without delay.
Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections are another potential health hazard if your dog eats a mole. Due to their underground habitats, moles are dirty and often carry some infectious vectors like bacteria and viruses, in addition to rabies. It is not uncommon for your dog to develop a digestive system infection after eating a mole, especially if it is already dead.
Fortunately, a gastrointestinal infection is a much less severe issue than rabies or secondary poisoning. However, you should still pay attention to your dog’s health and behavior for the next few days after eating the mole. Infections of this kind often take a few days to become noticeable and can develop into much more severe issues if left unchecked.
Keep an eye out for symptoms like changes in appetite, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. If these symptoms are present, you may not need a visit to the vet as urgently as if the mole was rabid or poisoned, but you should still contact your veterinarian. They know your dog’s medical needs best and will recommend the best course of treatment.
Tick-Borne Illnesses
Moles can also have fleas and ticks embedded in their fur, and these creatures pose a significant risk to you and your dog’s health. Ticks often carry diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, canine ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Each of these illnesses is treatable as long as you can get that treatment promptly.
All three of these tick-borne illnesses will be unpleasant for your dog. Fortunately, antibiotics can treat them. Symptoms may include fever, muscle or joint pain, and general weakness or lethargy. Also, be sure to examine your dog’s skin and fur for any ticks. Rashes may also indicate a tick bite or Lyme disease.
If you happen to find a tick embedded in your dog’s skin, you’ll need to remove it. Grab a set of fine-point tweezers, and grasp the tick as close as possible to your dog’s skin. Then, pull upwards gently, taking care to avoid ripping the tick.
Once removed, keep the tick in a plastic bag, and bring it with you to your dog’s vet for examination.
What to Do if Your Dog Eats a Mole
If your dog does end up eating a mole, there are several steps you can take that will keep your dog safe and mitigate any danger the situation may present.
Typically, preventing your dog from eating other animals is the best course of action, but depending on your dog’s breed and temperament, this may only sometimes be possible.
Below are the actions you can take to protect your dog and preserve their health in the event they have eaten a mole.
Find a Comfortable Spot
Your first action if your dog eats a mole is to move it to a spot where they feel comfortable. This is important for keeping them calm as various symptoms, most commonly vomiting, begin. You will also create distance between your dog and where they found the mole, preventing your dog from going back for seconds.
Deal With Early Symptoms
In a comfortable spot with your dog, you will now need to deal with any symptoms that occur. As mentioned, vomiting is the most common of these symptoms early on. Simply clean any of your dog’s vomit to prevent your dog from eating it again. Avoid washing your dog’s mouth out, and use a clean cloth to wipe its tongue and gums instead.
Call Your Vet
If your dog eats a mole, the next thing you should do is call your veterinarian. Tell your vet what happened in as much detail as possible. Try to include information like whether the mole was living or dead and if there was a fight between your dog and the mole. If the mole was dead, estimate how long the mole has been deceased.
Once you have provided all the necessary information to your vet, they will recommend your next course of action. This will depend on the mole and your dog’s symptoms. For example, your vet may ask you to bring your dog for an emergency visit, or they may instruct you to monitor your dog’s condition yourself.
Actions like inducing vomiting, for example, should only be performed with your vet’s guidance. Additionally, ask your vet for an intestinal parasite screening, as moles can also be common vectors for these. Intestinal parasites like roundworms often take a few days to become apparent, so be proactive and ask your vet about them in advance.
Stay Vigilant for More Symptoms
After your veterinarian has examined your dog and recommended a course of action, you should still keep an eye on your dog while administering the recommended course of action. Be sure to feed them a good diet and keep their fluids up.
If your dog seems to be getting better, you should be in the clear, but if new symptoms develop, give your vet another call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike other small prey, like a rabbit or mouse, your dog isn’t likely to go after a mole since they typically live underground and give off a strong odor.
While very rare, it is possible for moles to transmit rabies through their saliva during a bite. A bigger risk of disease comes from the pests that live in their fur.
Moles can attract fleas and ticks, which is one of the bigger risks of coming into contact with them.
Conclusion for “Can Dogs Eat Moles”
Part of being a responsible dog owner requires you to look out for your dog’s safety. Remember to always take proper precautions due to the number of health hazards ingesting moles poses to your dog. Some of these hazards include rabies, bacterial infections, secondary poisoning, and tick-borne illnesses.
If your dog does eat a mole, you should follow a protocol to keep them safe, regardless of its symptoms. First, get your dog away from the area where they found the mole. Then, address any initial symptoms that may arise immediately after ingestion.
From there, contact your veterinarian, who will recommend the next steps and monitor for any changes.
If you find this guide, “Can Dogs Eat Moles,” helpful, check out our other articles:
- Can Dogs Eat Goldfish Crackers? (2023)
- Can Dogs Eat Pringles? (2023)
- Can Dogs Eat Chicken Nuggets? (2023)
You can learn more about what is and isn’t safe by watching “Dangerous Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat” down below:
Dr. Sabrina Kong graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in England in 2016 and has been working at a small animal clinic in Northern California since then. She grew up in the Bay Area and got her bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through a program at the University of Tennessee.
When she isn’t in the clinic taking care of her four-legged patients, she enjoys traveling and trying new foods with her friends and her three-legged dog, Apollo. She adopted Apollo from her clinic when he was a puppy with numerous health issues. Dr. Kong truly cares about taking care of animals.