Visiting beagle may have eaten daughter’s pet bird
We watched our neighbor’s beagle recently when they went away for a long weekend. Our younger daughter, who wants to become a vet, left her room open. We have two dogs, and in her room live a cat, a rabbit, a guinea pig and a bird.
Well, we had a bird.
After the dog went home, we received a call from our friends stating their dog had a normal bowel movement except for one large bloody discharge. They asked if we could think of anything the dog might have eaten that might have caused the bloody feces. You can see where this is going.
While the dog visited with us, the bird was suddenly gone. We thought the cat might have gotten hold of it, but we wonder if the dog might have killed or ingested the bird. Could that cause what they saw? Would there be any danger if the dog ate the bird? We want to tell them the truth but are fearful it might upset them. Help.
Since there is no way of knowing whether or not their dog ate your bird, I cannot say that it caused the bloody feces, but it is entirely possible. Just like cats, dogs are hunters and carnivores. Eating anything out of the ordinary diet can cause diarrhea or bloody fecal matter. As a pet bird, hopefully there was no salmonella involved if the dog ate the bird as that can cause issues. Eating bones and feathers might cause what was observed since they are not readily digestible. Bones can tear through a digestive tract. Your neighbors should watch the dog and if the bloody diarrhea persists then they should have their dog seen by their vet.
Radiographs, bloodwork and a good physical examination might be in order. By the time this goes to print, the dog will either be in the clear or have been seen. I assume your daughter knows of the loss of the bird by now and she might want to put the cage in a higher, safer place should she get another bird to prevent the cat or any dogs from getting at it.
The bigger message is that any change in diet or ingesting something foreign can cause issues such as vomiting, diarrhea and more. Lastly, I would suggest you tell the neighbors about what might have happened.
They might be upset about their dog being sick, but they will also feel bad if they think their dog ate the bird. Good luck!