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Member Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 371 Location: mpls mn

I was out hunting some roosters today in a cattail slew. My dog went on point then was rooting around in some really thick catails at which point he got into it with a coon. I called off him but he was in the battle mode- I got to where he was and grabbed him by the tail and dragged him out with the coon in his mouth still alive. He had it by the stomach at this point as soon as a could i got the barrel of my shotgun under the cridders chin ( the coon not my dog) let one fly good bye coon. Mind you my dog had the other end I real did want to shoot my dog but I had a safe shot and he was'nt going to stop nor did he stop shaking the headlless coon until I took it from him- He was pretty pissed

I am new to dogs and for that matter hunting ( 6 years hunting 2 years with the dog ) What should I have done? Thank god Its was'nt a shunk.

My dog is all caught up on his shots does not appear to have a scratch on him. Any thing I should worry about?

Good new I took 2 very nice roosters with my m12 16 gauge The dog pointed them and retreived to hand

Member Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 110

I'm intimately familiar with bird dog/raccoon run ins. Out during daylight and not running isn't a good sign

First, call your local health department. Ask for their recommendation. If rabies is common, ask for them to test the coon.

If the beast is rabid you've very possibly had an exposure.

I had similar situation in October. The beast was positive and resulted in me getting a series of shots over a few weeks (the dogs just needed a booster).

This is nothing to mess around with...

Guest

You also need to take your dog to your vet and perhaps start him/her on a strong antibiotic. I almost lost a good setter to infection transmitted by a raccoon bite.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

Definetly have the dog tested even if no marks are easily seen--Much better safe than sorry Wink

Member Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 110

MN has very good web info. This is a real pain to deal with (and the shots are awful). But you'll rest much easier after you follow up with some health professionals.

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/rabies/risk/human.html

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/rabies/risk/table1.pdf

Thanks for the info on this subject.

My dog hasn't ran into a coon, yet. but I'll keep this in the back of my mind.

Now if you want to talk about porkupines - well that's another story! Sad

Best to all

Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Southbury, CT

I've run a Border Collie in Search and Rescue for some 11 years now, and the puppy is in training as a replacement. We've experienced the World Trade Center and coastal Mississippi post-Katrina.

Lots of good info posted here. Maybe a few exceptions...

The Health Department would need to inspect the animal's brain to see if it was positive for rabies. Sounds like that isn't an option in this case!

But it's true that they are nocturnal, and anytime they are out in daylight you have to suspect -- unless the dog found the coon's bed!

If the dog is current with shots, the rabies wouldn't be the issue -- an infection from the bite would certainly be. Spend the $ and go to the vet.
Cheap insurance.

Now the important part....YOU! If you handled the animal at all, or even handled the dog's mouth after the incident, they you are in danger of contracting rabies. I had an incident where I assisted the local Animal Control Officer with dispatching a goat that had been mauled by a loose dog. After the fact the Town paid to send me to my physician for a checkup just in case the offending dog might have been infected. It's not something to mess with. Get yourself checked also.

Due to rabies, our once-extensive population of racoons is practically non-existant. I haven't seen a coon in Connecticut in at least 5 years.

-Dave P., K9-Handler

Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 11 Location: central, MN

I don't believe you have anything to worry about. The coon semi-hibernate in the cattails. Your dog found one and woke him up and thus - It's time to get it on. Any animal with rabies or distemper has been dead since first frost or so. Very common in the cattails this time of the year in Minnesota.

Member Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 1975

To be safe take the dog to the vet. I used to raise coonhounds. We would hunt them in the sloughs in January and February. They will come out and sun themselves on a sunny day.

This is late, but Mrs. Dr. Livertick says:

1. Have the dog checked, immediately.
2. Rabies is a bloodborn disease and has nothing to do with the time of year, as far as infection goes.
3. Technically, the dog needed to be re-immununized within 48 hours of suspected contact.
4. The dog should be isolated for 10 days.
5. The coon should be sent in for a check.

She says do not take your chances. I'd risk it, but I don't wear a seatbelt, either. Still, don't fool (the best choice of words here) around with it.

CB