I have a black lab that I don't allow on the trapline with me, but he's always waiting when I return from the woods.

My question is: Is there any issue with the dog "checking out" the furbearing critters I bring home? I don't mean giving them a good licking, but just sniffing them. Also, are there any issues with the dog licking up any blood that may have dripped on the ground?

My concerns are whether or not a pet dog could catch things like distemper, rabies or something else from the carcass or any fluids?

My dog is fully vaccinated for rabies and distemper.

Sorry, inadvertently posted this in the ADC Forum after reading the earlier post about distemper.

TrapperME

Don't be sorry. Us ADC guys pride ourselves on having as many dumb answers as hunters or fur trappers. I never protected any of my dogs from all the bacteria found on dead game. I never had any problems and I'm sure that I can thank the up-to-date shots for that.

Paul hit on the key. Make sure your dog is up to date on all shots and check up. Also worming as they can pick that up anywhere outside.

I would personally teach the dog to avoid my catch, because I had a bad experience.

My first ever rabbit that I shot I skinned and stretched proudly on a board. I was 12 years old. The next morning, I went to check on it and see how it was drying.

I let my Dad's dog into the garage ahead of me, and I stopped to turn around when someone called my name. By the time I yelled an answer back, and went inside, well, he had already snatched it. I discovered that the pelt was gone, save for a few dime-sized scraps nailed to the board. The dog slunk away out of the garage, licking his chops.

Dogs can, and will, consume and destroy your pelts. All you have to do is turn your back and something can be ruined or chewed up.

Thanks, all.

My dog is vaccinated and is very well trained that my animals are MINE and not his. I don't generally let him around my catches or what I hunt, but he is always interested in sniffing them some when I bring something home.

I guess I was most concerned about him licking up the blood that gets on the floor, or licking a potentially infected animal near the mouth/snout.

TrapperME

Distemper and Parvo are airborn virus', and can live up to a year in the enviornment. Rabies is known to airborn, but is only supposed to live for a few minutes in sunlight.

Why take a chance.

I would also worry about worms, ticks and fleas.

Yeah, he's wormed, and we put Frontline on religiously.

Thanks for the input

I take my Mountain Curr with me. Shes my Otter toilet locater!

Any of you guys own a "dead animal in the wall" locater? And wives don't count.

This might deel with deer Blood and your dog

Hunters beware of EEE, take precautions

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Oct 24, 2009
AUGUSTA — According to Deb Turcotte, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, the greatest Eastern Equine Encephalitis risk facing hunters is exposure to mosquitoes, not handling or consuming healthy deer.

While other mammals and birds have been exposed to the EEE virus for decades, the press release said there is no evidence that direct contact with these species can infect humans.

While human infection is rare, hunters should take extra precautions against EEE. Use insect repellents for protection from bites until mosquitoes are no longer active. Hunters should also wear protective clothing.

Also, hunters in interior and coastal York County, coastal Cumberland County, Kennebec, Waldo and Penobscot counties are advised:

• Not to handle or consume wild animals that appear sick or act abnormally, regardless of the cause. All other deer meat should be cooked thoroughly (170-180 degrees) to kill the EEE virus, should it be present, as well as any other viruses and bacteria.

• Wear heavy rubber or latex gloves when field dressing deer.

• Handle knives carefully.

• Minimize contact with brain or spinal tissues. Do not cut into the head of any deer that behaved abnormally, even to remove the rack. When removing antlers from healthy deer, use a hand saw rather than a power saw, and wear safety glasses.

• Bone out the carcass, keeping the head and spine intact.

• Wash hands with soap and water after handling carcasses and before and after handling meat.

• Thoroughly sanitize equipment and work surfaces used during processing with bleach solution (1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 gallon water). Consider keeping a separate set of knives used only for butchering deer.

• Freezing meat does not kill the EEE virus.

• While in a few cases dogs have been reported to have been infected with EEE, they are not a primary species of concern. Transmission of EEE is primarily by mosquito bite. While it would be possible for a dog to contract EEE retrieving an infected bird, the dog would have to have a cut in its mouth and come into to contact with the bird’s blood.

The appearance this past summer of EEE in Maine horses prompted the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Maine Medical Center, and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct a study this deer-hunting season to better understand the distribution of the EEE virus in Maine.

Harvested deer will be examined for the presence of EEE by testing their blood for antibodies specific for this virus.

Deer are widespread in the state, are susceptible to infection with the EEE virus, and should be a good sentinel of EEE virus activity.

Health officials hope to use the survey to map the prevalence of the disease in the state.

Hunters should be aware the presence of EEE in deer does not affect the meat of the animal. Finding EEE in samples does not indicate an infectious deer. It only indicates that EEE antibodies are present.

Coyotes and fox may have the mange. Can easily be passed on to your lab.

Fleas and mange mites are always a concern for my dogs when on the line or in the shop. I flea spray my shop before the season, during and I hit all my fox and coyote after dispatching with a can aerosol and my truck bed also.

You get a new dog Bobby?