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My 12 kg hunting dog tracked down and ate a raw wild rabbit yesterday — what should I watch for?

Dogs · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

Raw wild rabbit carries real risks — parasites like toxoplasma and protozoa, plus bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that live in wild game. Watch your dog for vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or unusual lethargy over the next several days. If she starts showing any of these signs, call your vet and tell them exactly what happened. Keep her well hydrated and offer bland food if her stomach seems upset. The biggest danger with raw wild rabbit is not immediate poisoning but infection that can take days to develop, so don't wait too long before seeking veterinary advice if anything seems off.

Quail — Food safety facts

Safe to share · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

Cooked quail meat is safe. Never give cooked bones — they splinter.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Safe to share), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Quail is not toxic to dogs. The real limit is calories, fat and salt, so treat it as a small extra alongside the normal ration rather than a meal in itself.

There is no poisoning risk here, and the usual problem is simply eating too much at once: a heavy fat or salt load can bring on loose stools or a single vomit. Offer water, keep an eye on the pet for 24 hours, and do not induce vomiting.

Why these cautions matter

Cooked bones splinter rather than crumbling, and fragments can lodge in the throat, stomach or bowel, sometimes needing surgery to remove.

Quail can stay on the rotation, but only as an extra mouthful: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Quail food facts page.

Open the full food page: Quail food facts →