Hi - my monkey two year old retriever went AWOL for 20 mins on our walk this morning to be found stuck under some reeds eating a pheasant - completely I imagine. She cried a bit and lay down when I caught her but obviously was trying to swallow the remnants of the bird. Question is whether to call the vet or just monitor her - not a happy mum :(

Depends if you think she is suffering. Mine would eat a bird without problem as they are raw fed anyway. If you think she is uncomfotable then a trip to the vet but if she is OK just monitor her for 24 hrs. I expect you will get the remains back the other end sometime later today. It may upset her tum if she is not used to raw.
Aileen

Hi,
I think she is fine - a bit full maybe but not in any pain - I will monitor her :) I think I just got anxious when she first was found and she was crying and lying down - but she did walk the mile home with no problems. Currently in the kitchen under supervision :)

I am sure she will be fine and yes she may have an upset tum if she is not used to raw and also it may well have been dead for a while so that may also add to the upset tum !

My girls often find dead things to snack on whilst out on walks.

I'd simply look on it as finding her own dinner.  Mine have had pheasant feathers and all wihout any issues.

Saffi and River have both had whole pigeons in the last week, and my lot between them have over the years eaten rabbits, fish, cuttlefish, pheasant, bits of deer, squirrels, bits of hedgehog, mice, doves, blackbirds, sparrows, starlings, so on and so on!

Never had any trouble except for Saffi, who's overenthusiasm at the prospect of something edible did lead to a few birds coming straight back up with a squeak (from her, I think she just got poked with a feather somewhere) but she seems to have got the hang of it now.

That brings back memories!! My Marley used to do this on shoots, very embarrasing!!! he was fine in the beating line but if he happened to be picking up, before lunchtime or on the last drive he would eat a hen bird if he was sent for any. Fine with cocks and if he had just started the day but I have cringed more than enough when he has grabbed a bird and vanished behind a bush, by the time I caught up with him he was usually just polishing it off.

He was always fine and he ate feathers and feet, no waste. He still had the cheek to look for his tea!!!!

>He was always fine and he ate feathers and feet

All part of a natural diet. :-)

Thanks to all - I feel much better now - she is not doing much today - lolling around and burping! Am keeping a close eye and will keep you posted. Many thanks Diana

Wouldn't worry either, my hounds are partial to a bit of 'buffet style' eating too!!

She'll be fine as long as it was caught and killed by her (most likely scenario) or found freshly dead, the only problem is if it was a rotting corpse full of maggots etc then of course she could be ill.

If fresh and she ate the whole thing don't worry, I expect she ate everything feathers, feet and beak alike most of our dogs will eat the whole thing, unless my mum's terrier who will de-feather first. :-D

She had a very expensive dinner. :-)

Mine pick up all sorts, if it is fresh they eat it if not the just roll in it, not sure which I prefer but I would put money on the lying down and whining being because she thought she was in trouble!

I'm sure you're right there Roxylola it's not a usual response after a pheasant treat it's usually 'the cat that got the cream look.' :-)

Oops, naughty retriever! Glad to hear she's doing fine though. :-)

Should be fine.  One of my friends SWD's many years ago climbed on a box, then a table and managed to get the hanging rabbit skins from the roof.  she was fine LOL.

She just started herself on a raw food diet LOL

One of ours disappeared earlier this year, wouldn't respond to recall, couldn't find him anywhere, told myself not to panic & then from within thick bushes came the sound of munching!. Waited for what seemed like an eternity till slowly & looking very pleased with himself he reappeared with a very full stomach! His stomach was so enlarged did phone the vet, told not to feed him & just keep an eye on him. Not seen such a stomach, but thankfully he was fine & produced some very healthy output!

You might have a bit of work to do if you want to trial her! :D