Can dogs pick up any illnesses from chickens?

[Artie]

Hi all -- I just got my chicks yesterday and we're (me and my two dogs) still adjusting to the change in our household. So far my boys (dogs) and chicks haven't met, but before they do meet I want to make sure I'm not putting my boys at risk in terms of anything they might pick up from the chicks. The dogs are out in the woods tearing around eating God knows what, yet for some reason the thought of germs that the chickens might have makes me uneasy. The chicks came from a farm where there were lots and lots of animals. So is there anything I need to be worried about here? Thank you.
Artie

 

[Oregon Blues]

My dogs never got sick.

I've heard that horses can get coxcidosis from chickens, but my horses never got sick either (of course, the chickens were never sick)

I don't think it is anything to worry about.

 

[Barrdwing]

Dogs love to eat chicken poop, and poo being what it is, it contains a load of bacteria. Some chickens will harbor bacteria in their gut that you do not want your dog consuming, so if at all possible, keep the dogs out of the chicken coop. They might have no ill effects, or they might blow up with some legendary vomiting and diarrhea; it all depends on the individual situation (and Murphy's Law). Also, soiled chicken litter that hangs around for a while, or gets wet, can grow some pungent and sometimes dangerous bacteria (i.e. clostridials, which can be deadly). Dogs are attracted to strong smells, often ones that we find very offensive. It's second nature for a dog to lick or mouth something that smells like that, and boom. Exposure.

But on general principles, keeping the dog out of the chicken coop is a good idea, because first they go and eat chicken poo and then they come give you a big kiss on the face!

 

[redhen]

Yeah.. not sure if thay can catch anything..but i ALWAYS freak out when i see my dogs eating it... i can just imagine what they can catch from it... Gah!

 

[RedReiner]

yes they can, dogs can get coccidia from the chicken poop. its not pleasant when a dog gets it.

 

[geebs]

Yes Coccidiosis!!! It can be deadly to dogs... If your dog gets depressed and isn't eating.. definetly tell the vet. They don't test for it... My friends dog was eating out of my yard... I told her not to let her dog roam around where my chickens had been.... 800 dollars and two weeks later her dog came home from the vet.... NO JOKE.

 

[Artie]

Thanks everybody!

The dogs won't be going in the coop but I assume that in the future after the chickens have been out free-ranging the dogs will encounter their droppings. I know they eat all sorts of poop from wild animals when we're out on our walks. Once has to wonder why they never get sick because surely wild animals get Coccidiosis or similar diseases as well.

Artie