my dog ate raw meat from the garbage

Question
Help!  My dog got into the garbage and ate raw
chicken(boneless) and ground turkey.  They were both past date,
by a week or so.  Should I be concerned?   What should I look
for?
Thanks.
Suzanne

Answer
Hi Suzanne!  A dog's intestinal and digestive tract is much shorter than ours, so they don't contract salmonella and ecoli as quickly as humans do.  The chicken (thank goodness it was boneless!) and turkey should pass without a problem.  You may see some diarrhea for a day or so, and for the next 2 or 3 days, it would be beneficial to feed boneless/skinnless/spiceless chicken shredded up in white rice, feeding as much as you normally do with his/her dog food.  This is very easy for the digestive tract to handle and will give his/her tummy a rest.  The rice also works as a firming agent if diarrhea is present. Feed only this mixture (no other treats or foods) for 2 or 3 days, and then start up again with his/her normal dog food.  If at any time your dog begins to vomit, experience bloody stool, and/or acts lethargic, a veterinary visit would be necessary.  I truly don't think you'll have a problem, but those are the warning signs to look for just in case.
I hope this helps and give that little garbage digger tons of kisses for me,
Hilary