My Dog Killed a Raccoon! 4 Tips on What to Do Next

By Nicole Cosgrove · Reviewed & fact-checked by Dr. Maxbetter VizelbergVet Approved

Reviewed & Fact-Checked byDr. Maxbetter VizelbergVeterinarianMaxbetter grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has been interested in veterinary medicine since childhood. Being read Russian children’s stories about “Doctor Aybolit” by his grandmother, interning at the Israeli Wildlife Hospital, and working at numerous small animal hospitals have all been part of his lifelong love of animals. Maxbetter currently practices in New York City, and enjoys educating others to help them give their animals the best possible lives. He always strives to provide excellent medical care to his patients. Outside the clinic, he can be found playing basketball and soccer, performing his rap songs at open mics, and going on hikes with family and friends.View authorThe information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. Read about our vetsUpdated on December 2, 2025

Dogs most likely won’t leave wild raccoons alone. Their prey drive or guarding instincts can kick in and get them into a fight with a raccoon. It can be alarming if your dog ends up killing a raccoon, but it’s important to stay calm and make sure that you act accordingly for your safety and your dog’s safety. Here are some specific things you can do if your dog kills a raccoon.

The 4 Tips on What to Do After Your Dog Killed a Raccoon

1. Separate Your Dog from the Raccoon

Make sure to separate your dog from the raccoon carcass and drop it if it’s carrying it in its mouth. Don’t touch the raccoon with your bare hands. Wear protective gloves and try to get the raccoon out of your dog’s mouth. You can also try encouraging your dog to drop the raccoon by using a treat or distracting it with its favorite toy.

Never touch the raccoon with your bare hands. Raccoons can carry several parasites and transmit diseases ¹, including rabies, roundworms, giardiasis, and leptospirosis.

Polish hunting dog sniffing in the woods — Image Credit by: Mateusz Borek, Shutterstock

2. Check for Any Bites and Wounds

Once your dog is separated from the raccoon carcass and in a safe space ², examine your dog’s body for any bites, scratches, and other injuries. You can clean and disinfect minor scratches with warm water and an antiseptic solution.

Make sure to check your dog’s mobility as well. Raccoons can be fierce and strong, and it’s possible that your dog may have gotten a sprain or fractured a bone while attacking or defending itself.

3. Schedule a Vet Appointment

It’s best to schedule an appointment with your vet to do a physical exam on your dog and to treat any significant injuries or wounds. While rabies vaccines are highly effective, they aren’t 100% effective. Your vet can help you determine the next steps when caring for your dog and provide any information on relevant treatment, such as rabies prophylaxis, when applicable.

golden retriever dog at the vet — Image Credit: KHON SUPAN, Shutterstock

4. Remove the Raccoon Properly

There are several ways to remove the raccoon carcass from your property. You can dispose of the carcass in your trash bin or bury it yourself. Make sure to wear protective gear, including gloves, long sleeves, and a face mask. The carcass should be double bagged before going in the garbage bin. If you plan to bury the raccoon, dig a hole at least 2.5 feet deep, and at least 6 inches of soil should cover the carcass.

You can also call your local animal and wildlife control. Some may dispatch a technician to remove the raccoon carcass from your property or give you some referrals for removal services.

How to Prevent Future Incidents

Raccoons are common backyard animals, so it’s very possible to have repeat incidents. So, make sure to set up some new systems in place to reduce the risk of another encounter with a raccoon.

First, never leave your dog unsupervised in your yard, especially at night. Raccoons are generally crepuscular and nocturnal animals (active more so around dawn and dusk and frequently at night). These animals are bold and aren’t shy about getting close to houses to snoop around for food. Raccoons with rabies can also be more aggressive and more likely to attack dogs.

Hunting retriever dog — Image Credit by: Pxfuel

You can also do a thorough scan of your yard and look for any holes in your fences that raccoons can sneak through. You can also line your fence with slippery lubricant to make it more difficult for raccoons to climb. Trim any tree branches that are hanging over your fence to prevent raccoons from climbing over.

Lastly, reduce the incentive for raccoons to enter your property. Raccoons are most likely near your house because they are looking for food. So, make sure that your trash bins have secure lids to keep raccoons out. Raccoons also do not like the smell of hot peppers, garlic, onions, and peppermint oil, so you can try planting these scents around your yard to discourage raccoons from entering.

Conclusion

Raccoon attacks can be scary, but you can do several important things to help your dog get the care it needs. If your dog ever kills a raccoon, make sure to contact your veterinarian for a physical check-up and properly dispose of the raccoon carcass.

Once the dust settles, make some modifications around your house to discourage more raccoons from entering, and never leave your dog unsupervised. Being vigilant and up to date with your dog’s rabies vaccines can help prevent any other raccoon incidents and significantly reduce the risk of your dog contracting rabies.