My dog got attacked today

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Charem

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My poor little terrier got attacked today by a lab. It was horrible. I was over at a friend's yard about to ride her horse and the lab from nextdoor came over (they're currently replacing their fencing so there's lots of gaps). My little dog went up to him to say hello and the bloody thing grabbed hold of and started shaking him. I couldn't believe it. I shouted/growed as loud as I could and it ran off and my poor boy just bolted back to the car.

He had three puncture wounds, one big one which was bleeding quite badly and two slightly smaller ones that were trickling. The neighbours clearly heard me shouting and came over and offered me a ride to the vets. Bless his little cotton socks he as so well behaved whilst vet cleaned the wounds and then put some staples in the big one. She said that he's possibly got damage to his lungs and that I've basically got to watch him like a hawk and keep him as quiet as possible. She's also given him a few jabs and some tablets for the next few days and he's got to go back to the vets on Monday morning for a check up.

He was still fairly perky at the vets but since being home I think the shock has set in a bit. He's very quiet now and is hiding under my bed:( He's not interesting in eating anything (including the Waitrose organic free range chicken that I bought him). I've been checking his gum colour every hour and they're a bit paler than normal but not too bad.

I guess I just feel really rather sorry for him at the moment. It just happened so quickly. I've since found out that the dog has done simular (though never this bad) before. The neighbours in all fairness have been very kind, they have paid for the vet bill, agreed to pay any other associated costs and have put stock fencing up to block the gaps.

Has anyone else's dog ever been attacked by another dog? What injuries did they get and how long did they take to recover?

Thanks. Healing vibes for Remy would be very much appreciated. He's looking very sorry for himself atm :(
 
so sorry to hear about that, my JRTx was attacked at 6 months old and I know how traumatic it was for us and him so can understand how you must be feeling. My little Stan had one puncture wound but luckily for him it didn't need stitching, so we just kept it clean and it healed up in a couple of weeks. Unfortunately he has been left with a bit of a fear of big dogs - once yours is healed up, do you know any soft, dopey big dogs he could spend time with to build his confidence back up?

Hope he's on the mend soon
 
Regarding 'getting back to normal', with the best will in the world, I know it is human nature, but try to pretend it did not happen, don't feel sorry for him, do not fuss him, try not to freak out when you see another dog coming, son't scoop him up, don't 'there there', be strong and calm for him.
All this will reinforce that he is right to be scared and nervous, it will create feelings that he will feel as stress and pressure and that can create huge issues down the line. Stay bright, be positive, play with him, try and bring him out of himself.

As Bex said, try and find some big calm dogs to hang out with and make it a positive experience.

Hope he feels better soon :)
 
aw no! bless him. i would say hes gone quiet because all the bruising and soreness will be coming out, and he'll probably be very achy in the morning.

though despite their size, terriers are extremely hardy little things. hope he gets better quickly.
 
Thanks for your replys everyone.

I've just been up to check him, he's still under the bed but perks up if I make funny noises.

That sounds like a good idea finding a big soppy dog to get his confidence back when he's better. A friend has a failed police GSD that would be perfect.

Thanks for your comment CaveCanem. I felt mean telling the kids not to fuss him when we got back. They're all for wrapping him in a blanket and reading him a bed time story :P He seems happy enough under the bed, i'll just keep checking on him through the night and see if he's up for a little chicken and rice in the morning!
 
Terriers are very Hardy Sorts bred to take this sort of treatment just let the little fella get over it in time as the neighbour has paid the Vet they are doing the right thing and off the record assuming liability. You hear more and more cases of Labs attacking other dogs which was unheard of years ago I can only assume its down to the breeding today.
 
Poor chap :-(
Hope he is feeling better this morn.
About a month ago Bob got attacked by the yard terrier when he was tied up....the first i knew about it was when i looked over and his whole side of body was covered in blood! (ears bleed alot and he has lost a chunk of his)!
Good news is he still wants to play with the dog that did it...maybe Bob is a bit thick?!!
 
I know a dog (Hooch lookalike) that died recently after being savaged by a lab. Interesting comment about the breeding - my uncle always had labs for shooting when we were growing up and I could no more imagine one of his labs attacking another dog than of seeing pigs fly..
 
Hope Remy is doing OK, Buddy my JRT got attacked by a greyhound when he was a pup. It had him by the throat and would not release, to the point where his eyes were bulging and his tongue lolling out. It was horrific, and I was 5 months pregnant at the time. He suffered similar puncture wounds to his neck, but he recovered quickly and is fine now, but he does not like greyhounds!!! Interesting about Labs, I have been around all types of dogs all my life and I have only been bitten once - by a Lab.........not that it puts me off, lots of family members have Labs and they are all as good as gold.
 
Maybe it is because labs normally have such a good reputation that any story of them being poorly behaved/attacking seems so out of character. I had a lab years ago from Battersea and soft wouldn't begin to describe him.

Hope your terrier is making a speedy recovery..
 
My little lurch has been attacked more times than is fair for one poor pup!
It started off when she was about 8 months old and she stuck her nose out to say hello to a staffie and the blooming thing bit her nose!

On another occasion she was playing with a border collie on the beach and when it's owners walked away it took a flying bite as it ran past her and ripped her side open. Being a thin skinned little thing that one was touch and go but fortunately healed really nicely in the end and hasn't left a mark.

Once on holiday in France we were walking along the pavement and a dog shot out of a shop and bit her! Another trip to the vet's for staples - but in French this time.

She was also bitten by a greyhound who was a regular walking companion and who's house she would go to for parties. That was the only time that the owner has covered my vet bill.

Needless to say she is now so nervous when meeting new dogs that I have to introduce her really carefully. Luckily she has some lovely doggie friends to play with (including a couple of labs funnily enough) so we tend to stick with them these days! I don't know what it is, she must just give off the wrong body language or something.

Hope your little one is feeling better now?
 
puppystitch said:
My little lurch has been attacked more times than is fair for one poor pup!
It started off when she was about 8 months old and she stuck her nose out to say hello to a staffie and the blooming thing bit her nose!

On another occasion she was playing with a border collie on the beach and when it's owners walked away it took a flying bite as it ran past her and ripped her side open. Being a thin skinned little thing that one was touch and go but fortunately healed really nicely in the end and hasn't left a mark.

Once on holiday in France we were walking along the pavement and a dog shot out of a shop and bit her! Another trip to the vet's for staples - but in French this time.

She was also bitten by a greyhound who was a regular walking companion and who's house she would go to for parties. That was the only time that the owner has covered my vet bill.

Needless to say she is now so nervous when meeting new dogs that I have to introduce her really carefully. Luckily she has some lovely doggie friends to play with (including a couple of labs funnily enough) so we tend to stick with them these days! I don't know what it is, she must just give off the wrong body language or something.

Hope your little one is feeling better now?
Click to expand...

Some dogs to seem to have "attack me" written on them somewhere. I have a friend who has a truly sweet and affable choc lab bitch. This dog has been badly savaged inumerable times - and unprovoked as well. My bitch took an instant dislike and is normally not really bothered by other dogs either.
 
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