As mentioned earlier, groundhogs carry the plague bacteria Yersinia pestis. We look at the steps you should take if a dog bites your dog. Add an electric wire 4-5 inches off the ground around the fence to strengthen your security. This is extremely important as you don't want your dog to eat it since groundhogs often carry infectious diseases. Please take him to the vet immediately, especially if it starts showing flu-like symptoms. Considering the size of a groundhog compared to that of a large bear, the odds during a bear attack is unfortunately in the bears favour. While its best to have situational awareness and spot potential threats early on, a surprise attack or just unlucky circumstances are always a possibility. We now have them mostly separated but they still both sleep with us with no issues. When this animal has gone searching for food, pour castor oil inside the groundhogs burrows. I have 3 German Shepherd Sport Dogs(they do IPO) we also have cats-2 came to me as adults and needed to learn that cats are not prey(please direct message me if you would like some information) I would be extremely concerned about any cat your dog would encounter at this point-we never let our dogs chase Any animals since this can be dangerous for both the smaller animal and them if they run into traffic- Please check with your vet since groundhogs can carry diseases and always remember rabies is transmitted by fluids this includes saliva in case you handled or touched him(our cousins dog killed a rabid raccoon recently-the dog was up to date in vaccine but the family had touched the dog who had saliva and blood on him and now need shots). Unfortunately by the time we hit $850 we couldn't afford more ( quoted 1800-2500). Its best to check out your local law, especially if youre thinking about pressing charges or suing. When cornered, a groundhog can become fierce. No matter how it starts, a dog fight is a scary occurrence. Cases look entirely different if humans were involved. Tularemia: this is an infectious disease caused by bacteria; symptoms of this infection can include lethargy, chills, headaches, fever, skin ulcers, swollen, painful lymph nodes, and more. Groundhog tunnels can often be 6 feet long and have dozens of exits. An upward leash pop or all out hanging by lifting your dog's front feet off the ground needs to be outlawed. Once the fight is over, do a health inspection of your dog and if you notice something unusual, take your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic. This is why we went tonthe expense of making what was supposed to be a secure kennel ( it's the length of our house). But oftentimes there have been subtle signs prior to the attack. They are a medium-sized stocky rodent, a little smaller than a raccoon. Kicking & Screaming Groundhogs fall in the category of prey. Their holes can be 8-12 inches in size. From head to rump, groundhogs are 17.75 to 24 inches (45 to 61 centimeters) long, according to National Geographic. In your duel against groundhogs, a good weapon is chicken wire. 9. If it's a single gate, that's just waiting for an accident to happen. You can see groundhogs outside their burrows through late spring, summer, and early fall. After wrapping the bite, seek medical attention. I dont know anything about how rabies manifests in groundhogs, though. Items like pinwheels can keep groundhogs away for a short time. Can Dogs Be Retarded or Mentally Challenged? If that is not the case, take your dog immediately to a veterinary clinic for vaccination and all the necessary treatments your dog needs after the fight. Face the dog and command, "back away." If the dog continues to behave aggressively, and ignoring or pacifying him is no longer working, face him and sternly command him to leave. 1. Any of the ticks and fleas can lead to an itching sensation in your dogs body, and along with that, rashes and infections can also develop in the body of your pet. Dogs in the middle of a dog fight dont pay close attention if they are biting the other dog or if they are accidentally biting a human. Ground Hog. The owners have offered nothing not even remorse ( Briar couldn't get up an walk on his own without help for,48hrs +). if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'thepupcrawl_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepupcrawl_com-medrectangle-3-0'); For the first few weeks, you have to monitor every single movement of your dog. The holes they dig can be hard to spot, so if your dog is running in the backyard and doesnt see one, they may catch a paw in the hole. For each animal this can be a different story. Groundhogs are also known as rabies carriers which can be transmitted to your dog through a bite. Shouldn't the apartment complex had signs up to close gates? Some good indicators of a groundhog's presence in your garden include: A hole 10 to 12 inches wide in the ground or under an outdoor storage shed with mounds of dirt outside of it A tomato with a good-sized bite taken out of it The feathery tops of your carrots have been mowed down Natural Ways to Get Rid of Groundhogs Many people respond back with its OK my dog is friendly! If you find yourself in this situation, a simple my dog isnt! usually gets the point across. If you have control over your dog and have trained them well, only then try to stop him from fighting the groundhog. Try firmly telling the approaching dog a familiar cue, such as "sit" or "stay.". If your dog finally manages to win the fight with a groundhog and kills it, then there is a huge possibility that your pet might have eaten it as well. You can make your fence more secure by digging a small ditch under your fence and positioning these boards partially below the surface of the ground. However, its also important to recognize when your dog is not social with other dogs and take appropriate management steps to keep everyone safe. It's not uncommon for dogs after such a possibly traumatic experience. He ended up with a long puncture in his neck that was a cm away from his jugular, stitches in both ears and his left dew claw ripped clean off. While we all hope that we dont have to deal with a dog fight during our dogs life, its important to be prepared. Shouldn't the owner, knowing their dog is reactive have taken more precautions than just having it leashed? If your dog is small, place them in a wash basket or box lined with a blanket or towel. When a big dog attacks a small dog, picking them up and shielding them with your arms while turning to one side (avoiding eye contact) and staying calm is the safest way to deal with this situation. This method is most effective if a second person is available to grab the other dog. Expert's Assistant chat. However, you'd need to consult a lawyer. Rabies vaccinations are usually effective for much longer than the minimum requirements. When your dog is allowed the opportunity to attack another dog, not only do you risk serious injuries or death to the other dog, but the outcome can be devastating for your dog too, if you face legal action. Freezing. Punctures dont usually start bleeding right away, and you may notice them after theyve had some time to form. The chances of the groundhog even having rabies to begin with are quite low. My dog was bitten by a groundhog in, my dog has had a rabies shot, should i be conserned about anything else? At the very least, there should be reprecussions for this man as he seemingly aimed for the head (? A police report was filed. Groundhogs are true hibernators, which means they stay in their burrows during cold months to sleep through the winter. Fortunately, dogs will often encourage groundhogs to stay away. . A loud noise, such as an air horn, can startle many dogs involved in a smaller scuffle for a moment in order to get them to stop so you can intervene. The contents of the OurFitPets.com website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this site (Content) are for informational purposes only. Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. The short answer is YES, you should. Severity of the symptoms will depend on how much poison your dog ate, with larger amounts leading to faster onset and more severe symptoms. Certain lines of breeds whose terrible breeders foster and feed traits such as aggression do exist too. Once your pet calms down, take your pet far away from the dead groundhog. Symptoms of this disease are lack of energy, headache, fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a few others. Glory. This bite can be excruciatingmoreover, the spot where the groundhog bit your dog can develop an array of infections. Thank you very much if anyone sees and responds to this. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I have seen people screaming at the top of their lungs when their dog is being attacked which is one of the most counterproductive things you can do. Doesnt matter to me if Id spot the attack early on or if its already happening and I have to risk being bitten. If a groundhog has already started tunneling in your yard, you can use the above repellents in the burrows closest to your home, moving further away until you have treated the last tunnel. It is ideal for taking your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic as you might be harmed while attacking the groundhog. Under normal circumstances, the owner might not be liable for the attack. If you have a backyard and rodents like groundhogs move in and around it, then there is a high chance that your dog can attack it, and this can also happen when you take your dog out for a walk. 5. If you become agitated, this may make your dog feel more worried. What To Do If a Dog Bites You: Steps To Take Immediately. My Dog Yelps When Picked Up Under Its Chest. Fencing. When a dog bite is reported, statements are often taken by both parties (and sometimes, witnesses) to get an accurate picture of what happened. My Dog Killed a Groundhog Should I Be Worried? Posted on Last updated: September 7, 2022. Lidocaine patches are fairly common in households. While the muzzle often has a negative connotation, its truly a wonderful tool. They almost look like squirrels but are bigger in comparison to a squirrel. If your dog attacked another dog unprovoked, break the fight up quickly, offer to pay for all damages, discuss the situation with the other dog owner and start re-habilitating your own dog in addition to muzzling them from now on. Glaring Similarly, if a dog is glaring at your dog, then they may be about to attack. Just Go With It. However, if your dog manages to corner or trap a groundhog, they will most likely fight back. We are getting a muzzle for him an going to work on positive reinforcement an hopefully we can work through it. What Should I Do if My Dog Ate Wax Paper? I actually prefer this method over grabbing the rear legs as it helped me in the past. He attacked a groundhog, groundhog is still breathing, so we called animal control, but they didn't get back to us yet. She was outside, and the groundhog was rather territorial and chased the woman into her car. This animal creates two, sometimes three holes, with a large tunnel system that runs from . Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. Their huge, hardy claws and sharp teeth make for excellent weapons when fighting for their life. Stay calm. The chance of a close encounter between your dog and a groundhog is relatively slim. The Complete Guide to Dog Separation Anxiety, Stay calm and assertive, call for help and give clear instructions if possible, Dont kick the dogs or put yourself at high risk or otherwise encourage to bite harder, Twist the collar and/or grab the rear legs, Check your dog and exchange insurance information. Squirrels: Though innocent looking, the damage that a squirrel can inflict may require a trip to the vet. Having a pet in the house will make your life full of joy and happiness. Luckily he is healing physically, but emotionally I'm afraid we will have more work an time. His rabies shot has lapsed, so I'm really worried. Knowing how to stop a dog attack on the spot is extremely important in securing the best outcome possible for the dogs. It can, however, be beneficial if you have a little dog and are raising it. While they are not one of the most common vectors of the virus, a rabid groundhog isn't a pretty site and they will attack a person . Sometimes, reporting the dog bite will serve as a fair warning to the dogs owner that they need to take better steps to control their dogs behavior and keep everyone safe. My Dog Was Bitten By Another Dog: What Do I Do? Thank you for reading our article. Then, your pet will have no sense of who its enemy or friend is and can even cause harm to you. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks or "whistle-pigs." The familiar name woodchuck actually has nothing to do with wood, and stems from the Native American names for them: wuchak, wejack, and possibly otchek, which is a name for fishers. What to do if your dog is attacked Try to put a barrier between the dogs or distract the attacking dog's attention with something like a stick. 17) "Pop" your dog's leash or hang him by his collar. Toss a . Any advice on helping his recovery an of its worth trying to get reimbursed for the vet bills? Witnesses? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Signs that your dog is having a panic attack can vary widely, but some of the most common symptoms are: Avoidance of or attempts to escape a situation. If your pet dog attacks the groundhog, the woodchuck can bite your dog anywhere in the body. No waiting for appointments or office hours. But what happens if they do get into a showdown? Little dog had surgery is OK. Hitman. Guide to Traveling with Dogs in a Car Long Distance, Which Stores Allow Dogs? 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