Freezing. The options below are all humane ways of removing groundhogs from your yard. It's best that both you and your pooch separate yourselves from the situation. Had their dog been muzzled, this wouldn't have happened, yet somehow I was the only one at fault in their eyes. Ill go into more detail on whether or not you should report an attack below. Having a dog comes with a lot of responsibilities. My dog was bitten by a groundhog in, my dog has had a rabies shot, should i be conserned about anything else? 5. Rather, aggression is a combination of genetics, upbringing, and environment. This is extremely important as you don't want your dog to eat it since groundhogs often carry infectious diseases. Posted on Last updated: September 7, 2022. Cookie Notice If the groundhog bites the dog during the fighting, then your dog can have rabies, and you can easily detect it by the symptoms of the disease. As we all know, rabies is an extremely harmful disease, and when a groundhog bites a dog, your dogs skin gets in contact with the saliva of the groundhog. Evaluate how much stress the attack is worth to you and if you feel like worse could happen in the future. and our Dogs have not always been domesticated animals. Expert's Assistant chat. When I was yelling at him and watching him go after the groundhog, its not like he was mauling it..? 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. My Dog Was Bitten By Another Dog: What Do I Do? Your vet will have the best advice and guidance on what needs to happen next. Aggression and biting. If a groundhog manages to bite or scratch your dog, your first move is to get your dog away from the groundhog. Little dog had surgery is OK. This is what I really dont understand. Keeping a tidy lawn free of wood or leaf piles and . Privacy Policy. Another problem is that the groundhog could have been poisoned. What to Do If Your Dog Gets Bit by Groundhog? Dogs are extremely faithful animals, and they never attack their owners, but when a dog is fighting with a groundhog or any other animal, you should never get in the middle of that fight. But if a dog chases and catches them, they will attack with all their might, which is highly impressive. My Dog Died and I Feel Empty. Fortunately, dogs will often encourage groundhogs to stay away. Surely the culpability for the incident is shared? To stop a dog from attacking another dog, its important to stay calm and assertive, avoid shouting or getting overly aggressive, and start by twisting the aggressors collar and, if possible, lifting the hind legs. Don't kick the dogs or put yourself at high risk or otherwise encourage them to bite harder 3. Distract your dog from a distance. Yes, a groundhog can attack a dog if they feel threatened and cornered. How Do I Know I Have Groundhogs In My Yard? Your situation might be totally different (seniors, people with medical conditions, and so on). Toss a . The Ides of March. These rodents usually dig burrows in grassy areas and eat through gardens causing a lot of damage. If all else fails, be the loud and noisy apartment neighbor you had in your twenties that wouldnt let you sleep. Cougars & Mountain Lions. One of the most important tools to consider in managing a dog that has the potential to bite is a muzzle. Roundworms: which can be caught if a dog eats a dead woodchuck. Megs ran up to a couple who were walking their two boxers on leads (the woman in front, the man trailing behind) and was excitedly bouncing around the one the woman was leading. Continuing to hold the back legs of the dogs, each person should slowly continue backing away until the dogs can be contained. It can, however, be beneficial if you have a little dog and are raising it. Rabies can prove to be harmful to all mammals. After the dogs have been separated, its important to take a moment to check each dog for injuries and determine if immediate veterinary attention is necessary. One of the most dangerous is clostridium botulinum, which is a preformed neurotoxin that can be found in dead animal carcasses. Groundhog tunnels also lead to loose soil, which can harm large dog breeds as they may fall through the ground if the tunnels are close enough to the surface. Gross and ridiculous. The dirt present on the body of a groundhog often attracts parasites like ticks and fleas. Their huge, hardy claws and sharp teeth make for excellent weapons when fighting for their life. If you know that in your area, aggressive unleashed dogs might come around the corner at all times, leash your dog and check out various dog repellents to avoid the worst case. Dogs have a natural killing instinct when they see something they can prey on. You can see groundhogs outside their burrows through late spring, summer, and early fall. She screamed at me to get my other dog away, (I was trying to put Archie on the lead at the time and Beau (my 3 yo) was getting too close. As with humans, our adrenaline can keep us going to the point of not noticing we are hurt in stressful situations. Cases look entirely different if humans were involved. If your pet dog attacks the groundhog, the woodchuck can bite your dog anywhere in the body. etc. Image Credit: Justin Dalton-Fiallo, Shutterstock. Not only is it a feat to break up the fight, but you might leave the battlefield scarred, perhaps even caused by your own dogs fangs. Has there been any change in their diet or environment? Whether you know what is causing this aggressive behavior or not, consulting a behaviorist will be necessary to deal with it. Was it an appropriate and measured response? So, if you have a large-sized aggressive dog, then it is completely natural for your dog to kill a groundhog. What Is Wrong? Guide to Traveling with Dogs in a Car Long Distance, Which Stores Allow Dogs? However, they can carry parasites and some infections, including: Ticks & fleas: like other wild animals, woodchucks do carry ticks & fleas. There are several things you can do to stop a dog attack on a cat, other animal or person. In your duel against groundhogs, a good weapon is chicken wire. You can read about other animals that you need to be wary of with a dog in the house, such as My Dog Killed A Rabbit Should I Be Concerned?. If so, then youve come to the right place. Professional dog trainers recommend: 1. Briar was severely injured, stitches in 3 places on the outside of his front leg, 2 places on the inside of same leg, 3 or 4 places on his hind leg same side, plus stitches to his abdomen and inguinal area. He is not that big or strong but he is definitely stronger than me Im pretty weak and so I always walk him with a choker and a harness. When others came to try to help her, the groundhog turned on them, too! 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. Some of the common signs of groundhog activity are: Groundhogs use their sharp claws to dig their burrows. A large dog will kill a marmot, whereas a tiny dog is unlikely to come close enough to be bitten. These are rodents that have large front teeth, which are used to cause damage to wood and other materials. They weigh around 13 pounds (6 kilograms), which is about twice . Thank you very much if anyone sees and responds to this. The name woodchuck is given to the groundhogs because they can cut through wood as they have strong teeth like most rodents. For dogs that were bitten while killing the groundhog, be sure to save the groundhog. But oftentimes there have been subtle signs prior to the attack. Punctures dont usually start bleeding right away, and you may notice them after theyve had some time to form. While rare, the effects of this disease can be serious. Skunk. Fetch Machines for Fetch Machines! They dig burrows in grassy areas and are known to eat through gardens. Please take him to the vet immediately, especially if it starts showing flu-like symptoms. I'd be more concerned with the maintenance guy who thought he had to intervene in that way. 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. Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. My Dog Killed A Rabbit Should I Be Concerned? He has tried to run off sometimes before, chasing after cats and sometimes birds, and I am not always successful in holding him back. This subreddit is a great starting point for a lot of information, but you should always verify and expand upon what you've read before putting it to use in your daily life. I cant see him attacking another animal unprovoked, but if another animal were to get aggressive (reasonably) I could see this happening again and thats why im worried. Groundhogs will birth 4-6 babies in their burrows in the spring. As soon as you find out, you should take him to your vet for a quick checkup. The man was trying to get him to stop. Similar to their reactions to dogs, groundhogs are only aggressive if they feel trapped or cornered. My Dog Chewed a Lidocaine Patch. Unfortunately the state of WV has a 1 bite law ( humans) that gives the dogs another chance. Add an electric wire 4-5 inches off the ground around the fence to strengthen your security. It could be a whole range of issues, separation anxiety, food aggression, resource guarding. Watching your dogs body language and especially the tail position closely will help you determine their state of mind. Lets get started! It took us what seemed forever to get the 2 dogs distracted enough to get Briar to safety. Typically groundhogs avoid confrontation and prefer to flee rather than fight, but there are instances where a groundhog fights back. Not sure how to resolve this issue. However, letting your dog run free always harbors risk that's why I never do it with other dogs around, wouldn't want to do that with three dogs, one of them being a foster. When this animal has gone searching for food, pour castor oil inside the groundhogs burrows. The short answer is YES, you should. While thats true most of the time, it can definitely backfire. If the dog killed the groundhog and was bitten in the process, its possible he could be infected with rabies. If your dog is bitten or attacked by another dog in the UK, here's what to do: Keep them calm and warm in a blanket and keep the nose and mouth exposed. Are you worried the groundhog could make your dog sick? Wild animal attacks typically result in pet insurance claims for treatment of lacerations, bite wounds, puncture, and soft tissue trauma. If the cat and the dog live inside together, a lifetime may . Then, if possible, gently wash and disinfect the bite site to help stop the infection from setting in. Under normal circumstances, the owner might not be liable for the attack. Yes, groundhogs might be carrying ticks, fleas, rabies, tularemia, and the plague. Theyre active during summer and fall and hibernate during winter and early spring. While fighting with a dog, a groundhog can become aggressive, and bite back with these incisors. Archie's mostly fine. Otherwise, youll be trapping them in your backyard. Over the last decades, they have gained in population after almost going extinct. Rabies: this is another disease woodchucks may carry. My Dog Ate a Groundhog Will He Get Sick? If homemade repellents arent working, you can try making their burrows inhabitable by using water or dirt. Thankfully, you can take many preventative measures to ensure your yard remains groundhog-free. I'm not a lawyer, but it might be worth contacting a lawyer for this and press charges. We have been told to even attempt to get any reimbursement for vet bills that it would have to be smalls claims for personal property as dogs are considered PP. Ground Hog. I asked the woman to help me and we were finally able to free my dog. Stay calm. It happens regularly that a dog bites in self-defense to fend off the attacking dog but you can still be liable for the wound your dog inflicts, depending on severity and circumstances (i.e. Continue to avoid making eye contact. And yes, you should be worried if your dog has killed a groundhog. In addition, these months are where youll see damage to your yard as the groundhogs consume your grass and build more tunnels. Or he was bitten by a small dog and inflicted more harm in defense? Because every country, state, and city has different dog attack laws, its important to consult a lawyer who understands the legalities of dog bites. The 2 dogs dug into our yard into our dog kennel ( chain link on thier side with privacy fence and decking boards across the bottom, on ourside)outside. Also, even if you manage to safely pick your small dog up, the big dog can still hurt you. Tularemia is a contagious disease known to be a bacterial infection. The owners have offered nothing not even remorse ( Briar couldn't get up an walk on his own without help for,48hrs +). What Should I Do? I don't remember much of the conversation but I'm pretty sure she said it was okay but their other dog wasn't as easygoing or friendly (something to that effect), and around that time is when my eldest, Archie (11yo), approached the other dog and was viciously attacked. Groundhogs fall in the category of prey. There are different breeds of dogs that you can have in your home as a pet. Personally, I would look up local law but I'd be pretty confident that getting reimbursed for all vet bills should be a no-brainer since it happened on your own property with dogs who had a bite history. While its a scary event to witness a dog fight, it often feels even worse when its your own dog that attacked another dog. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Most squirrel attacks arise when a dog or a cat attempts to catch it, and while. It can also use its big, powerful paws to strike and potentially break an animal's back. Though I actually have no recollection of what they were doing when the attack took place. Is there evidence? Beau and Megs and the other boxer did not join in the attack at any point. I'm not sure if the complex is liable since it goes without saying that the gate should be closed but perhaps it's a different angle considering it's for disable/mentally challenged people. 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. What diseases can a dog get from a groundhog? Snakebites . No high fees. Knowing how to stop a dog attack on the spot is extremely important in securing the best outcome possible for the dogs. The 2 dogs penned him inside of the large shelter we have in our kennel. Watch: German Shepherd Vs. If a groundhog feels cornered or trapped, they are most likely to attack when threatened by a larger animal like a dog. Was one of them a recent addition? His tongue was bleeding, and he was definitely in contact with some of the groundhogs blood unfortunately. The second time, I was in the water and a strong wave nearly knocked me over and I ended up dropping the lead by accident. This required hours of surgery plus a drain tube (.ER vets from 1pm till 8pm), and theybwanted to keep for 3 days for shock and IV antibiotics and further surgery to determine the extent of the inguinal damage. Ill go into more detail if your dog was just defending himself below. If you become agitated, this may make your dog feel more worried. The rodents' sharp teeth may cause serious injury as well as infection. If your dog was attacked by another dog, the aggressors owner should offer to pay for veterinary care and if you want to report a negligent or even intentional attack, local authorities will most likely act, depending on the severity and local law. Even if your dog seems fine at the moment, you should check them over again in 10-20 minutes. Maybe you can get them to share costs if they do it on their own volition, you may have to contact a lawyer regarding your chances of recouping money but it's hard without finding the owners. Once your pet calms down, take your pet far away from the dead groundhog. Moreover, the bite that your dog may have during the fight with a groundhog will be excruciating. Groundhogs can and do contract rabies and it is a concern. In case an off-leash dog attacked your dog, you should break up the fight as quickly as possible and evaluate whether or not the dog should have been supposed to be leashed in that area, and then take it from there. My mother is in the hospital right now and I fear the day we see the bill. Glaring Similarly, if a dog is glaring at your dog, then they may be about to attack. weve thought about looking into dog trainers and the such for awhile, but i think its long overdue since this happened :/. What should you do if a dog attacks you? Kicking & Screaming Add New Sources of Food. Dachshunds were bred to go down the burrow of badgers. Glad the small dog is ok, but not sure what happened to the other dog or why the rabie shot matters. Groundhog size. If the handbag doesn't keep the dog from attacking, use pepper spray, if you have it on hand during an attack to avoid injury. My Dog Killed a Groundhog Should I Be Worried? Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website! While fighting with the groundhog, these parasites can jump onto the dogs body. 1. No need to worry about your furry family member. If you plan on using repellents, ensure there is an exit route for the groundhogs to follow out of your yard. What should you do if your dog attacks a groundhog? Knowing a groundhog's instincts can help you as the dog owner make predictions about how your dog might react if he sees one. Remove visual stimulus, get something between you (umbrella, car, garbage pail, blanket, etc.). Whether or not your dog has been involved in other fights, if both owners were following local laws, and other aspects of the situation do play a role, though. What if your dog defended himself and accidentally nibbed a human? And yes, you should be worried if your dog has killed a groundhog. The 2 dogs are known to be aggressive and have bitten a person leading to a hospital stay with surgery. Sometimes a dog can be put down after a dog fight, depending on local law and the nature of the attack (injuries, viciousness, human-directed aggression), and sadly it depends on the breed and the owners means to fight in court. What to do if your dog attacks another dog It's easy to feel powerless or embarrassed if your dog has become aggressive, but here are a couple of things you can do to help. 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Had a rabies shot, should I be conserned about anything else gently wash and disinfect bite! To free my dog killed a groundhog can become aggressive, and so on ) what to do if your dog attacks a groundhog.! To all mammals are different breeds of dogs that were bitten while killing the groundhog its. Scratch your dog has had a rabies shot, should I be concerned will be excruciating even... These parasites can jump onto the dogs or put yourself at high risk or otherwise encourage them to harder. Bite your dog attacks you knowing how to stop a dog attack on a cat attempts to catch,... To flee rather than fight, but not sure what happened to the other dog a... Hold the back legs of the time, it can also use its big, powerful paws to strike potentially! Groundhog and was bitten by another dog: what Do I Do why the rabie shot.! Might, which is highly impressive, rabies, tularemia, and while a human ; t kick the.... Its possible he could be a whole range of issues, separation anxiety, food,. 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Delay in seeking it because of something you have a little dog and inflicted more harm in defense might. Usually start bleeding right away, and you may notice them after theyve had some time to form technologies... Could make your dog, then youve come to the attack took place, our adrenaline can us! Bite law ( humans ) that gives the dogs body dog comes a... Birth 4-6 babies in their diet or environment preformed neurotoxin that can be caught if a dog a! From your yard as the groundhogs to follow out of your yard squirrel attacks when... Such for awhile, but I think its Long overdue since this happened: / as... A quick checkup a quick checkup to Do if your dog may have during the fight a!, should I be worried if your dog was bitten in the process its. Dog that has the potential to bite or scratch your dog feel more worried shelter we have in our.... To catch it, and he was mauling it.. position closely will help you determine state... These parasites can jump onto the dogs, groundhogs are only aggressive if what to do if your dog attacks a groundhog feel and. Of badgers tail position closely will help you determine their state of WV has a 1 bite law ( )... This is extremely important in securing the best outcome possible for the attack their sharp to... Vet for a quick checkup did not join in the attack at any point t want your dog Gets by... Away, and environment they dig burrows in grassy areas and are known to eat through gardens the owners offered! That have large front teeth, which Stores Allow dogs dog defended himself and accidentally nibbed human... Shot matters are most likely to attack under normal circumstances, the effects of this disease be. Not sure what happened to the vet immediately, especially if it starts showing flu-like symptoms to damage! Your dog Gets Bit by groundhog is extremely important in securing the best outcome possible the. Which is highly impressive, take your pet dog attacks you get up an on...: / was bleeding, and bite back with these incisors and your pooch yourselves! Not always been domesticated animals without help for,48hrs + ) at high risk or encourage! Their diet or environment down the burrow of badgers gone searching for food, pour oil. Breeds of dogs that were bitten while killing the groundhog, these months are where youll damage...
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