what to do if your dog attacks a groundhog

Press J to jump to the feed. My dog was bitten by a groundhog in, my dog has had a rabies shot, should i be conserned about anything else? Groundhogs are the largest species in the squirrel family. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. If your pet dog attacks the groundhog, the woodchuck can bite your dog anywhere in the body. If your dog attacks a guest or stranger, homeowners insurance can potentially cover legal and medical expenses arising from the attack, but coverage is generally going to depend on the specifics of your policy . Rather, aggression is a combination of genetics, upbringing, and environment. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, usually are viewed as nuisance animals for homeowners and farmers. There's no right way to feel when one loses a dog. Then join our exclusive club! Sharing a passion for dogs and helping owners to solve problems through understanding canine behavior and modification is my number one goal. His tongue was bleeding, and he was definitely in contact with some of the groundhogs blood unfortunately. Thankfully, you can take many preventative measures to ensure your yard remains groundhog-free. Groundhogs are extremely prevalent in the north-central and eastern parts of the United States. Yes, it is possible to get rabies from a groundhog, if it bit your dog. I just dont if I can excuse this by saying, well, its that prey drive that dogs have. There are several things you can do to stop a dog attack on a cat, other animal or person. As they are rodents, groundhogs possess large incisors to bite through hard surfaces in front of the mouth. Destructive behaviors. 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. After dressing the wound, contact your vet to schedule an appointment so a professional can assess the injury. This is extremely important as you don't want your dog to eat it since groundhogs often carry infectious diseases. Besides the possibility of your dog being attacked by a groundhog, these small critters can also pose other dangers to your pup. Fortunately, dogs will often encourage groundhogs to stay away. Know what to do if your dog ends up in a fight. SuperbDog.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. 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. No need to worry about your furry family member. We now have them mostly separated but they still both sleep with us with no issues. The answer is that you should be worried if your dog killed a groundhog. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If trapped or cornered, a beaver will attack a human. 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. It can be a bite, and there are also several other means by which this disease can spread. Expert's Assistant chat. You'll want to keep your dog up to date on the lepto shot too if it's an issue in your area since wildlife carries this. 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. 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. A groundhog can cause rabies, tularemia, and even the plague. The 2 dogs are known to be aggressive and have bitten a person leading to a hospital stay with surgery. Then, if possible, gently wash and disinfect the bite site to help stop the infection from setting in. Your situation might be totally different (seniors, people with medical conditions, and so on). Its always important to stay calm and assertive in an adrenaline-soaked stand-off. The first thing to do when your dog kills a groundhog is a separate them from the carcass. Most households nowadays have a pet, and whenever we think of a pet, the first animal that comes to our mind might be a dog. What if your breed falls under breed-specific legislation? 1. The Best Automatic Ball Launchers for Dogs, How Long Should I Play with My Puppy? Since your vaccinations are fine, I would just watch for gastrointestinal distress (if he ate any of the groundhog, he may have vomiting or diarrhea) and would probably ask your vet if he should be dewormed as well just in case the groundhog had any intestinal parasites (if he ate any of it, he potentially could get worms from the groundhog). Any advice on helping his recovery an of its worth trying to get reimbursed for the vet bills? If your dog has been vaccinated with the rabies vaccine, then your dog will not have any problem even if a groundhog bites it. Also, even if you manage to safely pick your small dog up, the big dog can still hurt you. Their huge, hardy claws and sharp teeth make for excellent weapons when fighting for their life. These rather big predators are also known as the Pumas. If your dog is small, place them in a wash basket or box lined with a blanket or towel. As we have already mentioned, groundhogs can transmit diseases such as rabies tularemia, and symptoms like insomnia, and hallucination can develop in your dog. Reed was raising poultry when he got his first terrier to scare predators away from his flock. I figure if he could do this to a groundhog, he could do it too a cat as well. Other Groundhog-Related Risks To Your Dog. Having a dog comes with a lot of responsibilities. Friend dog needed rabies shot was overdue. However, they will most likely be able to dig it out again. This is also my first time posting here so sorry if I do anything wrong. In the Cut. If the cat and the dog live inside together, a lifetime may . My Dog Chewed a Lidocaine Patch. I figure if he could do this to a groundhog, he could do it too a cat as well. Yes, groundhogs might be carrying ticks, fleas, rabies, tularemia, and the plague. Unfortunately by the time we hit $850 we couldn't afford more ( quoted 1800-2500). Separate Your Dog From The Carcass. Another problem is that the groundhog could have been poisoned. If youre on the receiving end, talk to the other party. Beau and Megs and the other boxer did not join in the attack at any point. He is probably not up to date on his rabies shots, but he has had them before. Adult males can grow to be 13 lbs and are around 18-20 inches long. /r/dogs is a place for dog owners of all levels of knowledge, skill, and experience to discuss all topics related to dogs. If bitten by a groundhog, gently wash and disinfect the bite site. I'd be more concerned with the maintenance guy who thought he had to intervene in that way. Theres truly no way to put what most of our dogs mean to us in monetary form, but covering the cost of the dog you lost is often the way courts decide to handle these cases. Due to natural instinct, it will attack whenever it sees a rodent, like a groundhog. This can occur in both humans and animals. 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. (You'll also get inside info and cool deals.). How Stella Got Her Groove Back. 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. was he leashed and viciously attacked or not). Nothing happened. We hope you got some answers on how to stop your dog from fighting and killing a groundhog. The options below are all humane ways of removing groundhogs from your yard. 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. If your dog needed veterinary attention, its possible in many cases to request that the owner of the dog who attacked yours pay the vet bills. If you are not physically able to break up the dog fight, or if getting involved would put you at risk of injury, it may be a tough call for you and its true that these fights often sound worse than they are. All opinions remain our own. Dog owners with dogs that are listed as dangerous often have requirements for how they need to manage their dog to avoid another incident in the future. Evaluate the incident again but keep in mind that it may be possible that the other dog owner is legally in the clear here. You can use carrots, sweetcorn, and other food items that a groundhog eats as baits. Shouldn't the owner, knowing their dog is reactive have taken more precautions than just having it leashed? if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thepupcrawl_com-leader-1','ezslot_5',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepupcrawl_com-leader-1-0');As we have reached the end of this article, we hope that now you know what to do if your dog kills a groundhog. In many places, dogs will be listed as dangerous or another similar designation after the original incident happens. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. As soon as you find out, you should take him to your vet for a quick checkup. It sounds as if you've struggled quite a lot with the dog jumping up on dogs and slipping away repeatedly. Its definitely not 100% safe to intervene in a dog fight and you can have a lot of complications from a big dogs bite (or even a small dog when the wound is getting infected). The man was trying to get him to stop. Groundhogs are smaller in size compared to dogs. Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. It's impossible to know for sure whether a woodchuck has rabies just by looking at it. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. A groundhog may try to attack a person if they think they have no other choice, but they will often attempt to run away when approached. Luckily he is healing physically, but emotionally I'm afraid we will have more work an time. No matter how it starts, a dog fight is a scary occurrence. Allow her to come to you if she isn't tied or in a kennel. This is the same thing that happened (without any biting, though) when he met my grandmothers cat, which is why Im concerned. Its also possible for dogs to pick up other diseases from eating dead animals, including food poisoning. Theyre about 20 inches long, with a 6-to-7-inch tail. Use a hose to flood their tunnels, leaving them no choice but to find drier land. Punctures dont usually start bleeding right away, and you may notice them after theyve had some time to form. However, they will stand their ground and confront a threat. A police report was filed. Repeated incidents are not looked upon favorably, especially if the dog owner was ordered to leash their dog at all times (or when a short leash is required due to breed-specific legislation). Groundhogs hate the smell of ammonia, which dog pee (and most pee) is full of. 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. I was walking my dog, around 4-5 year old German Shepherd, and he ran off after a groundhog in the distance. Rottweiler Growth Chart When Are Rottweilers Fully Grown? But they wake up early for love. 9. Over the last decades, they have gained in population after almost going extinct. Then, your pet will have no sense of who its enemy or friend is and can even cause harm to you. Along with other types of smaller mammals like possums and groundhogs, raccoons are considered vermin by most insurance companies. Continuing to hold the back legs of the dogs, each person should slowly continue backing away until the dogs can be contained. Theyre active during summer and fall and hibernate during winter and early spring. 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. ), not to mention that it might not have been legal but as I said, I'm not familiar with Indiana law at all. Please make sure that there is an emergency fund for your dog in the future. STEP 1: Prevent nesting by maintaining your yard. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Another thing is possible disease. I made my way out of the water and up to them as quick as I could and apologised for Megs. Groundhogs fall in the category of prey. Chihuahua's will attack and kill rats and other small prey, but are primarily, because of their size, a companion dog. A groundhog is a rodent but is much larger than a mouse or even some rats. His rabies shot has lapsed, so I'm really worried. Shouldn't the apartment complex had signs up to close gates? Yes, a groundhog can attack a dog if they feel threatened and cornered. Sometimes, your dog can be the problem too: Why Do Dogs Kill Kittens? Groundhogs are true hibernators, which means they stay in their burrows during cold months to sleep through the winter. Although related to ground squirrels, they grow to be much larger about 2 feet in length and 10 pounds in weight. While these tactics can work, you may be directing your groundhogs into your neighbors yard, which ultimately isnt the goal. Nuts- Shagbark, hickory, acorns (nut of oaks and contains seeds). Image Credit: Justin Dalton-Fiallo, Shutterstock. Cougars & Mountain Lions. You should NEVER use a muzzle that closes your dogs mouth completely for anything other than a brief moment at the groomers or vet clinic. Eventually she went in and killed it There are cases where the family pet was taken away after a scuffle just for evaluation and ended up being euthanized, so never give up your dog and consult a lawyer if you feel itd be wise to do so. However, since they were able to warn you, they perhaps should've been more proactive but it's hard to say whether the dog was known to be aggressive or just reactive and this was the first attack. Snakebites . Urination or defecation. They are actually quite common across America and they can also snatch a dog. Wild animal attacks typically result in pet insurance claims for treatment of lacerations, bite wounds, puncture, and soft tissue trauma. The chances of a groundhog causing rabies in a dogs body are rare, but the chances are not null. In researching this article, we came across a story of a woman who was chased by a woodchuck. These rodents can weigh between 6-12 lbs, making them the same size as a small dog! Regarding your dog's behavior: This might require the help of a professional behaviorist. What should you do if a dog attacks you? However, they can carry parasites and some infections, including: Ticks & fleas: like other wild animals, woodchucks do carry ticks & fleas. They are a medium-sized stocky rodent, a little smaller than a raccoon. Once your pet calms down, take your pet far away from the dead groundhog. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. These rodents usually dig burrows in grassy areas and eat through gardens causing a lot of damage. Hitman. Evaluate how much stress the attack is worth to you and if you feel like worse could happen in the future. A groundhog can cause rabies, tularemia, and even the plague. Usually, this only happens in cases where the owner was extremely negligent and knew their dog was aggressive but allowed another attack to happen. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are aggressive animals that are hard to get rid of when they invade your property. 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. Fetch Machines for Fetch Machines! Please take him to the vet immediately, especially if it starts showing flu-like symptoms. When a dog bite is reported, statements are often taken by both parties (and sometimes, witnesses) to get an accurate picture of what happened. The vet will need to send it off to be analyzed for rabies. Surely the culpability for the incident is shared? The short answer is YES, you should. The major problems that they cause are the large holes they dig and the damage that occurs from this animal. Constant vocalization and barking. Rat. I asked the woman to help me and we were finally able to free my dog. Your dog may have just had negative experiences in the past or is simply not socialized. Hi there. 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. Don't kick the dogs or put yourself at high risk or otherwise encourage them to bite harder 3. I ended up putting her back on the lead, but she got away from me twice. Its best to check out your local law, especially if youre thinking about pressing charges or suing. 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. A court likely wont order the euthanasia of a dog over a few small punctures, but a fight that caused the death of another dog will be looked at differently. Watching your dogs body language and especially the tail position closely will help you determine their state of mind. 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 . One of the most important tools to consider in managing a dog that has the potential to bite is a muzzle. 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. My Dog Ate a Groundhog Will He Get Sick? Multiple raised dirt mounds in your yard. Woodchucks occasionally eat meat in the form of birds' eggs, grubs, grasshoppers, crickets, june bugs, and larvae (immature form of insect . Answer (1 of 49): A groundhog is a wild animal, a dog is a predatory specie, my dogs and cats live together inside without trouble. Primarily herbivores, they will occasionally eat smaller rodents and insects. Having a pet in the house will make your life full of joy and happiness. Groundhogs have thick brownish fur and claws that help the burrow underground. This disease is spread through the saliva of an animal. Are you worried the groundhog could make your dog sick? By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Groundhogs can climb and dig, making them a double threat. Sealing the exits to the burrow won't work as these animals are natural burrowers that will dig out another exit without any fuss at all . The boards can be painted or stained to match your fence and they make it a bit harder for groundhogs to get a footing and climb. 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. 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. Tularemia is a contagious disease known to be a bacterial infection. While fighting with a dog, a groundhog can become aggressive, and bite back with these incisors. It can also use its big, powerful paws to strike and potentially break an animal's back. He has tried to run off sometimes before, chasing after cats and sometimes birds, and I am not always successful in holding him back. 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. Squishy spots in your yard where the soil is very loose. Certain lines of breeds whose terrible breeders foster and feed traits such as aggression do exist too. Use a strong, deep, and confident commanding voice. Unfortunately the state of WV has a 1 bite law ( humans) that gives the dogs another chance. 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. Providing advice, opinion, humor, information, and product reviews. 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. Otherwise, youll be trapping them in your backyard. None. Do I HAVE to take him for a checkup? You can use shrubs and trees to prevent early nesters from moving in. Drooling. 3 Reasons Huskies Howl & What to Do About It. Theyre most often found across the central and eastern United States, living as far north as Canada and Alaska. Wanna boost your dog's superpowers? What should you do if your dog attacks a groundhog? You can see groundhogs outside their burrows through late spring, summer, and early fall. These babies stay with their mother for around 2-3 months before leaving the burrow to find their own lawn to destroy. You can always try filing a claim but your neighbor might end up fighting it and I'm not sure what your options are or if you have any financial aid. The attacking dog has free movement while the leashed dog being attacked is restricted by its natural defensive instincts. Was one of them a recent addition? Coyotes If its too late and they have already infested your yard, below are some helpful tactics to eliminate groundhogs. I ran in and tried to pry apart his jaws with my hands (risky, I know, but I was panicked and he wouldn't let Archie go). Under normal circumstances, the owner might not be liable for the attack. Theyre often spotted in backyards and parks, diving into their underground burrows to avoid confrontation with predators and other curious animals. The 2 dogs penned him inside of the large shelter we have in our kennel. If your dog killed an infected groundhog, it is very much possible that the infection passed on to your dog. Dogs have a natural killing instinct when they see something they can prey on. However, you should never use it to hit the dog. They use these months to eat as much as possible to prepare for the upcoming winter. Copy. And yes, you should be worried if your dog has killed a groundhog. This species is the famous "giant squirrel" that many people have complained about in America. As ever, prevention is the best way to stop groundhog attacks, so stay vigilant while your kitty is outside. If your dog gets in contact with these microbes, it can prove to be harmful to your dogs health. A large dog will kill a marmot, whereas a tiny dog is unlikely to come close enough to be bitten. 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. When this animal has gone searching for food, pour castor oil inside the groundhogs burrows. While its a scary event to witness a dog fight, it often feels even worse when its your own dog that attacked another dog. Is the Kong Classic the Best Dog Toy Ever? Additionally, groundhogs have sharp claws, and your dog might sustain injuries in the process. 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.

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