Dog bite

[Rogue]

Yesterday poor Rogue got bitten badly on the inside of her right leg by another dog who rogue knows well. We brought her to the vets straight away and she had to be sedated so they could flush and stitch the wound, they also had to put a drain in. Rogue do not do well under anaesthetic and it took her a while to come round as she's allergic to most medications. We brought her home last night and she cried all night(she sounds like a baby when there starting to cry and sob, its heartbreaking to hear her). She is eating normally but will not drink, the only way she will drink is if I put tuna in her water (had nothing else to put in her water last night to get her to drink). I brought her to the vets again this morning because I was very worried about her, basically the vet said the wound looks fine and she had no temperature and that its because of the incident that she's upset ad crying. I'm convinced that there might be something the vet is missing, I'm home today with her and she's still crying and refuses to drink water but she will drink when I mix the tuna in it. I'm going to the vets again tomorrow morning to get her drain removed and hopefully there's a different vet on duty so I can get a second opinion. I'm just wondering does this sound like normal behaviour after a dogs being attacked, am I overreacting?

 

[ruthcatrin]

Can you add water to her food? Will she eat it that way? If so that might help.

I've never had a dog that seriously attacked so I can't compare, but they will do all sorts of things in reaction to stress and pain, so I'd say its possible its a reaction to the attack. I assume however that you and the vet thuroughly checked her mouth and throat?

 

[Rugers-Kris]

I have never dealt with anything like this but I wanted to say that I am so sorry that this happened to your girl. How sad she sounds. Sending positive thoughts your way. Please keep us updated.

 

[Rogue]

Thanks Ruth, I tried that last night but she wouldn't drink it that way either. Yea she was checked over very thoroughly and I checked her over again this morning to see did we miss anything. The other dog pinned her to the ground and she had to be pulled off Rogue as she had Rogue's leg in her mouth. She could be feeling upset after the attack. Ill keep a close eye on her today anyway.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Maybe some home-made chicken (or other meat of your choice) broth? Go light to none on the seasonings, skim the fat and let it cool and see if she'd do that instead?

 

[Rogue]

Aw, she's breaking my heart, she really isn't happy. Thanks Kris, hopefully she'll be feeling better soon. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can.

 

[Rogue]

I've a pot of chicken on now for her, hopefully she'll drink that. Thanks again

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Im sorry to hear about your girl, I know how terrifying it can be, my Akita was attacked by two staffies at 3 months old and it really shook me up. I wonder if Rogue will lick ice cubes? It might be a way of getting water in to her without actually having to drink it. I would worry about Rogue creating an aversion to water and it becoming a long term problem. You definitely have to find a short term solution and maybe ice cubes could be it?

 

[Laura Lee]

I'm just wondering does this sound like normal behaviour after a dogs being attacked, am I overreacting?

A dog that doesn't drink for a spell after a traumatic incident is not all that alarming to me.

My 4 year-old female BM jumped out the window of my slowly moving car a couple of months ago. We always keep the windows up when driving, but lower them so the car will air out while parked in the garage. I put the windows down while pulling into the driveway and as bad luck would have it, a rabbit darted in front of the car. She saw it, her prey drive kicked in and she jumped. She got hurt -- not badly, just some road rash and a bump on her noggin. I, of course, took her to the vet straight away. It was a traumatic experience for her and she wanted nothing to do with her water bowl for a couple of days. She got all the hydration she needed at that point by me mixing her kibble with water or soup broth.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Good to know! Not that your girl got hurt of course but that she was ok and back to drinking normally after a couple of days.

 

[ruthcatrin]

The other thing, did they give you any antibiotics or pain meds? Those often screw with their system enough to throw off interest in food or water.

 

[Laura Lee]

Good to know! Not that your girl got hurt of course but that she was ok and back to drinking normally after a couple of days.

Thanks. I felt horrible and cried off and on for a couple of hours. I felt like I really let her down by being so stupid. Needless to say, I now wait until I've parked the car in the garage before putting the windows down.

 

[Penelope's Mom]

Franklin attacked my daughter's boxer Oliver several months ago. He did damage to his leg and ear. Oliver acted the same way as your baby. He wouldn't eat or drink, and he whimpered for a day or so after that. We used some low-sodium chicken stock in his food and water and after a couple of days, he was acting normal again. I guess they go into shock when something like that happens. Good luck.

 

[Rogue]

Thank you all, its a relief to know its normal behaviour and that there isnt anything else wrong.

 

[Rogue]

Yea she's on antibiotics and pain meds so it could be that and shock that she's not herself and drinking. I just worry when she's not well.

 

[AKBull]

Have you tried giving her ice cubes?

 

[Rogue]

Glad your girl is better now. It's horrible when anything happens to them. hopefully rogue will be back to herself soon

 

[Rogue]

Yea put ice cubes in her water, wont touch them. She can be stubborn when she wants too . Im after putting treats in ice cubes and freezing them so i say she'll have
them.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Also consider diluted pedia-lite too, as an alternative liquid source.

 

[musicdeb]

Rogue is stressed due to the attack. Poor Rogue~ Be patient with him. If doesn't drink for a couple of days, then worry. As long as he is eating and doing is business outside, I would not worry unless he stops drinking completely after a couple of days.

Please keep us posted on Rogue and give him big slobbery kisses from Titan!