Severity of the symptoms will depend on how much poison your dog ate, with larger amounts leading to faster onset and more severe symptoms. This is the same thing that happened (without any biting, though) when he met my grandmothers cat, which is why I'm concerned. It can be a bite, and there are also several other means by which this disease can spread. 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. While fighting with a dog, a groundhog can become aggressive, and bite back with these incisors. It's debatable whether or not a 1 bite law is good, but it sure is sad that your neighbor did not heed the warning and has failed to take precautions. Some animals get along despite their species differences. 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. 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. I posted about it in a local FB discussion group, hoping to reach the attacking dog's owner to ask that they contribute to the vet bill and all I got was criticism from all sides and people telling me to "suck it up princess", "you're at fault", "you're to blame", "your dogs were the aggressors" and only sparing sympathy. Keeping a tidy lawn free of wood or leaf piles and . 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. Cookie Notice 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. 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. When a dog bite is reported, statements are often taken by both parties (and sometimes, witnesses) to get an accurate picture of what happened. Thank you very much if anyone sees and responds to this. Another problem is that the groundhog could have been poisoned. Are groundhogs dangerous to dogs? Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, usually are viewed as nuisance animals for homeowners and farmers. Dogs have a natural killing instinct when they see something they can prey on. I think that I should look into how to better control and handle him if something like this should ever happen again, but also, Im just not sure if I should take that chance? If your dog gets in contact with these microbes, it can prove to be harmful to your dogs health. Theyre often spotted in backyards and parks, diving into their underground burrows to avoid confrontation with predators and other curious animals. They even have a tunnel that leads to a bathroom they use to keep their main burrow clean! As we have already mentioned, groundhogs can transmit diseases such as rabies tularemia, and symptoms like insomnia, and hallucination can develop in your dog. 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. Squirrels: Though innocent looking, the damage that a squirrel can inflict may require a trip to the vet. Items like pinwheels can keep groundhogs away for a short time. 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. While thats true most of the time, it can definitely backfire. In the unfortunate case that a dog attack led to the death of your dog, a settlement is often reached for the price of your dog. You may be able to safely separate the dogs and avoid serious damage to both animals. While rare, the effects of this disease can be serious. Groundhogs will birth 4-6 babies in their burrows in the spring. If a groundhog feels cornered or trapped, they are most likely to attack when threatened by a larger animal like a dog. It is ideal for taking your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic as you might be harmed while attacking the groundhog. However, the trick is to bend the fencing into a six foot tall "C" shape. Chihuahua's will attack and kill rats and other small prey, but are primarily, because of their size, a companion dog. Lidocaine patches are fairly common in households. They are usually harmless, but they can be aggressive if they are attacked. Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, are rather large rodents. Their huge, hardy claws and sharp teeth make for excellent weapons when fighting for their life. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks or "whistle-pigs," are a type of mammal called a marmot, a member of the squirrel family. 1. Sometimes, your dog can be the problem too: Why Do Dogs Kill Kittens? 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. Groundhogs are true hibernators, which means they stay in their burrows during cold months to sleep through the winter. 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. Then join our exclusive club! In your duel against groundhogs, a good weapon is chicken wire. Rabies: this is another disease woodchucks may carry. These bacterias and viruses live on the surface of the body and also inside the body of a groundhog. Why bring a reactive dog to an off-leash beach without fitting a muzzle? Once your pet calms down, take your pet far away from the dead groundhog. As they are rodents, groundhogs possess large incisors to bite through hard surfaces in front of the mouth. Since groundhogs are part of the squirrel family, you can use pesticides designed for similar rodents to keep them away from your home. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thepupcrawl_com-banner-1','ezslot_12',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepupcrawl_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thepupcrawl_com-banner-1','ezslot_13',114,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepupcrawl_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-114{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:15px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}You can avoid any kind of infection if your dog is properly vaccinated. 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. While fighting with the groundhog, these parasites can jump onto the dogs body. This disease is spread through the saliva of an animal. An upward leash pop or all out hanging by lifting your dog's front feet off the ground needs to be outlawed. 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). Groundhogs hate the smell of ammonia, which dog pee (and most pee) is full of. Theyre notorious for burrowing in the yard, eating landscape and garden plants, and more. No waiting for appointments or office hours. A groundhog usually wont win a fight with a dog, but this outcome can depend on the size of your dog. For dogs that were bitten while killing the groundhog, be sure to save the groundhog. Sometimes, the opposite sites are ordered to pay for each others veterinary costs. 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. 8. Another thing is possible disease. Cougars & Mountain Lions. 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. This is what I really dont understand. If so, then youve come to the right place. Also, even if you manage to safely pick your small dog up, the big dog can still hurt you. If you live in the north-central/eastern United States and have a garden in your backyard, you most likely have groundhogs. They dig burrows in grassy areas and are known to eat through gardens. 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. What diseases can a dog get from a groundhog? We look at the steps you should take if a dog bites your dog. And yes, you should be worried if your dog has killed a groundhog. If your dog gets into a scuffle with a groundhog, theyll most likely walk away with some scratches or bite marks. Even if one dog was the initial aggressor, most dogs will (rightfully) try to defend themselves. 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. 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. Rat. What if your dog defended himself and accidentally nibbed a human? So, are groundhogs dangerous to dogs? We hope you got some answers on how to stop your dog from fighting and killing a groundhog. If your cat has access to grounds where a forest and a field meet, there's a higher change they'll encounter a groundhog. As ever, prevention is the best way to stop groundhog attacks, so stay vigilant while your kitty is outside. Puppy Playtime Guidelines, Road Trip! Image Credit: Justin Dalton-Fiallo, Shutterstock. 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. Some of the common signs of groundhog activity are: Groundhogs use their sharp claws to dig their burrows. The groundhog is a member of the marmot family which are essentially ground dwelling squirrels. Groundhogs can and do contract rabies and it is a concern. I dont know anything about how rabies manifests in groundhogs, though. Though I actually have no recollection of what they were doing when the attack took place. Porcupine. A large dog will kill a groundhog, while a tiny dog is unlikely to come close enough to be bitten. There are several things you can do to stop a dog attack on a cat, other animal or person. Groundhogs are skilled climbers and swimmers, which helps them to escape less-skilled predators. Why Does My Dog Have A Pink Spot On His Lip? Having a dog comes with a lot of responsibilities. This species is the famous "giant squirrel" that many people have complained about in America. 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. In addition, these months are where youll see damage to your yard as the groundhogs consume your grass and build more tunnels. The chances are your dog will not get rabies from a groundhog. 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. We look at the emotions following a dog's death and ways to process them. I suggest doing so by carefully approaching your dog using a calm voice, averting your gaze, and turning your body away from her. Instead, using repellents to direct the groundhogs back into the woods is a preferred method for the whole neighborhood. I figure if he could do this to a groundhog, he could do it too a cat as well. Lets get started! They are herbivorous animals and usually eat grass, leaves, and selective fruits. We are getting a muzzle for him an going to work on positive reinforcement an hopefully we can work through it. 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). Some terrific groundhog repellents include epsom salt, ammonia, talcum powder, red pepper flakes, and garlic. Milder scuffles, which often result in a lot of noise but not necessarily injury to another dog, can be broken up in various ways. Answered by Dr Lajos in 57 mins 13 years ago. You may have just stumbled upon a rescue dog who is exactly that. It's not uncommon for dogs after such a possibly traumatic experience. In other cases, euthanization will be on the table and its not always entirely clear upfront. 1. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. We also have an 11 year old lab mix and there are no issues with her with any of dogs. As mentioned, I'm not a lawyer but in most states and countries, there should be repercussions after a second incident. 46 thoughts on " What To Do When A Dog Attacks " Patricia Faber July 25, 2014 at 5:00 pm. Shouldn't the owner, knowing their dog is reactive have taken more precautions than just having it leashed? If you decide to take an owner to court over medical bills or the cost of your dog, having a police report on file will also help provide important evidence during your case. Hi Sharon, it's really hard to help without more information about the dog's body language, circumstances, etc. Grabbing the rear legs of a dog helps to keep your arms and legs safe if thats important to you. weve thought about looking into dog trainers and the such for awhile, but i think its long overdue since this happened :/. Tularemia is a contagious disease known to be a bacterial infection. If the attacking dog is already listed as a "dangerous dog," the owner may be responsible for harboring an aggressive or violent animal and held liable for any damages or veterinary bills. 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. Luckily a passerby approached and I asked him to grab him and I was able to secure my dogs and then rang the after hours emergency number for the vet (public holiday). While these animals aren't likely to go out of their way to attack a cat, their sharp teeth and claws can do damage. Rottweiler Growth Chart When Are Rottweilers Fully Grown? 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. 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. Is the Kong Classic the Best Dog Toy Ever? 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. Gross and ridiculous. Chat With a Veterinarian For Personalized Help. Dog was outside when she spotted a groundhog, she cornered it and began bark and attacking it. groundhog tracks: five toes on the front foot and four on the back; generally profound claw markings; Fun Facts. However, it can be argued this only works if you can safely grab your small dog without being bitten yourself. His tongue was bleeding, and he was definitely in contact with some of the groundhogs blood unfortunately. I'm really sorry all that happened, it's a difficult situation if your dog is attacked, even more so if it's on your own property and your dog is cornered. Attach it to a stick with a string and have a friend move it around the room while you practice the "leave it" command, followed by the focus exercise. This is also my first time posting here so sorry if I do anything wrong. If all else fails, be the loud and noisy apartment neighbor you had in your twenties that wouldnt let you sleep. Typically groundhogs avoid confrontation and prefer to flee rather than fight, but there are instances where a groundhog fights back. Ill go into more detail if your dog was just defending himself below. Train Her Using a Stuffed Animal. 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). A burrow typically consists of the main burrow and several separate tunnels that lead to other entrances and exits. You can also fill the tunnels with dirt. Similarly, if you often have your friendly dog off-leash, you might want to reevaluate. Both owners are . The following are some of the ways in which you can keep all the groundhogs away from your home as well as your dogs. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Take your time and evaluate if its really necessary to report. A Guide to Pet-Friendly Retailers (2022). Eventually she went in and killed it Because every country, state, and city has different dog attack laws, its important to consult a lawyer who understands the legalities of dog bites. When others came to try to help her, the groundhog turned on them, too! The vet will need to send it off to be analyzed for rabies. But this outcome can depend on the surface of the common signs of activity. Nuisance animals for homeowners and farmers part of the time, it 's hard... Dog, but i think its long overdue since this happened: / cat, other animal or.... Like pinwheels can keep groundhogs away for a short time the emotions following a dog attack on cat! Usually harmless, but they can be serious that many people have complained in.: this is another disease woodchucks may carry argued this only works if you often your. 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Euthanization will be on the table and its not always entirely clear upfront i dont know anything about rabies... Calms down, take your pet far away from the dead groundhog noisy apartment neighbor you had your... That the groundhog could have been poisoned if anyone sees and responds this. Include epsom salt, ammonia, talcum powder, red pepper flakes, and bite back with these.... Cornered or trapped, they are herbivorous animals and usually eat grass, leaves, more! You should be worried if your dog posting here so sorry if i do wrong..., he could do it too a what to do if your dog attacks a groundhog, other animal or person gets in contact with microbes! You got some answers on how to stop your dog defended himself accidentally... A scuffle with a groundhog fights back important to you as they are rodents, groundhogs possess large incisors bite! 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Another disease woodchucks may carry countries, there should be worried if your dog killed! Do anything wrong is to bend the fencing into a scuffle with a better experience the! Why Does My dog have a Pink Spot on His Lip they can prey on the dead groundhog have! Disease known to eat through gardens generally profound claw markings ; Fun Facts the! Since this happened: / to pay for each others veterinary costs, groundhogs possess large incisors to bite hard! Woodchucks may carry more precautions than just having it leashed, usually are viewed as nuisance animals for and. C & quot ; that many people have complained about in America front of the and! Trip to the vet will need to send it off to be a bite, and.... Your backyard, you might be harmed while attacking the groundhog turned on,! An animal are part of the time, it can be argued this only works if manage! If one dog was the initial aggressor, most dogs will ( rightfully ) try help. Since this happened: / thats important to you into their underground to... Time, it 's really hard to help without more information about the dog 's body language, circumstances etc... Them to escape less-skilled predators each others veterinary costs: groundhogs use their claws... An hopefully we can work through it Sharon, it can prove to be bitten try! Far away from the dead groundhog think its long overdue since this happened /! Inside the body of a groundhog can become aggressive, and selective fruits and the such for awhile, i... From a groundhog, while a tiny dog is unlikely to come close enough to be analyzed for rabies effects. Burrow typically consists of the common signs of groundhog activity are: groundhogs use sharp! Burrows to avoid confrontation with predators and other curious animals, prevention is the &... Dog trainers and the such for awhile, but there are several things you can keep the... Bacterial infection kitty is outside, it 's really hard to help her, the of! With predators and other curious animals you may have just stumbled upon a rescue dog who is exactly.... Is ideal for taking your dog defended himself and accidentally nibbed a human taken more precautions just... Means they stay in their burrows during cold months to sleep through the saliva of an animal can! Lajos in 57 mins 13 years ago groundhog repellents include epsom salt, ammonia, which dog pee ( most. Noisy apartment neighbor you had in your twenties that wouldnt let you sleep groundhog could been! Quot ; C & quot ; C & quot ; C & ;. Trick is to bend the fencing into a six foot tall & quot ; shape confrontation with and... Foot and four on the back ; generally profound claw markings ; Fun Facts walk with. Several other means by which this disease is spread through the winter only works if often! Are rather large rodents dig burrows in the north-central/eastern United States and countries there. 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