Friendly reminder

[Libby Webb]

This is a friendly reminder about what to do if your pet has a run in with another pet.

Even if your pet seems okay --- Make sure to not only get the name and number of the pet's owner, but also the information off their Rabies medallion. You or your vet can call the offending pet's veterinarian to verify if the Rabies vaccination is still active.

Unfortunately, our sweet dog el Niño was attacked at Lynn Woods yesterday -- the result was a wound that did break the skin but at the time when I checked him over he looked OK, just scared. I neglected to get the other pet owner's info (actually, they were sort of sheepishly walking off in the other direction anyway...).

Today I brought him in to the vet - the poor little guy had to get a booster rabies shot and we got a $95 vet bill.

Libby
with El Niño & Star  (Yorkies)

[Michele Biscoe]

Dear Libby,

Poor el Niño! I hope he's okay.

I appreciate your going out of you way to encourage people to always
get the other owner's information when your dog gets into a scuffle
with another dog.

Without being able to provide proof that the other dog has and up-to-
date rabies vaccination, your dog could be quarantined!

A similar thing just happened a couple of weeks ago in a park where
dogs are allowed on leash here in Somerville. A dog sustained a
puncture wound, and the owner didn't even know that her dog had been
injured until much later that night. Because the owner did not know
what dog was responsible for the bite, her dog had to be quarantined
for 45 days and get new rabies shots.

Because of dogs' fur, their thick skin, and a survival instinct not to
show weakness or pain, it is not unusual for puncture wounds and even
small lacerations to go undetected by owners until the wound has
scabbed over. This happened to Strummer in February: she got into a
fight, I checked her over and didn't find any injuries, but,
fortunately, did get the other owner's info. Two hours later I
discovered that the fur on the inside of Strummer's ear was matted
with blood. She had a puncture wound that actually pierced entirely
through her ear and she needed skin staples. I called the other dog's
owner and he very kindly gave me all the information from his dog's
rabies certificate, which Strummer's vet was able to verify.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I hope you and your dogs get to go
out and play again soon!

Cheers,
Michele

[Pat Dains]

Libby and Michele,

Echoing Michele's sentiments, this was a great bit of info to post, so thanks Libby!  And, hoping el Nino makes a speedy recovery from his 'adventure'. 

A question, or maybe point of clarification.  In both of your cases, you are specific that it was a dog fight that prompted you taking further steps to make sure your dogs were ok.  That makes perfect sense to me.  When reading your posts, though, my mind immediately went to all those times I've had my dogs at a park or other group play situation, and they've come home with a scrape here, and a nick there.  Like you, I might not notice them for many hours afterward.  In those cases, they are the result of very active, normal dog play, with a claw or tooth winding up in the wrong place at the wrong time.  And, although there might be been skin broken and/or a bit of blood shed, most dog owners I run into accept those minor cuts and scrapes as part of the nature of park play. 

Are you (or your respective vets) recommending we capture information every time a similar incident happens?  I really hope that is not the case, as it would change the dynamics of our dogs playtime (and our own reaction to it) significantly.  It might be helpful to know (if they told you) under what circumstances your vets said you should take such action.  Is it only in a fighting situation, where the potential for more serious injury is always present?  Or, does it include any and all situations where skin might be broken?  And what about your own dog's vaccination?  Are you saying that even though it protects them, they may have to stay away from other dogs in the event those dogs are not vaccinated? 

Thanks for any additional info you can provide to help all of us continue to enjoy our time 'out in the world' with our best friends.

Pat

[Justin Grunau]

I'd like to just play devil's advocate here for a moment and mention
that according to my vet, there hasn't been a single documented case
of a dog with rabies in the state of Massachusetts for well over 50
years. If your dog gets lost in the woods and comes back with a
wound, sure, they need to be treated (even though their vaccination
would probably protect them even if they were bitten by a rabid
animal). But if your dog gets a scrape or even a bite from another
dog in a dog-park, even if the other owner is boorish enough not to
come forward and exchange info with you, then getting your dog treated
is, in my personal opinion, most likely an unnecessary expense.

[Jacki Lippman]

Can I request an alert for a cat that escaped in the Porter Square area?  He has no collar (was just adopted on Sunday) He is about 9 pounds and very friendly.  Black and white with one clipped ear.  He has a white blaze on his face that covers most of his forehead.  He is mostly black with a white belly.  He is most beloved.
 
Here is a photo.

Thanks.
 

Jacki Lippman

617-718-7196    (F)

202.744.7264    (C)

 

Poverty is the worst form of violence.

M. Gandhi

[Jennifer Rousseau]

Justin,

I'm not entirely sure your vet's information is correct.  In the summer of 2008, I was exposed to a dog that had a failed rabies vaccine and subsequently tested positive for rabies at the area shelter where I volunteer and I had to receive a series of rabies vaccine treatments.  While rabies and especially failed vaccines for rabies may be rare, it's also fatal, and important for all of us to consider when an incident occurs.

Jen

[Michele Biscoe]

There was also an incident of rabies in a Massachussets shelter involving a dog that had been rescued from out of state:

http://www.somervilledog.com/weblog/2004/07/adopting_across_state_lines.php

Jen is right:  Rabies is fatal and devastating. That why there is a law in Massachusetts requiring pet cats, dogs and ferrets to be vaccinated: It is irresponsible not to take rabies seriously.

Cheers,

Michele

[Justin Grunau]

I stand corrected. The information I got from my vet was about two
years ago, so many thanks to both Jen and Michele for setting the
record straight with more up-to-date info.