Bit of advice about dog please

medders2604

Hi all sorry for fairly long post and thanks in advance for any help

Had a problem earlier with my neighbours dogs. They have a staffy and a rottie (only about 1 but very big). Never had any problems with them until today.

Walking back from the field with my elderly diabetic dog when while passing the neighbours drive the rottie pushed open the gate (not on latch) sniffed at my dog once and then nipped her on the back end, the staffy hearing my dog yelp came out and must have thought my dog had bit the rottie (no chance she was too busy trying to run away) and also nipped at my dog. Both then got more aggressive and luckily I managed to get my dog into my drive and away before too much damage was caused.

I will be speaking to the neighbour in the morning (only her son at home when this happened) regarding the dogs and getting something on the gates to makes sure they are latched properly and also maybe increasing fence height as rottie can already climb over.

I am a bit worried about my dog though. I checked her over thoroughly and neither nip has broken the skin although she was red over both areas so think thats all OK. However since it happened she has hidden in the corner and wont come to me at all just stares at me. I can't get her to eat her tea (not good when diabetic so had to blood test and give tiny dose) and can't get her to go out in garden for bathroom before bed. I know she is scared but I don't understand why she is hiding from me.

Any suggestions on how I can reassure her and get her outside (she is too big to lift even now I have stopped shaking)? Will be taking her to the vets in the morning if still wont eat and have already set alarm for every few hours during the night to check her blood sugar is OK.

foreign_correspondent

Oh dear - personally I would try and distract her with a game or favourite toy, and try her with her tea again, then I would probably sleep downstairs with her - it sounds like she is really shocked, poor old girl.

scruffy96uk

I agree with FC,
t's not nice when something like that happens.
Let us know how she is.
Could you let her sleep with you for the night, just for reassurance we did that after our dog had an op as he was being very wary, he snuggled up and was quite happy.

jenhug

Don't fuss around her, act completely normally. If you fuss her you will reinforce the fear.
So sorry this has happened to your dog, how awful.

foreign_correspondent

jenhug wrote: »

Don't fuss around her, act completely normally.

with a young dog maybe - but for an elderly diabetic dog I would be concerned, and would either ring the vet for advice or sleep with her, especially as she hasnt eaten, so I could monitor her overnight...

The only time I ever let the dog sleep on my bed was on holiday after she had stolen and demolished a bar of very dark chocolate - I spoke to the vet who advised me to keep an eye on her over night...

I expected her to sleep on the bottom of the bed, but instead she walked right up the bed, and flopped onto her back, with her head on the pillow, right at the side of me, and promptly started snoring - I slept with my hand on her chest all night so I could feel her heart and be aware of any changes - i only dozed, but the dog slept lke a log!

SAMHP_2

Ask the vet if it's OK to use Bach Rescue Remedy if this ever happens again - we use it on our Lab who has become terrified of fireworks and just sits under the table shaking. A few squirts on her gums defintely helps - only I'm worried that with the alcohol content it might not be the best thing for a diabetic.
SAM

foreign_correspondent

How is she today medders?

medders2604

Thanks for all your help, I slept on the sofa with her still in the corner all night but she has eaten today so seems better in herself although still scared of absolutely everything although she has at least come over to me today a few times.

I spoke to neighbour today and the dogs will now be spending their time in the back garden rather than on the drive where they can easily push the gate open. All seemed good this morning after the chat. Downside of this is that the dogs from next door having spent the day on the back have figured out how to climb over the gate between mine and neightbours back garden where they have spent the day so Im stuck. I went into kitchen earlier to see the rottie looking at me through the french doors.

I've asked neighbour to get a proper higher gate sorted but she doesn't seem in any rush at all to do it even after whats happened so looks like I will be taking the trip to the field several times a day to give my dog a bathroom break as I daren't risk her in the garden and there is no grass for her on the front.

Any suggestions on how I can get the neighbour to hurry up the gate issue? I have looked at getting it done myself but with the cost of new posts, gate and everything else its going to cost me a fortune. I have said will contribute if that helps but response I got was its OK I'll get it sorted sometime. ARGHHHH help!

foreign_correspondent

can you or the neighbour stick some trellis across the top of the gate? Dong generally avoid climbing on anything that looks unlikely to be solid enough to hold their weight.

I would also appeal to your neighbours better nature, explaining that the diabetes can sometimes cause the dog an urgent need to pee, so you need to be able to let your oldie out at all times without worrying the dogs may end up scrapping, as you fear with yours being an oldie that she couldnt take the shock again!

medders2604

Thanks FC I hadn't though of that will be off to B&Q for trellis first thing in the morning and try and stop them that way.

foreign_correspondent

good luck with it! Glad to hear your old girl is a little brighter today :-)