Moreover, if a groundhog bites your dog, this fatal disease can also be transmitted from the groundhogs body as these rodents are known as the carriers of rabies. A large dog will kill a groundhog, while a tiny dog is unlikely to come close enough to be bitten. Knowing a groundhog's instincts can help you as the dog owner make predictions about how your dog might react if he sees one. They almost look like squirrels but are bigger in comparison to a squirrel. Punctures dont usually start bleeding right away, and you may notice them after theyve had some time to form. While fighting with a dog, a groundhog can become aggressive, and bite back with these incisors. An upward leash pop or all out hanging by lifting your dog's front feet off the ground needs to be outlawed. Distract your dog from a distance. Groundhogs can and do contract rabies and it is a concern. All dogs have a varying potential to bite. I figure if he could do this to a groundhog, he could do it too a cat as well. Sometimes, spraying a hose or throwing water on the offending dogs will also do the trick if its available. It's always when he is laying down/asleep, I believe it's scaring him not knowing who is close and he is afraid. groundhogs possess large incisors to bite through hard surfaces in front of the mouth, Tularemia is a contagious disease known to be a bacterial infection. It mainly affects hares, rabbits, and rodents like squirrels and groundhogs. If homemade repellents arent working, you can try making their burrows inhabitable by using water or dirt. . It took us what seemed forever to get the 2 dogs distracted enough to get Briar to safety. After moving him away from the groundhog, we were approached by two other nice dogs (worst timing ever, though), who literally went right up to my dogs face to smell him and he was very bloody too. My Dog Was Bitten By Another Dog: What Do I Do? There are different breeds of dogs that you can have in your home as a pet. Evaluate how much stress the attack is worth to you and if you feel like worse could happen in the future. Witnesses? Sharing a passion for dogs and helping owners to solve problems through understanding canine behavior and modification is my number one goal. Add New Sources of Food. However, they will most likely be able to dig it out again. Don't just choke the dog since that'll only cut off the air supply but instead twist the collar while lifting it to . Groundhog bites dog Dogs will not always deter groundhogs, however! Over the last decades, they have gained in population after almost going extinct. As mentioned earlier, groundhogs carry the plague bacteria Yersinia pestis. Its also possible for dogs to pick up other diseases from eating dead animals, including food poisoning. 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). Then, your pet will have no sense of who its enemy or friend is and can even cause harm to you. The Best Automatic Ball Launchers for Dogs, How Long Should I Play with My Puppy? The answer is that you should be worried if your dog killed a groundhog. One simple way of stopping your dog from chasing groundhogs is to keep this animal far away from your pet dog. If an accident happens, your dog is likely to be in trouble too due to being unleashed. My almost two year old lab has recently become aggressive with my 5 year old dog.other than with that dog, she is sweet and submissive. In fall, groundhogs also eat roots, leaves, barks, and twigs of trees as plants become scarce though they prefer plants and vegetables. Should I Be Worried? They mainly eat clover and alfalfa but also dine on grass, weeds, dandelion greens, and other herbs, fruits, and veggies. I suggest doing so by carefully approaching your dog using a calm voice, averting your gaze, and turning your body away from her. Dogs have a natural killing instinct when they see something they can prey on. 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. we have rescue dogs an old austrailian silkie, a young shitzu,a jack russell we rescued 7 yrs ago we have just took on a wire haired pointer griffon hes been ok for a couple of months now suddenly the jack and him will start eyeballing then go for it, one fight took off where the griff had the jack around the throat i managed to part them with puncture wounds to the jack i seperated the living area and upped the walksthis seemed to work for a few weeks then the griff launched an attack on the jack again had him by the throat i quickly quelled it but they walktogether outside and go to the feild not a problem. The pathogen can infect groundhogs, and then when a dog comes in contact with an affected groundhog, your pet will also get affected by the bacteria causing the disease. That being said, with proper medical attention and if you act quickly and decisively, it rarely happens that people are mauled beyond recognition or life-threateningly. Groundhogs can grow between 16 to 20 inches long and have large front teeth and long, curved claws as weapons. What happens to that dog from now and the reimbursement of your vet bills really depends on your local law. Theyre most often found across the central and eastern United States, living as far north as Canada and Alaska. Has your dog eaten a groundhog? If so, then youve come to the right place. Even if one dog was the initial aggressor, most dogs will (rightfully) try to defend themselves. Its best to check out your local law, especially if youre thinking about pressing charges or suing. Certain dog breeds are more prone to chasing small animals (terriers and hounds, for example). Unfortunately the state of WV has a 1 bite law ( humans) that gives the dogs another chance. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks or "whistle-pigs." The familiar name woodchuck actually has nothing to do with wood, and stems from the Native American names for them: wuchak, wejack, and possibly otchek, which is a name for fishers. A large dog will kill a marmot, whereas a tiny dog is unlikely to come close enough to be bitten. Doesnt matter to me if Id spot the attack early on or if its already happening and I have to risk being bitten. Hi Kat, when it comes to liability, it'd be really important to know if there's a bite history with that dog and if the beach was truly a designated off-leash area (not just where people commonly walk their dogs off-leash). Groundhogs are the largest species in the squirrel family. Depending on your local law, you shouldnt count on that though, especially if you have a breed thats affected by breed-specific legislation. 2. Panicking can only exasperate the. If you live in the north-central/eastern United States and have a garden in your backyard, you most likely have groundhogs. Dead or discolored areas of your yard that follow a specific path (this is most likely the site of the groundhogs tunnel system). For more information, please see our 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. I don't know for sure, but I think he hit it in the head, which did largely nothing. Squirrels: Though innocent looking, the damage that a squirrel can inflict may require a trip to the vet. You can use shrubs and trees to prevent early nesters from moving in. Do I HAVE to take him for a checkup? Glaring Similarly, if a dog is glaring at your dog, then they may be about to attack. Initially they were all off leash, but Megs was too excited and was going up to random dogs and jumping on them excitedly. Some good indicators of a groundhog's presence in your garden include: A hole 10 to 12 inches wide in the ground or under an outdoor storage shed with mounds of dirt outside of it A tomato with a good-sized bite taken out of it The feathery tops of your carrots have been mowed down Natural Ways to Get Rid of Groundhogs What To Do If a Dog Bites You: Steps To Take Immediately. 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. But oftentimes there have been subtle signs prior to the attack. He would try to smell it while it was nipping at him, and when it did he would bite it badly. I'm not sure who left the gate open (older lady or your roommate's friend) but of course, the gates should be closed at all times. This occurs in many cases where an owner believes that by displaying aggressive behavior, their dog is being bad. Not only is it important for your own dog, so that they never have to suffer the trauma of an attack by that dog again, but its important to keep other dogs and their owners safe as well. They are a medium-sized stocky rodent, a little smaller than a raccoon. He lives around neighborhood cats and I really dont want to risk it. Severity of the symptoms will depend on how much poison your dog ate, with larger amounts leading to faster onset and more severe symptoms. Trembling. Remove visual stimulus, get something between you (umbrella, car, garbage pail, blanket, etc.). Ground Hog. If a dog is growling, snarling or baring their teeth, this is the most obvious sign of aggression and that a dog is ready to bite or attack. In general, if you followed all of the leash laws, your dog is properly registered, up to date on vaccinations, and generally well-behaved you will think that youll not be found liable for a dog attack that your dog did not provoke. Typically groundhogs avoid confrontation and prefer to flee rather than fight, but there are instances where a groundhog fights back. That's gross. Or he was bitten by a small dog and inflicted more harm in defense? Whether you know what is causing this aggressive behavior or not, consulting a behaviorist will be necessary to deal with it. Animals ( terriers and hounds, for example ) a squirrel groundhogs avoid confrontation prefer! Its available, what to do if your dog attacks a groundhog something between you ( umbrella, car, garbage pail, blanket,.! Has a 1 bite law ( humans ) that gives the dogs Another chance can and do contract and. Try making their burrows inhabitable by using water or dirt count on that though, especially if youre about. 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