Give Your Dog a Life Line

This morning our surgery schedule was interrupted by an emergency HBC (hit by car).  We started to work immediately in attempt to save the small breed cocker mix.  I.V. fluids were initiated in order to replace his rapidly diminishing blood pressure drop.  Shock will cause a drop in blood pressure (hypovolemia) and replacement fluids will help maintain their blood pressure.  Unfortunately, fluids were not enough for this guy.  Our patient was loosing blood rapidly within it's chest cavity and passed away.

A difficult thing for this owner to learn, but for a simple leash, this dog's life would have been it's life line.

HBC pets are a common occurrence and for many of them, the lack of a simple leash leads to injury.  Some are injured by an unlatched gate, an open door and a mad dash for freedom (an obedience skill worth teaching-wait by the door until a leash is attached), but for many it is the naive belief that their owners voice has greater influence than the cat or squirrel that just run in front of them across the road.  My dog, Port, has an excellent recall aka 'come', but I can promise you that if a cat from across my road runs through my neighbors yard and he see it…. he is gone and suddenly I am the most boring person he knows and the least heard.

Over the years I have witnessed horrible injuries related to trauma created by cars; collapsed lungs, ruptured bladders, internal bleeding that could not be stopped, and broken bones.  Most of these injuries were preventable with just a bit of forethought and common sense.

I know not all accidents can be prevented, and most pet owners are responsible and have their pet's safety foremost in their hearts.  However, taking the time to leash train your dog, teaching "sit" to wait at the door for leashing, teaching your dog to walk quietly on a leash in face of distractions, can all be measures that every dog owner should take to help decrease the never-ending dangers that exists for them in the big wide wonderful world.