Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight

A cat or dog involved in an attack by another animal can be seriously injured or killed depending on the severity of the attack. Even the people involved, from the owners of both animals, those helping at the scene of the attack, and animal hospital personnel, can be traumatized by the incident. Learn how to safely break the fight out, assess injuries and the need for veterinary care, and how to take care of your injured animal by reading this article.

Breaking Up an Animal Fight

 * 1) Consider your own safety. Anytime there is a fight between animals, humans need to consider their safety first and foremost. DO NOT grab at the animals right away. Assess the situation and try to find a way to break up the fight without putting yourself in harms way.[[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 1 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *If there is a leash on the animal(s) grab it and try to pull the pets apart. Don’t attempt to grab collars as that’s an area that animals will bite at.
 * 3) *Try to get a barrier between the animals: a piece of cardboard, a trashcan, a chair, or even a piece of luggage or backpack. Just DO NOT get your hands or arms in the way.
 * 4) Try to distract the animals from their fight. Shout at the animals, blow a car horn, or clap your hands. Sometimes a loud noise can startle the animals enough so that they can be safely separated.[[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 2 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 5) Stop the fight physically only as a last resort. A dog can be grabbed by the back legs near the hips and “wheel-barrowed” away from the fight. Just be sure not to grab lower down on the legs or you can injure the dog.[[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 3 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 6) *If two dogs are fighting both dogs should be moved in this manner at the same time.

Caring For an Animal Immediately After a Fight

 * 1) Determine if any human was injured. First assess whether the injuries are life threatening, such as bites to head, neck, or terrible bleeding. If they are severe, call 911 right away and apply pressure with a clean cloth to the wound to slow the bleeding. If the human injuries are not that severe, check out the injured animals. [[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 4 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Any humans who were bit need to see their doctor for treatment. If you have small injuries make an appointment to see your doctor. Dog and especially cat bites can become infected quickly. Dog bites usually cause more physical trauma from the bite as they usually tear skin and muscle as they fight. Cat bites usually become infected as their needle point teeth puncture through the skin and muscle leaving behind bacteria which can fester and cause nasty infections. Both can cause bruising and crushing of tissue leading to severe pain.
 * 3) Assess the health of the animals involved in the fight. Smaller pets attacked by larger pets should be carefully captured (wrapping in a thick towel, blanket, or jacket/coat) and transported to the nearest veterinarian’s office for assessment. With larger dogs check them over carefully. Look for bites around the neck and belly (abdomen). These can be life threatening. If any are found the animal should go to the veterinarian’s office right away.[[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 5 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *If the wounds are less severe, not bleeding a lot, are small (less than 2 inches), and are not on the face, neck or abdomen, they can be carefully flushed with clean warm water while someone calls the veterinarian’s office for an urgent care appointment.
 * 5) Take a severely injured animal to a veterinarian right away. Call ahead to the veterinary clinic, if possible, so they can know what to expect and to prepare to receive the trauma patient. If your regular vet is not available, find the closest vet that is open or find your local emergency veterinary clinic.[[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 6) *Dogs can be muzzled gently by using a sock, leash or towel to prevent them from mistakenly biting a person. Quickly wrap the item around the dog’s muzzle a couple of times, then knot it snugly around the nose. You may need to hold it especially if the dog tries to paw it off.
 * 7) *However, never muzzle a dog that is having trouble breathing, one with chest injuries or one of the brachycephalic breeds (pug, bulldogs) as that can cause respiratory distress.
 * 8) *If your animal does not have life threatening injuries it should still go to the vet. However, you should call and consult with the veterinarian about whether an immediate visit is required.
 * 9) Make sure to let the other animal's owner know about the incident. If need be contact the police department to file a report. This is especially important if you don't know who the other animal belongs to or if the other animal is a dog known to get into fights or for showing threatening behavior.[[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 7.jpg|center]]
 * 10) *In some cases the other owner is responsible for damages caused by their pet, including veterinarian bills, however they might not be forth coming about offering to pay for damages without being forced to by the courts.

Caring For Your Animal in the Aftermath of a Fight

 * 1) Follow your veterinarian's instructions. After the veterinarian has examined and treated your dog or cat, make sure to get the proper instructions for home treatment. Things to ask about and to understand are:[[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 8.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Care of wounds: Including any drains, stitches, bandages, wound ointments, or salves.
 * 3) *Any medications, including antibiotics and painkillers: Ask about dosage, when to start, when to stop, any side effects to watch for, and if to give with food or without food.
 * 4) *Any restrictions: Ask about limitations on food, water, exercise, licking (or use of an e-collar), and playing with other pets.
 * 5) *Return appointments to remove stitches or drains.
 * 6) *Any other recommendations.
 * 7) Make sure your animal's wounds are healing well. For minor injuries, home care can be done as long as the injuries are examined twice a day. Gently clean the wounds with warm water and hand soap. Flush the area well with warm water, placing the dog or cat in the bathtub works well for this process. You can use some triple antibiotic ointment on wounds, but not if they are deep wounds. These need treatment by a veterinarian.[[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 9.jpg|center]]
 * 8) *If the area around the injury swells, starts draining fluid (thick pus or a thinner, blood tinged fluid), if they become painful or warm to the touch contact your veterinarian as these are signs that an infection has set in and your dog or cat should be on antibiotics.
 * 9) Make sure that you are careful with your animal, both emotionally and physically. It has just been through a traumatic experience and may need time to deal with it. Don't handle your pet too much, especially if it has been severely injured, as that can slow the healing process. Also, your pet's emotions could be unstable after a fight, so keep an eye out for unusual behaviors, such as excessive fear or anxiety.[[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 10.jpg|center]]
 * 10) *Your dog may fear other dogs while on walks or in areas where other dogs and their owners gather. Keep your dog on a leash and let it set the pace. If it starts to tremble or cowers away from the other dog(s), try sidetracking it with a toy or a treat. It may take time for your pet time to work up the courage to not be scared of other dogs. See if a friend with a gentle, friendly dog would come on walks or to the parks with you and your dog--sometimes a friendly buddy can help ease any fear.
 * 11) *All animals deal with things differently. Make sure you give your pet time and proper care to recover.
 * 12) Give your cat or dog unconditional love. To help your animal companion, give it some space, but don't forget to give it the attention it needs as well. If your pet comes to you, wanting love and attention, give it willingly. This will show your pet that you love it and are there for it.[[Image:Support Your Animal After a Horrible Dog or Cat Fight Step 11.jpg|center]]

Tips

 * Keep your pet inside if at all possible. However, if it insists on going outside keep it on a leash and under your watchful eye. Outdoor cats frequently spat and scratch and bite each other.
 * When walking your dog, especially a small dog, always be on the lookout for any stray dogs or dogs that are off leash or wandering around unfenced in yards. Cross the street or pick up your smaller dog if you spot any potential combatant.
 * Keep your dog and cat’s rabies shots up to date. That way if there is ever a fight there will be no issue with an unvaccinated animal on your part.

Warnings

 * Some dogs will shake a cat or small dog around the belly in a fight. This can cause serious, life threatening internal damage that is not immediately apparent right away. Thus, it is imperative to take smaller pets involved in a fight with a larger dog to the veterinarian’s office for examination. Sometimes your pet will need to stay at the veterinary office or hospital overnight for observation for these “hidden” issues to emerge and promptly treated.

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