Yes, it is possible to get rabies from a groundhog, if it bit your dog. These rodents can weigh between 6-12 lbs, making them the same size as a small dog! Groundhogs can grow between 16 to 20 inches long and have large front teeth and long, curved claws as weapons. Local leash law varies quite a bit and there are differences between the inner city, parks, designated forest paths, or a dog park where leashing may not even be required. Here's what to do if your dog chewed a lidocaine patch or licked lidocaine. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are aggressive animals that are hard to get rid of when they invade your property. The vet will need to send it off to be analyzed for rabies. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Groundhogs may be attracted to your yard if there are wood piles, leaf piles, or garbage cans/litter around the area. My Dog Yelps When Picked Up Under Its Chest. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are found all over central and eastern US. Its best to check out your local law, especially if youre thinking about pressing charges or suing. If a groundhog feels cornered or trapped, they are most likely to attack when threatened by a larger animal like a dog. Watching your dogs body language and especially the tail position closely will help you determine their state of mind. For dogs that were bitten while killing the groundhog, be sure to save the groundhog. Dachshunds were bred to go down the burrow of badgers. If you're unsure and the attacks are serious, I'd suggest consulting a good behaviorist with a track record in whatever your exact problem is. Image Credit: Justin Dalton-Fiallo, Shutterstock. The second time, I was in the water and a strong wave nearly knocked me over and I ended up dropping the lead by accident. The contents of the OurFitPets.com website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this site (Content) are for informational purposes only. Why bring a reactive dog to an off-leash beach without fitting a muzzle? 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. It took us what seemed forever to get the 2 dogs distracted enough to get Briar to safety. Fetch Machines for Fetch Machines! If your dog has been vaccinated with the rabies vaccine, then your dog will not have any problem even if a groundhog bites it. In this article, we will discuss what can happen and what you should do if your dog killed a groundhog.. I would not give any guarentees what a Chihuahua would do. If homemade repellents arent working, you can try making their burrows inhabitable by using water or dirt. How did your dog behave? After wrapping the bite, seek medical attention. Signs to watch out for include unsteadiness, weakness, muscle tremors, over-excitability, paddling motions of the limbs, depression, vomiting, high fever, leg stiffness, and seizures. However, its also important to recognize when your dog is not social with other dogs and take appropriate management steps to keep everyone safe. They can even be dangerous to bigger animals like stock and smaller horses. When you bring a dog into your house, you have to be more responsible from that moment. A groundhog can cause rabies, tularemia, and even the plague. Lets get started! Thank you very much if anyone sees and responds to this. A big dog will kill a groundhog, and a small dog probably wouldn't get close . Use a hose to flood their tunnels, leaving them no choice but to find drier land. I asked the woman to help me and we were finally able to free my dog. Groundhogs fall in the category of prey. SuperbDog.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. They almost look like squirrels but are bigger in comparison to a squirrel. Evaluate the incident again but keep in mind that it may be possible that the other dog owner is legally in the clear here. Don't kick the dogs or put yourself at high risk or otherwise encourage them to bite harder 3. This required hours of surgery plus a drain tube (.ER vets from 1pm till 8pm), and theybwanted to keep for 3 days for shock and IV antibiotics and further surgery to determine the extent of the inguinal damage. What if your breed falls under breed-specific legislation? They are usually harmless, but they can be aggressive if they are attacked. Other Groundhog-Related Risks To Your Dog. Separate Your Dog From The Carcass. If your dog is small, place them in a wash basket or box lined with a blanket or towel. Continue to avoid making eye contact. Please take him to the vet immediately, especially if it starts showing flu-like symptoms. Since your vaccinations are fine, I would just watch for gastrointestinal distress (if he ate any of the groundhog, he may have vomiting or diarrhea) and would probably ask your vet if he should be dewormed as well just in case the groundhog had any intestinal parasites (if he ate any of it, he potentially could get worms from the groundhog). That being said, how lapsed is lapsed? My mother is in the hospital right now and I fear the day we see the bill. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'thepupcrawl_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_3',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepupcrawl_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');Initially, your dog might develop flu-like symptoms. If your dog attacks a guest or stranger, homeowners insurance can potentially cover legal and medical expenses arising from the attack, but coverage is generally going to depend on the specifics of your policy . Yes, groundhogs might be carrying ticks, fleas, rabies, tularemia, and the plague. None. Ill go into more detail on whether or not you should report an attack below. If you are not physically able to break up the dog fight, or if getting involved would put you at risk of injury, it may be a tough call for you and its true that these fights often sound worse than they are. However, you'd need to consult a lawyer. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your dog is bitten or attacked by another dog in the UK, here's what to do: Keep them calm and warm in a blanket and keep the nose and mouth exposed. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'thepupcrawl_com-box-4','ezslot_6',133,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepupcrawl_com-box-4-0'); If your pet dog attacks the groundhog, the woodchuck can bite your dog anywhere in the body. You can see groundhogs outside their burrows through late spring, summer, and early fall. Hi there. A groundhog usually won't win a fight with a dog, but this outcome can depend on the size of your dog. Without prompting, the dog started snatching up rats attracted by his birds. Any of the ticks and fleas can lead to an itching sensation in your dogs body, and along with that, rashes and infections can also develop in the body of your pet. She screamed at me to get my other dog away, (I was trying to put Archie on the lead at the time and Beau (my 3 yo) was getting too close. Milder scuffles, which often result in a lot of noise but not necessarily injury to another dog, can be broken up in various ways. Dont just choke the dog since thatll only cut off the air supply but instead twist the collar while lifting it to quickly end the fight and avoid damage to the dogs throat if possible. We are trying to get him into the vet tomorrow, how worried should I be? Another problem is that the groundhog could have been poisoned. 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. The Best Automatic Ball Launchers for Dogs, How Long Should I Play with My Puppy? Beavers carry tularemia, parasites, and rabies, which can transfer through bites, body fluids, or infected water. If you plan on using repellents, ensure there is an exit route for the groundhogs to follow out of your yard. Knowing a groundhog's instincts can help you as the dog owner make predictions about how your dog might react if he sees one. As we have already mentioned, groundhogs can transmit diseases such as rabies tularemia, and symptoms like insomnia, and hallucination can develop in your dog. The Ides of March. Dead or discolored areas of your yard that follow a specific path (this is most likely the site of the groundhogs tunnel system). Some woodchucks are also aggressive. (You'll also get inside info and cool deals.). As mentioned earlier, groundhogs carry the plague bacteria Yersinia pestis. Kicking & Screaming Face the dog and command, "back away." If the dog continues to behave aggressively, and ignoring or pacifying him is no longer working, face him and sternly command him to leave. Answered by Dr Lajos in 57 mins 13 years ago. Shouldn't the apartment complex had signs up to close gates? If so, then youve come to the right place. Roundworms: which can be caught if a dog eats a dead woodchuck. 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. My Dog Killed a Groundhog Should I Be Worried? For more information, please see our It's debatable whether or not a 1 bite law is good, but it sure is sad that your neighbor did not heed the warning and has failed to take precautions. Coyotes What to Do If Your Dog Gets Bit by Groundhog? Instead, using repellents to direct the groundhogs back into the woods is a preferred method for the whole neighborhood. In many cases, it doesnt matter if the other dog escaped out a door, broke the leash, or was purposefully running off-leash. Chat With a Veterinarian For Personalized Help. It's not uncommon for dogs after such a possibly traumatic experience. Or maybe receive positive K9 Karma? Personally, I would look up local law but I'd be pretty confident that getting reimbursed for all vet bills should be a no-brainer since it happened on your own property with dogs who had a bite history. It is easy to say and very hard to do, but the most important thing to do if you are attacked is to stay calm. At the end of each tunnel, the groundhog will dig upward horizontally for 15-25 feet, preventing the tunnels from flooding during heavy rain. 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