My little fur babe Niki was attacked on the wkd by an Akita at a friends home. She is an Eskie/Yellow Lab cross that I rescued from the SPCA, 1 day before she was going to be put to sleep. She is the most beautiful, smart, loving dog that I could've ever asked for! I got her after I lost my 2 other fur babies that I basically lost in a custody fight, and I love her and will do anything in my power to protect her.

After the attack, I called the emerg vet and she was rushed into emerg surgery for multiple wounds. She had to have 86 stitches.

My problem now is, she is not the same dog that I had before the attack! I know she is still in physical pain, but now she is not eating right, not drinking enough water, not wanting to play... even for a few minutes. She won't pick up her fave toys, she won't come when she's called,. I could go on... but she just looks so sad and scared! She is just not the same dog I had for all of this time. I feel so horrible and hurt for her!

Does anyone have any suggestions on ANYTHING I can do to make her regain some trust, and not jump at every little sound she hears, or every movement she senses?

I know there is probably no magic cure, but I don't know how to deal with the phychological issues that she now has! :(

ANY help would be GREATLY appreciated!

She hasn't had enough time to recover, starbuck. It is going to take a while, they are not that much different from us and this same type of situation happens in humans after a traumatic accident. Cuddle her, love her, take to bed with you if you have to. She will come back, these lovely animals are absolutely so resilient. Give her support they way you would a human friend in need. We are all here for you and your little friend ! Be there for her.

And for heavens sake, report that awful dog and the owner.

Thanks Tickle, and I have reported it, and taking all of the action necessary! I'm just really frustrated because the dog owners aren't taking responsibility, and they are making this so much harder.

I just want to make sure my little Niki won't be scarred for life because of this. She is such a playful, happy-go-lucky, little girl. She got along with all the animals in the neighborhood... even Mr. and Mrs. Skunk!. which is an entirely different story, lol

I know it's still fresh in her mind, but I just wish I could do more to help her! She will get all the loving I can give her for sure! :)

Just treat her with some extra love and kindness and she will see you are still the caring person she loves. It will take sometime. Probably a few months for her to come back. Don't be upsest with her. Talk to her a lot also. 86 stiches is nothing to sneeze about. She's been through quite a bit. Am glad she made it.

Thank you Twinkie! I took her into the vet yesterday because I was concerned with her not eating and drinking. The vet gave me a syringe so I can make sure she is hydrated. She loooooves car rides, so that actually perked her up some, and when we came home she actually ate a bit and played with her fave toy for just a little while.

While we were at the vet there was a guy with a big dog that was very aggressive towards her, and she started shaking again, but when we got home, I noticed that she isn't afraid of her buddy next door who is a big black dog, so I guess that's a good sign!

I guess I'm just a worried mommie! ;)

I just thought I would give an update, and thank you all for your caring words.

Niki is getting a little better day by day, with a few set backs,. but it's only been a few weeks, so I guess that is normal. She has been out on her walks for short periods, and we had one eve a few nights ago where she just couldn't get enough of playing fetch with her fave ball.

Yesterday, I threw her ball a few times, and she laid down and started licking her paw. Well guess what? Somehow she has now torn her dew claw! It was bleeding, and she is now limping some. She had her other dew claw operated on and removed last summer, and now the other is going to have to be operated on too! Does anyone know the purpose of dew claws to begin with?

My worry now, is that for the first time since I've had her (except for one accident, which was my fault) she peed on her pillow lastnite. I didn't get mad at all, and let her out when she wanted to go. I don't know the cause of her peeing in her bed? I'm just wondering if it could be that she is in pain again (her meds ran out) or maybe she even had a bad dream about what happened with the attack?. etc. so hard to tell.

I have to take her to the vet on Tues. so I will ask and see what she has to say, but I just hate for her to have to go through another surgery for her dew claw, when the other one is just so recent.

Thanks you guys for caring, and for putting up with me being such a crazy and worried fur momma! ;)

Star Glad to hear she is playing. She may have a UTI, but it is probably possible that she could have dreamt of the attack and peed in her sleep.
I'm not sure what the purpose of dew clasw are. My dogs have them and they have never caused a problem. Btw One of my dogs is named Nika... that was her name when I adopted her, so as not to cause further stress in their lives I always keep their old names.

Dew claws are vestigial remnants from an earlier form, when those toes were actually on the ground. On most dogs they aren't a problem, but some of them are looser and danglier than others. The peeing might be because of pain. Also, is it possible that she wanted to go out and couldn't wake you? That's the times that my dog has had accidents, which I don't blame her for since it's my fault for not getting up when she whined at me.

One bit of advice I can give you... the more you worry and fret, the worse your dog is going to be. It's hard... I remember how I felt when Trink got attacked. She needs you to be calm and in control now more than ever. Deep breathing helps, and positive visualization. I also found out that what I was interpreting as nerves was actually pain. So, take it easy, but don't baby her too much.

Starbuck:

Think about what you would do under the same situation. I'm sure you wouldn't be playing with toys.

Looks like Niki is getting better. Take him/her for car rides and make sure the dog stays hydrated.

Thanks Froggy! I got in the middle of writing you back, and got unexpected company. :) I do try very hard not to baby her! That's why I usually end up coming on here to do my moaning and groaning when I'm upset, and she's relaxing, or sleeping. I realize that my feelings can transfer to her, so I really try not to do that, but sometimes it's hard when I know she's in pain.

I will ask the vet this also, but in your opinion, are the dew claws really useful to them? I don't see the use, or why they need to keep them. I have had dogs since I was very young, and never had any probs with any of them and their dew claws until now. (well, a doberman I once had, they were removed, but that was so long ago I can't remember why)

I do think that the reason that she peed, was because of pain. I don't think she was doing it to rebel or anything like that. I just think she is maybe still a little timid and afraid because of the attack, and she just couldn't hold it. It's never happened before, so I would tend to think that would be the case. She moved from her pillow, and that is what actually what woke me.

I'm not so worried about her physical injuries, because I know that no matter what, I can take care of those, if I can see it physically. I just want to help her with any of the other pain and stuff that she can't tell me about!

How is Trink doing with her neck problems? Have you been able to get her to walk through the wood chips on her way to the park?

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Originally Posted by KeepItSimpleStupid

starbuck:

Think about what you would do under the same situation. I'm sure you wouldn't be playing with toys.

Looks like Niki is getting better. Take him/her for car rides and make sure the dog stays hydrated.

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I know, I know! ;) Keep it simple stupid! LOL! She has just been through so much in the last yr. that I play the mommy role and get worried! I try not to pass that on to her, but I can't help it sometimes I guess! Not good for her, I know! :p LOL!

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Originally Posted by bushg

star Glad to hear she is playing. She may have a UTI, but it is probably possible that she could have dreamt of the attack and peed in her sleep.
I'm not sure what the purpose of dew clasw are. My dogs have them and they have never caused a problem. Btw One of my dogs is named Nika...that was her name when I adopted her, so as not to cause futher stress in their lives I always keep their old names.

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I didn't name Niki either! That was her name when I brought her home. I did start calling her Nikia when I first got her, and then it just went back to Niki. (or Nicky, as it was) She answers more to "Bubba" now! LOL!

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Originally Posted by starbuck8

Thanks Froggy!! I got in the middle of writing you back, and got unexpected company. :) I do try very hard not to baby her! That's why I usually end up coming on here to do my moaning and groaning when I'm upset, and she's relaxing, or sleeping. I realize that my feelings can transfer to her, so I really try not to do that, but sometimes it's hard when I know she's in pain.

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I know where you are coming from. And it will get better with time. You've been through a different traumatic experience, but it still affects you. But the feelings will dull down with time.

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Originally Posted by starbuck8

I will ask the vet this also, but in your opinion, are the dew claws really useful to them? I don't see the use, or why they need to keep them. I have had dogs since I was very young, and never had any probs with any of them and their dew claws until now. (well, a doberman I once had, they were removed, but that was so long ago I can't remember why)

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Dew claws are much like the appendix. If they don't cause any problems, there's no need to remove them. If they cause trouble, there is no reason to keep them.

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Originally Posted by starbuck8

I'm not so worried about her physical injuries, because I know that no matter what, I can take care of those, if I can see it physically. I just want to help her with any of the other pain and stuff that she can't tell me about!

How is Trink doing with her neck problems?? Have you been able to get her to walk through the wood chips on her way to the park??

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It would be so much easier if they could just tell us what's wrong, wouldn't it? :)

And I have been spending the last week house-hunting, and this weekend the temperature shot up to something I can only call oven-hot. So we've been laying low for the last week. Next week I'm going to give it a try.

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Originally Posted by froggy7

I know where you are coming from. And it will get better with time. You've been through a different traumatic experience, but it still affects you. But the feelings will dull down with time.



Dew claws are much like the appendix. If they don't cause any problems, there's no need to remove them. If they cause trouble, there is no reason to keep them.



It would be so much easier if they could just tell us what's wrong, wouldn't it? :)

And I have been spending the last week house-hunting, and this weekend the temperature shot up to something I can only call oven-hot. So we've been laying low for the last week. Next week I'm going to give it a try.

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Ahhh yes! The temperature! This weather is absolutely crazy! It was snowing and miserable two weeks ago, and now today my thermostat in my house read 93 degrees, and I don't have my AC's (window ones) installed for the summer again yet. Yikes! From one extreme to the other hey? I was complaining about the cold temps, and now it will be the opposite! Oh well, what do you do eh? ;)

Thanks for the advice! The comparison to the appendix was my exact thought, so thank you so much! I thought... well, they were probably put there for a reason, but if you don't have them it wouldn't be a big deal. Yes! it would be so much easier if they could just tell us where it hurts! :(

I'm sure she will be just fine in time. I just needed a little reasurance I guess. I hate to see her hurting. Thanks again!. and good luck home hunting! :)