poor Abbey--I'm so sad

[lovemyshiba]

Kito and Abbey had another fight today--they've had a couple of minor scuffles in the past, none of which required a vet visit. Unfortunately, today did. It was over a bone, which is my fault, I never should have given it to them, but that's in the past now.
They fought, I got them apart, and I saw blood on Kito. I checked him over--he was shaken up a little, but no cuts. My stepmother noticed Abbey limping, so we checked her out next. I saw some blood on her paw, and looked her over. She has a huge gash in her right shoulder--upon further inspection, I realized it was very very deep, and called the vet. We took her in, and they kept her for a while. They had to put her under totally, because she was in too much pain. Now she has stitches, pain medicine, and antibiotics. Since this was an emergency trip, there was an extra charge tacked on. I went to get her, and she's a little tired and groggy, but otherwise fine. They also did a culture, to check for infection since the cut was so deep, but we won't get the results for a few days.
Anyway, it cost me $315.04 I was a little shocked (Kito's neutering was only around 200), so I paid her,and took my girl home.

She's resting in her bed, and for now isn't wearing a collar, unless she tries to bite at the stitches (actually they are staples). Kito and Riley are leaving her alone, I guess doggie intuition must tell them she's in pain and doesn't want to play.

Problem (besides for all of this)--my husband really hates Kito right now, bad. He said that if he bites one of the other 2 one more time, he has to go I won't allow that to happen, if it has to, it will come down to me or the dog, it's that simple. I love Kito so much, he is my life, I can't imagine being without him. I know what he did was wrong, and mean and nasty, but if he could, I'm sure he would apologize.

I'm just so upset right now, and my family is here visiting, and had to witness all of this unfortunatley. I just don't know what to do--I love all of the dogs, and wouldn't even consider getting rid of any of them.

Thank you all for listening.

[Kfamr]

First off, I'm sorry what happened. Honey [blustang24's dog, something like that] Just got a gash in her leg that was real deep and had to get stitches as well. We have no idea why.

When you give them a bone, and they act like that take it away. Or if Kito's chewing on the bone, abbey wants it, Kito growls, take it away. seperate them when you give them one because no matter how many bones they have, they're always going to want the one the other dog has, sorta like a child. If they seem fine without bones when they're together there's no need in having to give one away. Just never keep them together without your supervision.

[KYS]

LONG.......
I know this will not make you feel any better,
but Kito did nothing wrong in Doggie terms.
I bet if you ask your vet about it when Abbey gets
her stiches out, I bet he will say he has seen
this happen so many times before when it
comes to dogs fighting over food and bones etc.
Kito is acting out from instinct.
This is why I do not allow our dogs to have bones
or feed them when I am not their to watch.
(one examples, and I do have more)
Sheba and Rocky 2 years ago almost had WW3 over
a butcher bones. Luckly Sheba is well trained and
I was able to grab/jump on Rocky and tell Sheba to keep away.
I am sure Rocky would have hurt her since they
are close in size and pecking order.)
After that, NO meaty Butcher bones period.
(steril bones they will not fight over)

What I am trying to say, we learn from our mistakes.
Keep anything worth fighting over away from the
dogs when you are not able to supervise.

[4 Dog Mother]

Sorry to hear about Abbey and Kito. Hope Abbey is feeling better very soon.

I know it would also be very hard for me to give up any of my dogs but I don't like thinking about one hurting the others either. In fact, Jack right now has Taggert a little intimidated by his growl and we are working on that.

The only advice I can give is to avoid creating the situations that cause the fights. I have to admit that when we give all 5 their own rawhide, inadvertently one always wants the one another has. Bet as of yet there have been no physical confrontations over them. Just a lot of whining and barking and growling. And I also try to have a squirt bottle or open bottle of water ready to use as a breaker upper (although when something does come up who can find the water)

[lute]

i am sooo sorry about abby.

we had to give up our beagle mix because he fought over a toy with our other dog.she got hurt and we had to pay a heafty bill...i didn't want to give him up,but my dad is the head of the house,and it was either he stayed outside or he gets a new home.....we fortinatly knew a person who was looking for a dog,and we let her have her.....i cried for days after that,but my other dog was there to comfort me.....i get to check in on him every once in a while.he loves his home,and gets spoiled just as much as i could have spoiled him.

i hope you don't have to give him up...nice going with the dog or husband thing...i hope it will work out.ok.

[Kfamr]

Good advice everyone.....



I was so afraid something like this would happen when we got Nala but Simba has turned into such a softy when it comes to playing with other dogs.. If Nala tries to take a bone or eat Simba's food Simba backs off and lets her, he normally sits right by his bowl until she's done or i see it and tell Nala no.

[lizbud]

I do agree with what KYS and some others have said about
the fight. You did create the situation & dogs are dogs. Kito
would not "apologize", given the same situation, he'd probably
do it all over again. It's not "wrong or bad", it's being a dog.
I would hope your husband wouldn't blame the dog for a human
mistake. I know you've learned from this incident, but I hope
your husband does'nt blame Kito or Abbey. btw, did you mean
to say Kito's neutering cost $200,00 ? Wow, that seems so high.

[lovemyshiba]

thanks for all of the advice everyone.
Lizbud, I meant to say that Kito's neutering was $200.00.

I do realize that dogs are dogs, and that I caused the situation. I have thrown out every bone in the house. I was just reading a book the other day that was talking about situations like that, and how dogs may fight until the order is straightened out. They have their little tiffs, but this one was major, and it scared me.

4 Dog Mother--I totally know where you are coming from about the squirt bottle--I have one for exactly that situation, and where was it?? Put away in the basement A lot of help that did. I had to physically get in between them, and grab them by the collars and pull them apart--dumb, I know, but it was my first instinct.

Abbey is resting now, asleep at my feet, and has taken her first doses of meds for tonight, eaten dinner, and gone potty regularly, so that's good. She's also not really trying to get at the stitches, so I'm glad for that too.

the hubby has calmed down too--it was the $$$$$ that upset him ---but Kito will have to get a job, if he is going to continue to spend our money that way!!!

[ILoveMyAbbyGirl]

Wow. Sorry that happened to poor Abbey. That happened between my dog and my uncle's, and let me remind you, she was only a pup back then. Someone gave Nikomis (my uncle's dog) a treat and Abby (my dog) went to look. Strictly to look. Nikomis barked at her and it scared her so badly, she jumped and hit her head on the metal park bench we had. Luckily it was right UNDER her eye, and not her eye. She was so scared, and she peed all over and everyone was quiet for a while till my uncle yelled at Nikomis. Because of Nikomis' behavior later on in life they had to get rid of him. But don't worry, because I myself seemed to notice that Nikomis is VERY bad mannered. I am sure Kito is much more well mannered than this dog. Nikomis also bit my uncle's two year old son. Don't feel bad, it's instinct. Lotsa love to both dogs.

[AdoreMyDogs]

I am so sorry that you had to go through that. I can imagine it was terrifying. Poor Abbey girl You did the right thing by throwing the bones away. Hopefully that willl never happen again Give Abbey (and Kito and Riley) a hug for me.

[wolfsoul]

Awww, poor Abby I'm glad that you got her to the vet and that she's alright I'm sure Kito was just being a little shiba territorial over his bone
It's too bad that your faimly had to witness this I don't think that your husband really wants to get rid of Kito, he's probably just mad. I do that with Frisco all the time, I always tell him if he doesn't listen than I'm going to strangle him, but I don't mean it. It also doesn't seem to intimidate him

[mugsy]

I know what you mean. We discovered Sox had a gash on her (no clue who or what caused it) and Dr. B. had to cut away nasty flesh and shaved her and stitches etc. After that she hates to go to the vet.

I hope Abbey feels better soon. Let us know.

[anna_66]

I agree with what everyone else has said about a dog being a dog. It's just in some dogs nature to be more territorial about their food. Just make sure if you ever give them something good like that just keep them seperated.
I'm glad to hear your husbands coming around, I thought he would $315 is alot of $$$
Give your sweeties some lovin' from me, and I hope Abbey feels better real soon

[mugsy]

Tell hubby that's not so bad....

Billy cost $500 when his eye had to be removed
Max cost $800 when he ate all the ibuprofin
Daisy cost $500 when she had H.O.D.
and finally...
Daisy cost another $1,000 when she ate the leash.

I hope that makes him feel a little better.

How's Abbey today? Tell Kito to quit that! It must be a guy thing. Don't be surprised if Abbey is a little skittish around the others for awhile.

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

I am sorry to hear about Abbey's injuries But she is on the mend and will be better in no time. Doggies heal fast! You won't be able to tell the difference.

Dogs will be dogs. I am sure in the future you will be more careful and may be able to prevent such episodes in the future.

As for hubby, it could have been a statement he made in the heat of the moment when he say Abbey in pain, you upset, and the vet bill. I am sure once he has calmed down, it will be fine.