Last November, one of our clients took their dog, Dakota, on a hunting trip in
Stockton, KS. Miss Dakota was running 30 yards out in front of her owner and other hunters at a full stride when they heard the most horrendous wailing he had ever heard in his lifetime of hunting and field work with dogs. After the owner and fellow hunters ran to her they found that she had ran into an old electric fence that had been taken down but had not been picked up and it had hooked her in the left front leg right below the elbow and between the major muscle/tendon and leg bone. She had been running at a full stride and that wire brought her to a dead stop. Poor Dakota was in shock and the pain was so intense it was heard by one of the family members ½ mile down the road sitting on the porch. He immediately got in his vehicle and headed their way knowing that something was wrong.
With the help of family and hunting friends they were able to cut the wire and tape it to her leg and head to a local veterinary clinic. It may not seem like Dakota was lucky, but they were lucky not to have hit a major blood vessel with the wire and they were also lucky to have had a multi-tool with them that was able to cut the wire and release it from her leg.
Dakota came in to our clinic when they were back in town for us to evaluate and look at her injury. We were very happy that she received such good care in Kansas and was healing nicely. 10 days later Miss Dakota was out in the field doing what she loves most!
Something to keep in mind when out hunting or taking your dog on an outing, it is just as important to have an emergency kit for them as it is to have one for yourself. Also, if one of the hunters would not have had a multi – tool it would have been very difficult to keep Dakota calm while waiting for someone to go get wire cutters. Moral of the story; try to always be prepared for what could happen.
Written by Kim
