Prevent a Trip to the Vet: Animal Fights
Nobody enjoys spending their day at the veterinary emergency room. Over the next few weeks, I will offer several tips that will help your pet avoid unnecessary veterinary visits.
Animal fights are a leading cause of veterinary visits. Animal fights are largely preventable.
Dog fights may lead to lacerations (cuts), broken bones, broken teeth, dislocated joints and life-threatening internal injuries. Cat fights result in puncture wounds, infections and abscesses. FIV (feline AIDS) is spread by fighting.
Although there are exceptions, the majority of dog fights occur when unfamiliar dogs encounter each other off leash. The simplest way to prevent fights among canine companions is to keep them on leash, especially when they are meeting new dogs.
Although most dogs enjoy off-leash activity, remember that time spent off leash can be dangerous. I am amazed by people who set their dog loose in unfamiliar circumstances and then act surprised when their dog gets into a fight.
Before you remove your dog’s leash, get to know the other dogs playing in the area. It is also important to acquaint yourself with the people who are with those dogs. Are they responsible? Have they properly socialized their dogs? Do their dogs obey commands? Does yours? If you fail to perform due diligence, your dog is at increased risk of being injured in a dog fight.
Cat fights are even more preventable than dog fights. Virtually 100% of serious cat fights occur outdoors. Cats that live together may squabble, but they almost never engage in injury-provoking fights.
If you keep your cat inside he will not get into fights and you will avoid unnecessary trips to the vet. It’s that simple.
You have questions. 
What about dogs in the same household. Two of my sibes make semi-annual visits to the ER cause the try to out position each other. Sometimes one of my other sibes will inject herself into the confrontation and voila..now I have three at the ER. I need a way to discourage this kind of behavior….as a few times I injected myself in and I ENDED UP AT ER. I have tried spraying them with vinegar, hitting with newspaper, water. Any suggestions?
I’m glad you brought up dog fights today. Last night while I was walking my dog on-leash I saw a dog at a distance that appeared to be aggressive. The dog was across the street, a good ways away, but barking and straining at his leash in an angry manner, not a playful one. His owner had him under control, though, so I wasn’t worried in that moment. It did, however, get me thinking about what I would do if my dog and I were faced with an aggressive dog off-leash or otherwise uncontrolled. Does anybody know what to do in that situation? It seems that running would be a terrible idea, but standing still seems pretty stupid, too. The last thing I want is for my dog to be attacked, so I take the precautions I can. This doesn’t stop other owners from being irresponsible, however, and the possibility of a dog attack is real.
Anyone know the “right” thing to do with an uncontrolled, aggressive dog?
well said.. we only have one and its rarely around other loud dogs so touch wood we havent had to take her in yet for fight injuries
Kim, you have a serious and dangerous situation in your house. You need to seek the help of a veterinary behaviorist before you are injured again.
Hi
Sorry but I generally don’t agree with this article. Firstly in our experience the (fairly uncommon)incidents of aggression one runs into are more common on leash than off leash. This is commonly stated and true, probably because dogs on leash feel constrained as they feel they cannot run away if need be. Your article is logically flawed because you state that you should keep your dog on leash to prevent problems, but if you come across an aggressive unleashed dog then it is probably not going to help if your dog is on leash or off leash, as the attacking dog is going to try and get your dog either way (and I’d argue your dog will feel more threatened if on leash).
We walk off leash 90% of the time. Avoiding problems is a commonsense issue. You should not let your dog off leash with other dogs unless you have a high degree of control of him or her. You need to be aware of the signs of possible problems. A dog wanting to attack your dog will fixate on your dog and run at him or her. If that happens you need to take appropriate steps. In our experience steps you can take are (a) catch the attention of the attacking dog – a LOUD yell NOOOO! can work wonders here, as most dogs are people responsive (b) Stand in front of your dog (leashed or unleashed) and work on “ordering” the other dog to let your dog be (c) subject to commonsense, you can even grab the other dogs collar and take him or her away – you should not have to worry much about your dog if you have properly trained your dog.
Hoegaandit,
How do you figure that the aritcleis, “logically flawed”? I run with my dog in the park at least 4 days a week. My dog is always on leash. Because he is on leash I can control his ever move. I run across people with off leash dogs and packs of dogs come running afer us. They do not have recall and they should not be off leash. My dog was threatened and perhaps may have been aggressive towards dogs running and barking at him. I can’t tell you how many dog owners yell at me when I ask them to put a leash on their aggressive dog. By the way, I don’t advise of grabbing, “other dogs collar and take him or her away”. I have tried that and got a nice bite mark. It would be a vey illogical thing to do.
Well Denie – my point exactly – your dog was threatened and was aggressive as you admit – and you always keep him on lead. I feel strongly that if he was off lead there would be less risk of fights. (And dogs love that much more too of course).
Your comment about the grabbing collar – please read what I wrote before making accusations. That stated, I most time wouldn’t hesitate to grab a collar if need be, but obviously there are a few rare situations you would not.
Lastly the article says cats should stay inside. Well, I’ve lived in various countries and cats are never cooped away inside in the places I have lived, thank goodness for them!
Hoegaandit
Your statements are dangerous and are contrary to dog’s natural instinct which is that dogs don’t flee they fight. Denie’s dog most likely became aggressive in a protective sence whe it saw it’s humand in a dangerous situation.
The fact that you enourage people to interact with dogs whom they do not know and who’s owner is not around is really worrysome. If you don’t know the dog don’t engage it as you don’t know what will set it off.
I firmly believe that 99% of “bad dog” behaviour is humans fault. Either because they are not treating the dog like a dog or they are not consistant with thier training.
I also firmly believe that any dog brought out side it’s home domain should be leashed and musseled for it’s own protection never mind that of the population in general. you never know when your dog will just not like someone your passing and turn and snap/bite. This even if you have full control of your dog. It only takes a second for desaster to happen.
As regards your comments on cats I own three and used to feel like you however due to serious behavioural issues I have chosen to keep my cats in side. By doing this I was able to get control of my “insane” cat and now my home is a calm environment. It is so partly beause my cats no longer have to fight to maintain thier territory they no longer feel threatened. I also am calmer because I am no longer worried about comming home to a seriusly hurt or dead cat.