Would a large hawk do this?

[FionaLovesShrek]

We live on 5 wooded acres. The closest house to us is beyond our woods behind our house. Yesterday we let our furbaby out to potty. He usually wanders the yard, marking his territory, just in case ya know and then walks into the woods checking things out. We have a lot of wildlife, especially deer, my 15 y/o petite Schnauzer likes to run off "his" property. He was sitting on the step at the sliding glass door waiting to be let in as usual. But when he came in he was covered in blood, with flesh showing that he had been slashed deeply across his back, shoulder blade to shoulder blade. We immediately wrapped him up, (there was blood everywhere) and jumped into the car headed to the vet. He required surgery. He is stitched up with a drainage tube and they are keeping him sedated due to the severity of the injury. The vet said it was a clean cut as if made by a knife. There went our theory he got into some barbed wire. We can not believe that someone would take a knife to our little guy. I couldn't sleep last night and I remembered the hawk that has been circling the tree tops in the woods. Would talons make a clean slice like that? I would rather imagine a large hawk attempting to grab my dog than imagine a knife wielding psycho in my woods . Anyone know if a hawk could do this kind of damage to a dog?

 

[cardaway]

Yes to both questions. Those talons are razor sharp.

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

I have seen hawks attack wood chucks and then pick them up ,fly a liitle and then drop them ... so it is possible !

 

[Hercules10]

A Hawk could do something like that. But probably wouldn't. Your schnauzer is a bit big for a hawk. Possible, but not probable.

I'm wondering if you have racoons? The teeth on racoons are incrediably sharp and they have a tendancy to jump on the back of another animal in a fight.

Hope the little guy gets better.

 

[agnes!]

I certainly think it's possible for a hawk to do that kind of damage, especially if 1) the hawk is big enough(some of them are almost the size of eagles) and 2) the petite schnauzer is small enough(my friend's miniature schanuzer really is about the same size as a cat).
I don't think there's a knife-wielding psycho in your woods, more than likely the injuires were caused by a wild animal that your dog tried to mix it up with(like possibly the raccoon mentioned in another post).
Something else I just thought of...if your dog tried to get between the hawk & a prey animal, trying to attack or just run off the other animal, the hawk could have possibly attacked the dog for getting between the hawk & his intended meal.

Hope your pet is feeling better,
agnes!

 

[Virgo10]

I wouldn't doubt it. Here's a story about a chihuahua getting attacked.

Hawk Attack

I've personally seen an Osprey start making a dive on one of my cats twice! I was outside with the cat at the time and, while brave or stupid enought to go after a cat, he wasn't taking me on.

 

[hiwaygal]

I have no idea about your question (I'm a city girl! )

but I just wanted to say Poor Baby!! I hope he gets better soon!

 

[Taylor]

I would hate to see the hawk that would attack Brutus.

I hope your baby is feeling better.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

A hawk could do it...at least scratch him, not pick him up. A great horned owl can do LOTS of damage...they can grab large birds, even skunks or possums. But they are nocturnal, and you didn't say it was nighttime...

Poor pup. He may not "mark" his territory that way anymore!

 

[Rajah]

Yup, I can see that happening.

 

[kmp1191]

I would hate to see the hawk that would attack Brutus.

I hope your baby is feeling better.

i love seeing pictures of Brutus!!! He looks like such a cool dog!!

i hope your baby is ok....keep us informed!!
where my mom & dad live, they have to careful of coyotes!!

 

[Feralpeg]

Just a thought here. If there is any possibility that your pet could have had an encounter with a rabid animal and you touched your pet afterward, you might want to talk to your doctor. Hopefully, that wasn't the case, but you don't get a second chance with rabies.

 

[FlaNative]

Definitely. I have lots of red shouldered hawks in my yard (daytime) and barred owls (nighttime) and see them hunting all the time. I have seen a hawk on the fly snatch a squirrel out the top of a tree and fly off with it. A tiny dog or a kitten is about the same size.

Don't forget that while most hawks are not very big, if you live near a habitat that will suport hawks, it is the same habitat that may support a family of bald eagles. Young bald eagles have no white heads yet, and are colored like hawks. They are also a lot bigger and can snatch a much larger pet. They roam a lot, so just because you have never seen one does not mean there might be some within flying range of your place.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

I wouldn't doubt it. Here's a story about a chihuahua getting attacked.

Hawk Attack

I've personally seen an Osprey start making a dive on one of my cats twice! I was outside with the cat at the time and, while brave or stupid enought to go after a cat, he wasn't taking me on.

Thanks for that article. The hawk is very large, at first glance you think, is that an eagle? and then realize, no, its a hawk. Thanks everyone for the wishes for my Whiskers

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Don't forget about a deer. They also could be a culprit.
I am sure it was a wild animal scuffle and not a psycho in the woods.
Hope your puppy has a swift recovery!

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

Just a thought here. If there is any possibility that your pet could have had an encounter with a rabid animal and you touched your pet afterward, you might want to talk to your doctor. Hopefully, that wasn't the case, but you don't get a second chance with rabies.

Yes, we talked to the vet. He seemed to think it was a knife that cut Whiskers, but I just cannot imagine someone doing that. It was a wide, deep wound. My SD suggested a Bobcat, and while we've seen them in the area, it seems to me there would have been more slashes, not just one long slash. We may never know, but I sure will watch my little guy when he wanders around better.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

A Hawk could do something like that. But probably wouldn't. Your schnauzer is a bit big for a hawk. Possible, but not probable.

I'm wondering if you have racoons? The teeth on racoons are incrediably sharp and they have a tendancy to jump on the back of another animal in a fight.

Hope the little guy gets better.

We used to have racoons, but I haven't seen any evidence of them in years. But because their nocturnal it's possible.

 

[Jpgirl]

Yes a hawk will do that. We lived in a wooded area and had lots of birds of prey. We had cats and small dogs missing all the time. Then someone saw a hawk swope down and try to carry off her minpin. She was right there so her screaming startled the hawk and it let go. We have hawks here in my neighborhood and I've seen them hunt in my yard for birds and squirrels as I'm standing in the back yard. One was perched on my diving board a couple of weeks ago. Judging from where your dog got cut I'd say it's more a hawk got him than somone with a knife. Th shoulder blade neck area would be where a hawk would grab-to break the neck and carry him off. Whenever I see a hawk with prey they've alway got them by the neck. The hawk may not be strong enough to carry off your dog but he's big enough (and maybe hungry enough) to attack and kill and eat your dog. It might have a nest with fledglings to fee. I wouldn't let your dog out of sight. Good luck

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

I remember seeing a story on the news several years ago about a hog farmer who was losing piglets to eagles in the area!

Our oldest DS was an infant at the time and I remember thinking we’ll have to be careful if we ever go somewhere where there may be eagles nearby!

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

Yes a hawk will do that. We lived in a wooded area and had lots of birds of prey. We had cats and small dogs missing all the time. Then someone saw a hawk swope down and try to carry off her minpin. She was right there so her screaming startled the hawk and it let go. We have hawks here in my neighborhood and I've seen them hunt in my yard for birds and squirrels as I'm standing in the back yard. One was perched on my diving board a couple of weeks ago. Judging from where your dog got cut I'd say it's more a hawk got him than somone with a knife. Th shoulder blade neck area would be where a hawk would grab-to break the neck and carry him off. Whenever I see a hawk with prey they've alway got them by the neck. The hawk may not be strong enough to carry off your dog but he's big enough (and maybe hungry enough) to attack and kill and eat your dog. It might have a nest with fledglings to fee. I wouldn't let your dog out of sight. Good luck

That's what I think too. I laid in bed picturing the hawk going for his neck. When I get to pick him up from the animal hospital, I'm going to ask the vet about it.