Would you be upset(Dog related question)

[sunlver]

Ok, for the last 11 yrs Ive worked as a petsitter for a business. The dogs come to my house while owners are away. I have some of my own customers outside the business as well. I always watch my friends dogs when need be. Ok, a friend of mine(Ive known for 9 yrs)is in Disney this week(Lucky her LOL)and this is the first time Ive watched her dog. She is a 7 yr old yellow lab mix, very sweet. I have 7 dogs here total(I have 2 dogs of mine own and a foster dog)and other customers. Yesterday I noticed my friends dog had blood on the side of her. I cleaned the area and checked it out, I could not figure out where she got this puncture from. My husband checked the back yard, didnt see any screws or nails sticking out anywhere and declared it was a dog bite. She is not a wild dog, and I didnt see any dogs messing with her. I cleaned it out several times and put ointment on it. She didnt seem to be bothered with any of it.. This morning it looked exactly the same. So I took her to my vet. They shaved the area, and put staples in the cut/gash. He said it was not a dog bite, as dog bites have 2 puncture sites, not just one.(Unless I had a dog here with only one tooth LOL). He sent us home with antiobotics, and said come back in 2 weeks to take the staples out and all is ok.
I feel so bad that her dog got hurt while she was here, expecially since it was her first visit with us. They are coming back from Disney tonight(Driving)and they will pick her up tomorrow. I decided not to call her on her cell phone to tell her, as I did not want her to worry about it the whole trip back as it was taken care of . I treated her dog, the same as I would of done for my dogs.
Would this upset you if this happened to your dogs while a friend was caring for them?

 

[Tigger&Belle]

It sounds like you took care of the problem and there's really nothing they can do and nothing that they need to prepare themselves for (ie, a real ill dog), so I think you are doing the right thing. If it was going to be longer before they would be home maybe you could contact them, but in this case I think it can wait.

When we last kenneled our dogs one of them had a sore spot on her nose where she was sticking it under a chain link fence. You'd think she wouldn't do it since she was making herself bleed, but she kept doing it. The kennel put ointment on it and treated it the best they could. They didn't contact me about it since there wasn't anything I could do about it. Of course they didn't need to seek vet care for it, but still, it was a pretty sad looking nose.

Just explain to the owners that you handled it and you didn't want to worry them and ask them if next time they would prefer to be contacted in a situation like that or not. Then note it on the chart.

And as far as being upset about the actual injury happening--no, things happen and it doesn't sound like your environment is unsafe. Make sure you've checked everywhere.

Recently our dog broke his nail--we don't know how, but it was pretty bad looking. That could have happened anywhere. Things do happen. Hopefully they will be understanding.

 

[Royalbear]

No, I assume that risk when I have other people take care of my things. Had you blatantly neglected him, (let him get hit by a car), I would have been upset, but accidents can happen. One time when I left my dog with a 15 year old (supervised by his mother), the boy was throwing balls for him, and like any other idiot labrador, the dog kept going until he passed out. The boys mother had him checked out, didn't tell us about it until we got home. I am glad she didn't worry us unnecessarily, although some people might be upset that she didn't tell us right away.

 

[Disney Doll]

No, I probably wouldn't be upset at you. I mean, I'd be upset that the dog had a injury, but it doesn't sound like you were negligent in any way.

Dogs are like kids...they get into things sometimes.

A few weeks back my dog was acting all...mushad...you know, listless and lazy. I took him to the vet, and on the way on the car, he threw up (thank you very much Ted!!! ).

Anyhow, the vet said he probably ate something that didn't agree with him, since after he threw up, he seemed fine. He's in the house or in my fenced in yard. He doesn't roam, he hadn't gotten loose accidentally. I was commisserating with my vet and she said "He's a dog. A squirrel could have pooped in your yard and he could have found it and eaten it and it upset his stomach". Which is true.

If the folsk are reasonable people, they'll probably be impressed with the lengths you went to in order to handle it. I know I would be.

 

[minkydog]

The fact that the dog sustained a small injury would not upset me, unless the injury went untended. If i came home to find my dog had a hole in it's side that needed two staples and antibiotics and my sitter hadn't bothered to see about it, that would make me mad. I think you did the right thing. The dog is not sick, you took care of the wound, the family couldn't do anything about it in WDW. It would be different if the dog were at death's door, but he's not.

 

[Crankyshank]

I'd be upset my dog was hurt but I wouldn't blame you. In fact I'd be appreciative that you took the dog to the vet and took good care of his wound.

 

[mylilnikita]

You weren't neglectfull. The first time I took my new puppy to doggie day care she did great the whole day. She got home and the recliner foot thing was up and she decided to play ball by herself and she had done that before, but it had been a little while since she did it near the recliner. Ball goes under the recliner, Sasha goes under the foot thing to get it, but last time she did this she was a little smaller, she cuts her head on the bracket part,oh btw, she is a white dog. Dogs get into stuff.
You did everything to get the dog treated.

 

[disykat]

I'd be upset my dog was hurt but I wouldn't blame you. In fact I'd be appreciative that you took the dog to the vet and took good care of his wound.

I agree!

 

[mickeysgal]

The crazy thing is, I'd be still trying to figure out HOW he got hurt so that other dogs don't end up the same way. Do you have any idea how this happened?

 

[Rajah]

The fact that the dog sustained a small injury would not upset me, unless the injury went untended. If i came home to find my dog had a hole in it's side that needed two staples and antibiotics and my sitter hadn't bothered to see about it, that would make me mad. I think you did the right thing. The dog is not sick, you took care of the wound, the family couldn't do anything about it in WDW. It would be different if the dog were at death's door, but he's not.

I'd be upset it happened, but thankful that you proved yourself trustworthy as a friend and dogsitter. For that level of wound, I don't think I'd be upset at not getting a call, either.

 

[airhead]

If so,I think I know what probably happened. I work and train dogs,and I see this kind of injury quite often. Most likely in a game of chase,one dog was running a little ahead of another. the lagging dog tries to "grab" the dog running ahead and causes a puncture wound. Its kind of like kids running in a group and one kid grabs the shirt of the kid ahead to hold him back. Has nothing to do with dogs fighting or being aggressive,but all about playing and being first!

 

[Daxx]

The fact that the dog sustained a small injury would not upset me, unless the injury went untended. If i came home to find my dog had a hole in it's side that needed two staples and antibiotics and my sitter hadn't bothered to see about it, that would make me mad. I think you did the right thing. The dog is not sick, you took care of the wound, the family couldn't do anything about it in WDW. It would be different if the dog were at death's door, but he's not.

Exactly what Minkydog said!!!! Kudos to you for doing the right thing by taking care of the dog and not letting the condition go. If the owner is upset, I can't see why ... you did all the right things for that dog!

 

[kathybeany]

WOW! You're an awesome friend. I wouldn't be upset at you at all. You were very responsible and took care of the dogs needs (out of YOUR pocket). Accidents happen.

 

[lucas]

I would not be upset with you. I would just be happy my dog was ok. It sounds like you did everything you could by taking the dog to the vet.

BTW, I always give my petsitter my vets name, phone and address. But I have told her that if anything happens to our dog its ok if she takes the dog to her own vet, or to any emergency facility that she has to go to.

 

[FreshTressa]

I'd be upset my dog was hurt but I wouldn't blame you. In fact I'd be appreciative that you took the dog to the vet and took good care of his wound.

Well said!

 

[canwegosoon]

The fact that the dog sustained a small injury would not upset me, unless the injury went untended. If i came home to find my dog had a hole in it's side that needed two staples and antibiotics and my sitter hadn't bothered to see about it, that would make me mad. I think you did the right thing. The dog is not sick, you took care of the wound, the family couldn't do anything about it in WDW. It would be different if the dog were at death's door, but he's not.

ITA ...I would not be mad at all...dogs are bound to get little injuries.-and you took good care of it. I (personally) would want to know while I was away(a quick call-everythings ok but wanted to let you know....) just incase anything else were to happen - I knew about it all along. It wouldn't ruin my trip knowing that my dog was being well looked after. But then again too I have been known to call the vet while I was away to check on my dog. And my dog also has gotten very sick at the kennel...but that's to be expected-he is not home with us(and he has gotten hurt with us too.)

 

[Poohnatic]

I wouldn't be upset. I'd be happy that you took the dog to the vet to rule out anything more severe.

Yes, my dog would be back in your care!

Suzanne
(cat sitting this week and boy, it's nerve racking when one leaves something 'interesting' in the litter box)

 

[lucas]

ITA ...I would not be mad at all...dogs are bound to get little injuries.-and you took good care of it. I (personally) would want to know while I was away(a quick call-everythings ok but wanted to let you know....) just incase anything else were to happen - I knew about it all along. It wouldn't ruin my trip knowing that my dog was being well looked after. But then again too I have been known to call the vet while I was away to check on my dog. And my dog also has gotten very sick at the kennel...but that's to be expected-he is not home with us(and he has gotten hurt with us too.)

We usually call the petsitter to check on our dog, so I would want to be told then. The petsitter NEVER calls us while we are on a trip. So, to get a call from her might give me a heart attack - I would think it was something a lot worse!

 

[sunlver]

Update...My friend actually got back today. She called me at around 3pm to tell me she was back home. I explained to her in detail what happened, that I treated her dog as I would treat my own dogs. She was not mad at all, she said she knew I would treat her dog as my own, as why she left her dog in my care. Before she left, she asked me how much I charged. I never gave her a price because I dont like taking money from friends. So when she came over today to pick up her dog, she sat and talked about her Disney trip. Again she asked how much I charge, and I said "nothing'. She told me her husband told her not to accept that answer from me LOL...I said you have a vet bill, dont worry about my cost. So after much going back and forth, I said 50$ would be just fine. I said I normally charge 10$ a day, but just give me 50. She wouldnt do it , she paid me 80$ plus the vet bill of $132.. I just felt so guilty for taking her money. She is a friend, and her dog really wasnt a problem.But.,it all ended well.

 

[canwegosoon]

Update...My friend actually got back today. She called me at around 3pm to tell me she was back home. I explained to her in detail what happened, that I treated her dog as I would treat my own dogs. She was not mad at all, she said she knew I would treat her dog as my own, as why she left her dog in my care. Before she left, she asked me how much I charged. I never gave her a price because I dont like taking money from friends. So when she came over today to pick up her dog, she sat and talked about her Disney trip. Again she asked how much I charge, and I said "nothing'. She told me her husband told her not to accept that answer from me LOL...I said you have a vet bill, dont worry about my cost. So after much going back and forth, I said 50$ would be just fine. I said I normally charge 10$ a day, but just give me 50. She wouldnt do it , she paid me 80$ plus the vet bill of $132.. I just felt so guilty for taking her money. She is a friend, and her dog really wasnt a problem.But.,it all ended well.

She's a good friend...and obviously glad you took good care of her dog. I am glad all went well. I would pay my fried for watching my dog...but I do not pay my neighbor for watching my fish I help him in other ways instead.