barbed wire fence

[natetnc]

i never thought fences would be such an obstical until i made my first trip to kansas. while i was there i can count a handful of times where my pup either got straight clothes-lined or denied, luckily she never got physically hurt although you could see her lose confidence with each hit of the fence. as the trip went on i found myself calling her off as she neared a fence, i am sure this became annoying to her as it did to me. i don't like to direct my dog, i like to let her hunt, the less commands i give in the field the better the hunt.

currently she seems to be doing better as she has hit more of them. around the house most fences are boardered with cedars and other trees of the kind planted by birds on the post. she has made this connection, watch out for a consistent line of trees with nothing else around them.

is this a live and learn lesson, do dogs get this or not? how do you guys deal with it?

[DGFavor]

Must be a learned lesson - I don't have any trouble with it and encounter a ton of it. I had a dog years ago that would at full speed dive between the lower strands, sort of turning himself sideways in the air - never a scratch. I once got the condolence from a judge after my dog stank it up at a field trial that he was the fastest one ever seen to pass under barbed wire fences - I'd have rather won the trial!!

[topher40]

Barbed wire fences are just a way of life in Kansas. You cant really get away from even in Western Ks, they are just further apart from eachother. So my dogs havent known anything else and after a few brush-ins as pups they learn pretty quick.

[natetnc]

i figured this may be the case but thought i would ask anyway. i just hope the lesson learned isn't coming out of my pocket in vet bills.

[BigShooter]

Even after they learn about fences, barbed wire is still a problem especially with a shorthaired gun dog. We always carry EMT Gel to repair cuts in the field. My dog had about 2 1/2 inches zipped open along her back well after she already knew what barbed wire was.

[natetnc]

typically, what will emt gel repair? the 2.5 inches comment got me wondering. do you quit working a dog if the cut is not affecting the dogs performance? if so how long before the gel sets up? i know these are basic but (knocking on wood) i have never had to deal with any of these situations in the field. any good web reads you suggest for care in the field?

[1vizsla]

We've had quite a few scratches (none serious though) and always before a conformation show (yes, we do that too). We keep them clean and eventually got Dyson a vest so it got scraped and not him. He is finally getting smarter and not going though them as often.

Carla

[BigShooter]

Sitting in my office I pulled out a ruler. I over estimated. I think the cut was closer to 1 3/4 to 2 inches and it was not bleeding badly. I never had it stiched up, just used the gel. I've used the gel on cuts and abrasions on the lower legs and it can be a life saver for pads. I've never pulled a dog from the field yet but that's a judgement call as I definitely would if an injury were serious enough. Although I carry a dog first aid kit, I also haven't had to do any stiching yet either.

The gel bonds very well, almost like super glue. Although I don't remember exactly seems to me it sets up within about 4-8 minutes. You do have to keep the dog from licking it until it is set.

[tyleetess]

I had a dog that would get torn up by barbed wire fence alot. If there was a fence anywhere close he would find it. The worst was a tear about the size of a dollar bill on his chest. He hit the fence and I could hear the wire stretch. I checked him out and he looked fine so we continued hunting. When we got back to the truck he jump on the tailgate and I noticed the "flap" hanging. I used the EMT gel but he licked it off and ended up with a few stiches anyway. The gel worked on all of the smaller cuts he encountered through the seasons.

[Buckeye_V]

my dogs get nicked and scratched, but no biggies yet.

My horse, on the other hand, ran right through a bobbed wire fence. She got a bout a 10 inch laceration across her chest about 1/4" deep. Rubbed all of the ahir off the inside of her leg and learned to stay away from the things......... I hope.

Justin

[tfbirddog2]

If your going to run birddogs by three tubes of EMT one for the truck, one for house, and one for vest or coat pocket.Also a must or security blanket is a staple gun and remover, since I bought mine no vet trips for two years for barbwire cuts.Oh vet wrap or vet ACE wrap great for flaps of skin then you can "Duct It".The EMT spary helped my Lab after she was shot it is great too.

[topher40]

I would agree with TF, a staple gun is a MUST. If you cant fix it with a staple gun then your day is over anyways. Atleast you can ge the dog stapled up enough to get it to a vet if its that bad though. EMT gel is great but doesnt work on severe lacerations. My wife is a Nurse Practitioner and I have her bring home sutures from the ER to use on the dogs also, but not everyone can do that.

[Georgia Boy]

My pup hit one yesterday, just a couple 1/4 inch cuts. I guess I got lucky, I will be getting some EMT gel.

[PrairieGoat]

Where would one find some good instructions on using one of these staple guns? My doggie first-aid kit came with one, but I never found the instructions for using it. Seems like it would be good to know before using it.....I assume it is somewhat intuitive, but would like to be sure...

[tfbirddog2]

I take the cut and goop it with EMT, then take cut kinda pinch it together with a seem showing and staple that way skin to skin heals. watched the vet a few times before.

[PrairieGoat]

Thanks! That's pretty much what I figured. How well does the dog hold still for this?

[Nebraska]

Whatever you do, make sure the wound is CLEAN before you do anything.....

My GSP used to get some serious cuts on the top front of her leg (flaps hanging off and all). She wouldn't even notice and would want to just keep hunting. They about did ME in though.... :roll: I'm still new here and have never heard of EMT gel. What's the scoop with that? Is it similar to "Quick Clot"??

[tfbirddog2]

NEB. ever heard of sliced bread, EMT is right next to it on that list as one of the greatest things. Basically noesporne with glue in it.PG if you have someone around to help is great, if your bounded well with the dog it helps too.most outdoors places carry it.