Could you lift your dog in an emergency? - Page 4

sagelfn · 08-31-2010, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbbyK9

That actually brings up a very good point - does anyone here work with their dogs on being calm when they're being picked up and carried? Does anyone actually practice picking up and holding/carrying their dogs?

I do pick up Sage (80-85lbs) and he remains calm like "sigh... what are you up to now" but I've only picked him up from a stand or sit, I need to figure out how and if I can pick him up if he were laying down. If he were injured I would not want to hurt him further by lifting him awkwardly. Good idea to have a backup plan!

selzer · 08-31-2010, 12:40 AM

No. I did with Jenna. Not with any of the others. I think I got a cell phone instead. It was cheaper. Dad is only a phone call away. I do not go off road into deep ravines with them, well not often. But even there, calling Dad is the way to go, rather than carrying the injured dog out.

paulag1955 · 08-31-2010, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selzer

You might be amazed at what you can do when you have to get your bleeding bitch to an ER now. Arwen weighed 85 at the time and with the crate, weighed a lot more. But nothing like 130 pounds. Still, I would have put a dog that size in the crate and used skids to load it into the SUV.

I'm not thinking of the weight, I'm thinking of the dimensions of the crate. I'm not that tall and I have short arms.

selzer · 08-31-2010, 01:07 AM

But if your dog is seriously injured -- Arwen's c-section incision was hemorraging. I was AFRAID to do anything to hurt her more. In the crate, the bottom is solid and she is less likely to be pushed or prodded somewhere that would cause more pain and trouble.

Also, it is not always safe to lift a dog in pain. A dog in pain may bite. My brother's collie tried to take his face off. She had been hit by a car and her hip was completely dislocated. He picked her up and she bit him good in the face. In his defense, he did not hold it against her.

paulag1955 · 08-31-2010, 01:09 AM

Of course the hardest thing would be for me not to freak out...I'm squeamish! I like to think I could manage it, but I just don't know. I know people do some pretty amazing things when their adrenalin kicks in, so maybe this old granny would surprise herself.

Eva von Selah · 08-31-2010, 01:17 AM

I could lift and carry Eva for as long as necessary. She's 80 lbs and I am a 6' 1" 185-lb male, age 44. I think I could carry her to were she was transportable.

shadow mum · 08-31-2010, 01:40 AM

I used to practice lifting Shadow, but am not allowed to anymore due to a spinal problem. I have no doubt however, that in an emergency, I could lift and carry him. I may not be moving myself for a few days following, but he'd get the care he needed. My DH still lifts Shadow just for fun. Shadow knows that once he's up, he's to stay still. DH actually carried him acrros a railway trestle bridge one day when we were out hiking. Good training for both of them.

AbbyK9 · 08-31-2010, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Also, it is not always safe to lift a dog in pain. A dog in pain may bite. My brother's collie tried to take his face off. She had been hit by a car and her hip was completely dislocated. He picked her up and she bit him good in the face. In his defense, he did not hold it against her.

Good point, selzer.

It's not a bad idea for dog owners to learn how to emergency-muzzle their dog using a belt, leash, or whatever else is available. A lot of pet first aid / CPR courses do teach this, but you (not you in particular, anyone with a dog) can also ask your vet to show you how to do this in an emergency. It's a good skill to have.

And, obviously ... I guess it needs to be said that, just like people, you shouldn't move a dog if moving the dog would cause more injury or have the potential for more injury.

blackviolet · 08-31-2010, 02:18 AM

When my English Mastiff got sick, I lugged him around. He weighed more than I do. Granted, I couldn't actually LIFT and carry him if he was completely dead weight (maybe I could in an emergency), but I could manage. I could definitely manage the GSD's.

Though if they were severely injured, I couldn't carry them and support them well enough to not disturb their injuries.

Chicagocanine · 08-31-2010, 03:26 AM

I've picked up Bianca before just to see if I could lift her and to see if she would tolerate it. I used to pick up my Golden all the time, Ginger weighed between 62-69 pounds at different times of year and ages. I used to pick her up to weigh her (by getting on the scale holding her and then alone, and subtracting.)
Bianca is a little heavier than Ginger but still manageable, but I have been thinking I would like a bigger dog and I don't think I could lift much more than Bianca's weight.

View Poll Results: Can you lift/carry your dog? If not, do you have a device or plan for emergencies?
Yes, I can carry my dog on my own.	93	82.30%
No, I can't lift my dog.	16	14.16%
I have a device ready to move my dog in an emergency (pet stretcher or similar)	2	1.77%
I have a plan to move my dog in an emergency without using a special device (you carry a blanket, or have another plan)	10	8.85%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 113. You may not vote on this poll

08-31-2010, 12:40 AM	#32 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 16,685	No. I did with Jenna. Not with any of the others. I think I got a cell phone instead. It was cheaper. Dad is only a phone call away. I do not go off road into deep ravines with them, well not often. But even there, calling Dad is the way to go, rather than carrying the injured dog out. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

08-31-2010, 01:07 AM	#34 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 16,685	But if your dog is seriously injured -- Arwen's c-section incision was hemorraging. I was AFRAID to do anything to hurt her more. In the crate, the bottom is solid and she is less likely to be pushed or prodded somewhere that would cause more pain and trouble. Also, it is not always safe to lift a dog in pain. A dog in pain may bite. My brother's collie tried to take his face off. She had been hit by a car and her hip was completely dislocated. He picked her up and she bit him good in the face. In his defense, he did not hold it against her. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

08-31-2010, 01:09 AM	#35 (permalink)
paulag1955 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Western Washington Posts: 2,663	Of course the hardest thing would be for me not to freak out...I'm squeamish! I like to think I could manage it, but I just don't know. I know people do some pretty amazing things when their adrenalin kicks in, so maybe this old granny would surprise herself. __________________ Paula Shasta - GSD (4/30/10) RIP Duchess - Shetland Sheepdog (12/25/88 - 2/14/04)

08-31-2010, 01:17 AM	#36 (permalink)
Eva von Selah Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 118	I could lift and carry Eva for as long as necessary. She's 80 lbs and I am a 6' 1" 185-lb male, age 44. I think I could carry her to were she was transportable. __________________ Canteen Eva Chelsea von Selah GSD - 3/11/08 Chelsea Girl GSD/Chow - went 15 yrs, 8 months; waiting patiently for me at the Bridge

08-31-2010, 01:40 AM	#37 (permalink)
shadow mum Master Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Brampton ON Posts: 572	I used to practice lifting Shadow, but am not allowed to anymore due to a spinal problem. I have no doubt however, that in an emergency, I could lift and carry him. I may not be moving myself for a few days following, but he'd get the care he needed. My DH still lifts Shadow just for fun. Shadow knows that once he's up, he's to stay still. DH actually carried him acrros a railway trestle bridge one day when we were out hiking. Good training for both of them. __________________ Di Shadow - GSD http://www.dogster.com/dogs/858388 and gone but NEVER forgotten: Smokey Joe - GSD/Rott X Jake - Westie-Poo Mandy - Peke-a-Poo Denae - Akita/Malamute/GSD T.J - Great Pyranees

08-31-2010, 02:18 AM	#39 (permalink)
blackviolet Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 319	When my English Mastiff got sick, I lugged him around. He weighed more than I do. Granted, I couldn't actually LIFT and carry him if he was completely dead weight (maybe I could in an emergency), but I could manage. I could definitely manage the GSD's. Though if they were severely injured, I couldn't carry them and support them well enough to not disturb their injuries. __________________ "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers

08-31-2010, 03:26 AM	#40 (permalink)
Chicagocanine Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,270	I've picked up Bianca before just to see if I could lift her and to see if she would tolerate it. I used to pick up my Golden all the time, Ginger weighed between 62-69 pounds at different times of year and ages. I used to pick her up to weigh her (by getting on the scale holding her and then alone, and subtracting.) Bianca is a little heavier than Ginger but still manageable, but I have been thinking I would like a bigger dog and I don't think I could lift much more than Bianca's weight. __________________ Chicago Canine Bianca HIC CGC TT (GSD)

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