My houseguests and I spent Saturday at Morning Bray Farm.
After many happy hours of cute overload, we returned to the 7MSN around dinner time.
Smooch had spent the day guarding the ranch from the confines of her yard and was very happy to welcome us home.
She couldn't wait to tell us about her exciting afternoon.
Smooch: Great big squirrel! Ran behind the bench!
I knocked off the cushions! I moved the bench!
I caught the squirrel! See? I left him for you right there!
I didn't eat him. Aren't I a good dog? Where's my cookie?
Smooch's snout was swollen and had what appeared to be several claw marks,
which the squirrel likely made while trying to escape from Smooch's clenched teeth.
Smooch had never gotten into this kind of trouble so I wasn't sure what to do,
but squirting the wounds with Vetricyn seemed like a good place to start, followed by a call to the weekend emergency vet, who told me that squirrel bites generally aren't that dangerous and I could probably wait until Monday to take Smooch to her regular vet, which I did. She will be on antibiotics for awhile to stave off any abcesses, but she'll be good as new...
...except perhaps for a scar or two on her lovely face.
I'm amazed by how much better her wounds look after just a few days.
It will take Smooch much longer to recover from having houseguests than having an encounter with a squirrel.
All that extra love and attention has worn her out – in a good way.
Never one dull moment at the 7MSN ranch. She really got a nasty bite. Squirrels can be little fighters if cornered. The cats chase them but don't corner them around here. They don't like cats either. They tend to stay out of the garden when there are cats. Once you let your little guys out to wander around I bet the squirrel will find another ranch.
ReplyDeleteBest always,
OMG Smooch! Get well soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks for not showing photos from the squirrel....
Its a dogs life eh ;-) My dog is very jelous of your hunting skills Ms Smooch ;p
ReplyDeleteOuch, Smooch! Every good squirrel catcher should have her trophy scars! But I bet we'll hardly notice them.
ReplyDeleteoh Smooch, your poor nose, hope you leave the squirrels alone next time, but i doubt it. Jake has killed 2 possums, a raccoon and a few assorted other wildlife, and he never learns his lesson. hope you did.
ReplyDeleteGlad Smooch will be just fine! My corgi had a similar occurrence. We were out for a walk with his best Lab buddy. They tag teamed on a squirrel that they surprised themselves by catching. The squirrel wasn't going to go down without a fight, and caught my boy under the chin and thru his bottom lip. You should have heard the screams from my dog as he swung his head madly trying to dislodge the squirrel. I finally arrived on the scene and put an end to the struggle. There was blood everywhere! The squirrel didn't win the fight but he did leave me with an emergency vet visit when the walk was over. My vet said the same thing about squirrels bites, very rarely any rabies risk and just antibiotics for the bad puncture wound. It definitely didn't turn Wilson off of chasing squirrels.
ReplyDeleteOhhhh Smooch! Your poor nose. You should leave the vermin killing to the chickens. Glad your healing quickly.
ReplyDeleteAwwwww....... Sweet little Smooch. She is such a brave trooper and I felt so safe against any vermin that might have wanted to give me any trouble!
ReplyDeleteOh my! Even though I rehab baby squirrels, I feel your worry about Smooch. I always wonder what my cat will look like when/if he ever finally catches a squirrel. Their teeth are amazing and the claws are sharp as razors--obviously. Honestly, I'm glad she left you the body so you didn't have to wonder what she'd tangled with. Besides, "recycled" squirrel on your rugs is no fun to clean up at all.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you ladies had a lovely weekend!
Whats all this stuff about you shouldn't have fought the squirrel. Your boss left you in charge and you did your job, did it well. If they don't want to come home to the end of the struggle, let them take you along!
ReplyDeleteStella
Any word from the pack rats? Or have they packed it up after seeing the new barn tenants?
ReplyDeleteSmooch certainly takes her being in charge seriously. Poor nose. Hope all heals well and quickly. I know she must have garnered so much house guest love during your fun time and now must rest up. Bless her. Oma Linda
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a dog actually getting the squirrel- Smooch must be lightening fast! Poor dear, that's not the way the story is supposed to go. I hope that she recovers quickly, and I'm going to show your post to Stella, who is being tormented through the window by those cocky squirrels in our backyard.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's quite the wound! Smooch is a good pooch, that's for sure, although I can't help feeling sorry for the squirrel...
ReplyDeleteI'm green with envy about your houseguests - which is good in a way, because we could use a little green around here. It's snowing. Again. Uh huh.
Smooch should be able to milk the sympathy tree for several weeks. It's a good thing that the squirrel missed the eye. I assume that the squirrel won?
ReplyDeleteHi, MB kids! Love the pictures of Smooch. Unfazed by her squirrel adventure.The sleeping Smooch is the sweetness.
ReplyDeleteSmooch is tough, glad she wasn't hurt any worse than that.
ReplyDeleteLooks nasty, but she had a bunch of good, wild and crazy nurses!
Congratulations Smooch! Them squirrel types can be down right ignorant. How dare they fight you?? However keep this in mind when going after other animals, that they fight back, I mean. I can never forget out dog coming proudly home after killing a groundhog. Chest torn open, requiring stitches and meds. But by damned if he wasn't happy with his kill. He still went after groundhogs, although he was never injured again!
ReplyDeleteThat brings back memories, our Jack Russell would head face first down groundhog burrows and latch on and not let go until it was dead. Naturally he would get all beat up but be so proud of himself! Good to know Smooch would take care of whatever invades her space. She looks so pretty against the blue quilt.
ReplyDeleteSmooch the Warrior Princess has battle scars! Wow, what an exciting episode. She is proud, even if sore.
ReplyDelete