#%*@! barbed wire!

[El Jason]

Well, Henry's second year of hunting came to a premature end last week. Chukar and quail season ran through today, and I took Thursday and Friday off to hunt after a holiday layoff. I thought I would get Henry on some quail on Thursday to get him tuned back up for an all day chukar safari in one of my most favorite corners of the world on Friday.

About halfway through our hunt Thursday, I see blood in the snow. Thinking it was a torn pad, I called Henry over. I found two large gashes in his chest from the barbed wire fence we had crossed through. It was the nice, five strand, uber sharp shit like the Wilkes use. This stuff was on a wildlife area to boot!

A trip to the vet Friday yielded this result, and a pocketbook that was four Benjamins lighter.





So now, the poor guy has to walk around looking like a fool with a t-shirt on so he doesn't lick his wounds (literally). And, to top it off he's out of commission for the last weekend of duck season too.

 

[Hem]

That is a bummer. Hope Henry doesn't go berserk in that straight jacket(shirt).

 

[Paul in Idaho]

That's no good. I hope he heals quickly. I'm surprised my dog hasn't done that yet. He blows through anything in his way.

 

[Sytes]

Bummer. Some R&R time for Henry.

 

[justdada]

I feel for you and henry, my gsp did the same thing in November; two big cuts though he didn't seem to notice immediately. Funny, I used t shirts too, which seems to do the job best. hope he heals quick

 

[recon6036]

Looks like Henry is thinking......."this really sucks.". Hopefully he heals quick.

 

[MN Public Hunter]

Ouch, poor puppy...guess his handler needs to find better crossing spot

 

[LazyV]

Hopefully he heals quickly. A few years back my shorthair basically cut himself stem to stern going through barb wire in the Palouse. Nearest vet was in Idaho, he was there for three days after surgery, and unfortunately it was more than four bills. He never went out without an upland vest agin. Expensive and painful lesson. I'm glad he's home with you and will be better soon.

 

[LopeHunter]

Ouch. Does anyone make a vest to fit a dog and help fend off briars and barb wire? On hot days the vest would create other issues but on a cooler day perhaps would be okay to wear.

 

[LazyV]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunt...=SBC;MMcat104791680;cat104715180;cat234199080

Gone through a couple of these over the years but it's a lot cheaper then the alternative. My shorthair didn't mind the vest at all, and it got to the point he got excited just seeing it because it meant hunting time.

 

[Washington Hunter]

That really sucks! Maybe he'll be more careful from now on going through fences! This is why I don't hunt birds anymore- I can't afford the vet bills.

 

[idahofishnhunt]

Ouch...hope he heals quick. Poor guy.

 

[NoWiser]

Ouch, sorry to see that. My Brittany got tangled in one the day after Thanksgiving this year and tore his "wanker" half off. It was bad. 3 weeks in a cone and he is back to normal. He just hangs a bit lower now. He does have a fear of barbed wire fences since then and I can't say I blame him.

 

[oldillini]

Hope Henry recovers quickly. Always amazed how tough how man's best friend can be. Gets cut up and keeps hunting. Most of us humans would piss and moan then head back to the truck.

(I too have a Henry at my side, but he prefers to stay a my feet by the recliner.)

 

[pointingdogsrule]

Get well soon Henry

good luck to all
the dog

 

[fargoflyfish]

The same thing happened to my wirehair a couple of times this season. In western ND where I pheasant hunt, some of the best habitat is along the barbwire fences. It is almost impossible to keep my dog from crossing back and forth over the barb wire. I started using a belly protector vest. It helps quite a bit. Just make sure to get the canvas version and not the neoprene.

The vet told us the same thing. Either a cone or t shirt. I think our dog Gerty preferred the t shirt.