Zumie05
Well-known member
Last night I nearly had a heart attack. It was just awful
Coco is crate trained, has been since 12 weeks old. She runs in there when she knows it is time and will go on cue to "kennel up!" She never whines in her crate either, such a good girl. Always took off her collar and gave her a stuffed kong or some safe treats to eat up too.
So some may recall that recently Coco has turned into an escape artist. We had been gradually giving her more freedom by allowing her out of the crate surrounded by a pen when we were away. She had been getting out of that set up so we decided to go back to the crate. Things were fine until last night.
When I got home I immediately knew something was wrong - I heard very hoarse crying/barking outside as I approached my door. I came in to find that Coco's mouth had got stuck in the door of her crate; her crate is plastic with a metal door like they all come in. Her top two canines were stuck in a little square between the metal, as well as her two lower canines...which kept her mouth open. I am just 100% positive her clever little mind was trying to figure out how to escape, she has been paying attention to how we manipulate the door to open and close the crate.
There was a puddle of drool all over the floor, I had no idea a dog could drool so much. Her mouth was a little bloody, but no damage done...however she was quite freaked out. She had soiled herself (and has NEVER had an accident in the crate, not even as a baby) and was covered in drool. It smelled awful. I was only gone about 4 hours...but it still kills me to think there was a possibility she had her mouth stuck open for that long. I feel horrible.
I gave her a bath and rinsed out her mouth, wondering if I should go to the emergency vet, however she ran around playing with my cat and was fine. Today she is just a little sheepish. Seems extra sensitive and needy... or it could just be me imagining that she is acting this way. I can't help but feel she might be traumatized. Would you guys continue to use a crate after this incident? I feel I should shut her into my bathroom from now on. I don't have any other rooms that I could fully puppy proof without putting fences and gates up everywhere.
Coco is crate trained, has been since 12 weeks old. She runs in there when she knows it is time and will go on cue to "kennel up!" She never whines in her crate either, such a good girl. Always took off her collar and gave her a stuffed kong or some safe treats to eat up too.
So some may recall that recently Coco has turned into an escape artist. We had been gradually giving her more freedom by allowing her out of the crate surrounded by a pen when we were away. She had been getting out of that set up so we decided to go back to the crate. Things were fine until last night.
When I got home I immediately knew something was wrong - I heard very hoarse crying/barking outside as I approached my door. I came in to find that Coco's mouth had got stuck in the door of her crate; her crate is plastic with a metal door like they all come in. Her top two canines were stuck in a little square between the metal, as well as her two lower canines...which kept her mouth open. I am just 100% positive her clever little mind was trying to figure out how to escape, she has been paying attention to how we manipulate the door to open and close the crate.
There was a puddle of drool all over the floor, I had no idea a dog could drool so much. Her mouth was a little bloody, but no damage done...however she was quite freaked out. She had soiled herself (and has NEVER had an accident in the crate, not even as a baby) and was covered in drool. It smelled awful. I was only gone about 4 hours...but it still kills me to think there was a possibility she had her mouth stuck open for that long. I feel horrible.
I gave her a bath and rinsed out her mouth, wondering if I should go to the emergency vet, however she ran around playing with my cat and was fine. Today she is just a little sheepish. Seems extra sensitive and needy... or it could just be me imagining that she is acting this way. I can't help but feel she might be traumatized. Would you guys continue to use a crate after this incident? I feel I should shut her into my bathroom from now on. I don't have any other rooms that I could fully puppy proof without putting fences and gates up everywhere.
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