Dog News

Dog Gets Critically Injured Chasing a Squirrel

by Katherine

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Squirrel! Most dogs go crazy when they see a squirrel and it is their natural instinct to want to chase them. For Tater, an Australian cattle dog mix from Ball Ground, Ga., chasing a squirrel almost cost him his life.

It was March 27, 2014, when the dog was injured. Tater and his owner Michael Blackwell were visiting a friend’s farm when the playful dog spotted a squirrel near the foot of a tree. As it is expected, the canine took off chasing the squirrel and the squirrel ran up a tree, then jumped off and continued running away from the dog.

Tater recovering from his squirrel-induced injury. Photo Credit: My Fox Atlanta
Tater recovering from his squirrel-induced injury. Photo Credit: My Fox Atlanta

 

“The squirrel jumps off, (with) Tater right behind him. And there just happened to be a power pole, with a grounding rod in the soil,” Blackwell told My Fox Atlanta. “[Tater] landed right on top of it, right dead and center of his chest.”

The dog owner knew that if he pulled his pet off the rod, his dog would bleed out. Instead, Blackwell pulled the rod off the ground with the dog still attached to it and rushed his four-legged best friend to a local vet.

Upon arrival, the veterinarian cut the rod and called Georgia Veterinary Specialists’ emergency clinic to inform them he was referring a dog in critical condition that needed to be seen right away.

“Oh, my God. I had no idea it was this bad!” said the Georgia Veterinary tech that met Blackwell and Tater at the emergency clinic.

Georgia Veterinary surgeon Alan Cross studies Tater's x-ray. Photo Credit: My Fox Atlanta
Georgia Veterinary surgeon Alan Cross studies Tater’s x-ray. Photo Credit: My Fox Atlanta

 

Specialists were concerned the rod had pierced a major organ or artery, but fortunately, the iron bar just punctured one of the dog’s lungs and missed the heart. Emergency surgery was performed and the rod was removed without any complications.

Days later Tater was back home being his usual playful self. Blackwell said the dog was taking it easy and for now he is not allowed to chase any squirrels.