Close scare...what are the odds?

[Auriana]

What are the odds of a dog getting hit by a car and not having a scratch on him?

I had such a scare on Sunday night! I have a new roommate and I forgot to tell her that the gate in the back can be a little tricky. So around 9:30, Sunday night, I let my two dogs out and after a moment, thought to look out at the gate. It was open. Loki (my corgi) followed Corrie (my cairn) out and soon they were chasing each other up the street. Now I live on a backstreet with not too much traffic but there is a main road a block up. Corrie was easy to catch...he heard the tone of my voice and sat down, hanging his head and let me pick him up. Plus he's a lot slower than Loki. Meanwhile, Loki (who will be one next month) thought this was a great game of "catch the puppy". He sat when I asked him to, would wait till I was a couple feet away, and then he'd bolt again. He's way too fast to catch. A couple of times I managed to almost get him. We chased him around for a half hour before he darted off toward the main street. There was snow and ice on the ground which made it more difficult.

He made it across the first time perfectly fine. Then my fiancee and I cornered him in someone's driveway but he managed to dart right between us. He then ran back across Park Ave just as a car was coming. I knew he was going to get hit so I put my hands over my eyes...not able to watch. I heard him hit the car and him cry out in pain. Then I hear my fiancee, Reggie, say, "He's still going." I open my eyes, expecting to see him on the ground, and Loki's running toward me. He ran around for a bit and then sat down, looking at me happily and let me pick him up. The guy who hit him felt so bad.

We took him home and checked him for injuries. There's not a scratch on him. No pain, no blood...nothing. Five minutes later he was back in the yard chasing Corrie around as if nothing happened. Reggie said he saw the whole thing. The car hit Loki, sending him flying in the air a few feet across the road. When he landed he rolled another few feet before getting back up and running toward me. I keep checking him...convinced I"ll find something wrong but he's fine. Happy, eating, and just as hyper as usual....scared me to death though. I just can't believe it.

[Jespah]

That was it - your only one in a million chance that he wouldn't get hurt. He could have had internal injuries you can't see - and dogs and cats will do everything possible to show they are not hurt - it's nature, the weak don't survive in the pack, so they won't show weakness. It still might have been worth a trip the the vet.

You and he were very lucky, I can imagine that you are still shaking from the whole experience - I know I'd be.

[Fluffypants]

That is terrifying. I would still take him to the vet ASAP, because of all the reasons Deb mentioned above. Better safe than sorry is my motto!!!!

[glencorgi]

I'm still shaking from reading about it. Oh my goodness!!!!! I would advise a vet check out just to be sure there aren't any internal injuries as Deb said.
Whew!

Debbie

[milles2]

Tucker had been with me maybe a week. I had him on his leash in the front yard as I was planting bulbs. I was transferring his leash from one post to another (to tie him!) when he spied a couple walking up the road. I said "no", he looked at me, looked at the people, looked at me, then bolted down the lawn towards the people and across the road - right in between 2 cars. Neither even slowed.

I tried to grab the leash, ran after him but I too put my head down thinking it was over.

Somehow he didn't get hit. Rand right between 2 cars going 40 mph.

He was tied up until the electric fence went in and for over a year, he was never out in the yard w/o me.

It happens in a heart beat, I remember watching it all as if it was in slow motion. I hope Loki is alright.

[Auriana]

Between two cars and he didn't get hit!? That's amazing...thank god he was alright.

I did think of internal injuries and I've been feeling under his stomach and pressing gently into his sides and other places to check for pain. I've also been monitoring his eating, peeing and bowel movements to check for blood or anything abnormal. So far everything has been fine. I have to go to the vet to pick up his vaccination record soon so I'll bring it up to him while I'm there.

I am still shaken over the whole thing. Monday I was like a zombie and I kept replaying it over and over again in my head. I swear that if Reggie hadn't been there I might have thought that it was just a bad nightmare since Loki is fine. Trying to get the image out of my head of him about to be hit and then the sounds has not been successful.

[Jespah]

I think a lot of us have had a pretty good scare at one time or another - with me it was a bus missing Rupert by inches as he chased a cat across the road. It was slow motion watching it as I ran like a maniac screaming his name to no avail.

You still aren't home-free - take Loki with you today when you go get his vaccination info - his vet should see him - he is worth it.

You would be sick with yourself if he suddenly collapsed and there was nothing you could do for him. I love being wrong - please put your mind at ease and get him checked out.

Deb

[pat_m]

I've run into this a couple of times - thankfully not with Byron..

Once was my parents pug who got hit. No visable injuries but they did take him to the Vet and he was held overnight for observations.

The other time was I was driving down a road and two dogs came from the side chasing one another. I swerved and one hit me. He rolled, shook it off and kept on going. I seached the area for about a 1/2 Hour. No blood in the area, no signs of either dog. That haunts me to this day...

[Dillydoodle]

I agree with Deb here, internal injuries are very possible and better to be safe than sorry. That was very lucky that he was ok... I would have had a heart attack. I have thankfully knock on wood, never had either dog run into the street... i am such a nervous nelly that i am constantly thinking about stuff like that and holding onto these leashes like crazy- oh and i ALWAYS have treats on me somewhere, my treatbag, my coat pocket, my car, the bottom of my purse, there is always some small treat somewhere... and I know my dogs are real food hounds so they come for cookies...

Emilie

[milles2]

My puppy sitter asked me if she thought my dogs knew enough to be afraid of cars.

Absolutely not! If a car pulls into the driveway they would walk right up to it while it was still moving. They have no clue that a big heavy car could hurt them.

[Bayoucorgi]

I let my dog off leash in an uninhabited county park - these were the days before dog parks - and someone drove down a closed maintenance road and hit my dog right in front of me. I screamed like an axe murder struck me. She rolled about 10 feet and leapt up and ran to me. It literally scared the poo out of her and she smelled terrible. She had a skinned elbow. I was a poor college student so I didn't take her to the vet but she was fine.

Just the other day Liam and his little JRT buddy, Angus, got out of my friend's car after she moved her car back on the driveway. We were getting in my car across the street to go to the beach and both dogs bolted for the road to get in the car with us. I yelled NO and they stopped but I nearly ran in front of a car to keep them from reaching the street and coming across. This friend is very experienced with dogs and I couldn't believe she let them get out of her car without grabbing one or both.

It could happen in an instant. Thank goodness all is well.

[Fluffypants]

Originally Posted by Jespah

You still aren't home-free - take Loki with you today when you go get his vaccination info - his vet should see him - he is worth it.

You would be sick with yourself if he suddenly collapsed and there was nothing you could do for him. I love being wrong - please put your mind at ease and get him checked out.

Deb

I agree again. If you're going anyway, may as well bring the little guy with you. Then if the vet says Let me take a look at him . . . you can say Okay - here you go!. One-stop shopping. (I'm a sucker for efficiency)