A few weeks ago, our receptionists received a call from the panicked owner of a petite beagle. It was early morning, and the schedule was already packed with appointments and procedures — we didn’t have a minute to spare.
But this was a patient that simply couldn’t wait to be seen.
The owner reported that his dog, we’ll call her Sally, had been attacked by a mountain lion.
Sally and her owner live in the foothills on spacious ranch land, and sometime in the night, the lion had been slinking around the house in search of prey. Outdoor mounted cameras caught the skulking predator lifting pillows from the patio furniture, sniffing delicately at the scent of the dog.
It must have known what it was looking for.
The owner, my client, awoke to his dogs baying and barking as they never had before. He bounded outside to find a full-size mountain lion carrying Sally away. By a stroke of good fortune, Sally was able to escape the vice grip of the lion’s jaws, and her owner was able to scare the predator away.
Sally was alive, but just barely.
We immediately told him to bring Sally in to our office. When she arrived, she was in better shape than we expected, but the wounds we could see were only the tip of the iceberg.
Sally survived the attack, but had weeks of healing ahead of her, requiring multiple surgeries, antibiotics, pain killers, and intensive nursing care by her doting owner.
Perhaps the most astounding thing was not that she escaped becoming a meal, but that her countenance and will to live never failed. She never whimpered, and she walked herself in and out of our hospital every time she came.
In my years as a veterinarian, I have seen numerous dogs and cats who’ve survived encounters with wildlife, and their road to recovery never ceases to amaze me.
When I practiced in Los Angeles, the primary predator to pets were 2-ton metal beasts — i.e., motor vehicles — that roved in packs, especially at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
In Santa Barbara, we also share our home with many wild animals, including mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, foxes, rattlesnakes, birds of prey, and even an occasional bear.
The likelihood that your pet will encounter a wild animal is overall quite slim. Wild animals are naturally wary of humans and human-infested neighborhoods.
But sometimes the drive to eat (or to defend itself) may overcome this natural fear.
Most predators, such as coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions, are crepuscular, meaning most active at dawn and dusk. If you have cats that are indoor-outdoor, you should keep them indoors from dinnertime until after breakfast.
As many people have experienced, coyotes will enter even densely packed suburban neighborhoods in search of an easy meal during these hours. Cats, even savvy ones, have no natural defense against these intelligent predators, and they don’t often escape.
In addition to house cats, predators will hunt backyard chickens, dogs, pet rabbits, and other small pets, so please ensure that your furry friends are securely housed during these crucial hours.
If you are hiking or camping, be mindful of the fact that you are entering into the territory of wild animals. This is their home, and you are just visiting.
You can be sure that a mountain lion sees you, before you see it. Keep your dogs close by you (leashed, preferably) to prevent them becoming easy prey.
If you are a frequent hiker, backpacker, or live on ranch-land or in the foothills, you are likely to eventually encounter a rattlesnake. In Southern California, rattlesnakes don’t hibernate, and are active all year long.
These animals just want to be left alone, and won’t attack unless they feel threatened. But many a curious dog has learned this lesson too late, and rattlesnake venom can have severe consequences.
Most snake bites occur on the head, neck, or extremities, and the severity can depend on several factors: the size of the dog, the age of the snake, the location of the bite, how recently it has released venom (meaning, how much venom is left to inject into thee dog).
Approximately 20-25% of bites are dry (meaning no venom has been injected), 30% are mild with local pain and swelling only, 40% are severe, and 5% are fatal.
Treatment is much more effective if instituted immediately, and involves intravenous fluids, antivenin, and emergency supportive care.
There is a vaccine against the venom of the western diamondback, although it should be noted that there is still some controversy in the veterinary field about its efficacy.
An important note about this vaccine is that dogs will still need emergency treatment and antivenin. However, the vaccine theoretically lessens the effects of the venom. It is given as a series of two initial doses, with boosters every 6-12 months thereafter.
If you and your dog live in high-risk areas, or participate in activities that will lead to frequent encounters with snakes, you can also consider rattlesnake-avoidance training. In our area there are usually a few professional clinics each year. Check your local listings for dates.
You can take measures to keep your pets safe from deadly encounters with wildlife.
This can include high and secure fencing around your yard, limiting outdoor time for cats and small dogs (especially at dawn/night/dusk), staying alert and keeping your dogs on leash while hiking, and reducing food sources that may attract wildlife, such as bird seed, pet food, and trash.
In this way, we can continue to have good neighborly relationships with our beautiful local wildlife.
Dr. Hilary Quinn is a small animal veterinarian in Santa Barbara. She owns and operates Wilder Animal Hospital, and shares her own home with three humans (her husband and two kids) as well as two rowdy dogs, a very calm kitty, two fish, and six chickens. Contact her at news@noozhawk.com.