Had to google wound pump. Hoping for a quick recovery for your pup.

They seem to have all of the infection cleaned out.

How awful. Your heart must be breaking. I'll keep a good thought for your pooch.

I adopted him in February. I went to work one (six degree Fahrenheit) day and came home with hungry, lost dog. After being unable to find the owner, I took responsibility for him.

He's got a couple of 2.5" orange "Chuck-it" balls. (Only really likes the orange ones.) by dropping them down the basement steps. For whatever reason, he refuses to go down them. I have to discover where they bounced, what furniture I need to move, etc. to retrieve the.

It dawned on me one day that he trained me to play fetch.

I love my little terrier (terror) so much I can't imagine how devastated I'd be if he were ill or got attacked by another dog.

On another note, I volunteer at the local humane society. We have pit bulls who are the sweetest loves. I'm sorry that your dog was attacked by a pit bull. I'd have to say that misbehavior by the dog is very much due to the parents. Just as some naughty children who are brats behavior is due to the indulgence by their parents. The pit bulls I've known are not naturally aggressive.

I had a pit/beagle mix. He was a sweet dog. I've known others to be perfectly friendly. The issue that many have is that they are often adopted as a status symbol rather than as a pet. I don't think he knew what he had.

This is 99% the owner. Some breeds require and experienced owner willing to put in the time. Pits are very excitable dogs. In my experience they are pretty alpha if you let them be. Both of those things have to be controlled by the owner--the earlier the better. I am pretty sure this PB considered himself the alpha over man and beast.

I am privileged to be able to work with the many Akitas at our shelter. Akitas are known for being aggressive. They are part of the Mastiff family. Aggressive in many ways true. They, like the Pit Bulls have been bred to be hunters, protectors and fighters for their humans. Not really cuddly dogs so much. Although I know several who are very cuddly. And those same cuddly dogs would do everything within their power to protect me if necessary.

I work with about 50 dogs that were confiscated from an abusive breeder. Some of them are the most lovable sweethearts. Some of them we are working really hard to socialize. They were born in a little kennel and have never been able to be around other dogs or people. Their entire life has been them being in a small kennel. I seriously want to put the people who did this in solitary confinement for a long time so they can understand what they've done to these wonderful dogs.

I'm certain that if these dogs bonded with a human and felt their human was in danger they'd be pretty aggressive in order to protect their human. That really isn't so much different from how I think most of us humans would also react to protect our loved ones. I know I'd be aggressive and throw down if I felt one of my nephews or nieces were threatened.

As you point out. One must understand a dog/breed before one adopts. One must be prepared for the idiosyncrasies of a particular breed. Each breed does have its positives and negatives in terms of how humans perceive them.

They are all wonderfully unique and diverse as us humans.

I have a terrier mutt-mix who has been with me for over 18 years. I am very fortunate to be his human.

When I was a kid we always had beagles on the farm. The most loving yet stubborn dogs.

They're wonderful dogs but must be well socialized and have a staunch alpha master. They're clever mischief making buggers and can be quite stubborn. The one I have now oddly loves other dogs particularly small ones, which is really a shame because though he wants so much to play with them he just doesn't get it that he's too big, too strong, and too clumsy to have free access to play with them. Typical of Akitas though he's territorial and protective of those he knows whether it's me or the neighbors or the neighbors kids or their pets, etc. Strangers he needs a little time to get to know though there's two people he hates - one a friend of my one next door neighbor and the other the son of my other next door neighbor. Both teens have tried ignoring him, bribing him with toys or treats, letting him sniff them all over, etc., etc., and I'm damned if I can find anything at all about either of them that he doesn't like. He just decided at the very first sighting of them that he was going to hate them. Other strangers once he gets to know them and decides to like them he wants to be their bestest friend in the whole world... he'll leap out of his skin for joy the moment he sees them and cry in absolute misery when they leave and sometimes even pout for hours after they go.

My previous Akita hated all dogs though was fine with them as long as they weren't in his immediate vicinity (the other side of the street was a distance that was pretty much the line with him), but he'd keep his eye on them to make sure they didn't cross that imaginary line of "too close". He absolutely adored the neighbor's Bull Mastiff but hated the owners and merely tolerated their kids. Strangely he was a massive cuddler but only with me, and it was nearly constant. I was really surprised by that and now I miss it. Akitas tend to be a bit stand offish and though they generally put up with hugs and kisses and even come to you for them generally it's only for a moment and then decide the affection quota they owe you is satisfied for the time being. The one I have now loves affection but not cuddling now that he's a grown up. Though he loves pets and hugs and scritching and especially physical play he's just not into spooning. Though he loves to be physically close he wants that teeny millimeter of physical distance.

My first one was rather indifferent to other dogs even little ones that would jump all over him or run circles between his legs, a couple of dogs he really liked, and a couple he despised on first sight... all for mysterious reasons only known to him. He was great with people though especially children of all ages. He absolutely adored babies... just the sight of a baby carriage had him wiggling with joy. He seemed to have a very caring attitude to anyone that he considered as needing help... old people, ill people, really young people, and babies in particular he adored. He was also fiercely protective of them. My old neighbors where I lived with him loved to use him as a babysitter when the kids were playing outside. Somehow he just knew that none of them could run into the street and was always very watchful of any kid getting too close to the curb, and he'd just block them with his big self even when sometimes they tried to get around him (not happening - he was quicker at blocking then they were about trying to get around him).

I'm so glad that all those Akitas were rescued from that backyard breeder. It's sad that when it comes to any dog breed the really good breeders are so few and far between while the vast majority are clueless and even abusive. I'm a really staunch advocate of only allowing the experienced and knowledgeable excellent breeders to breed and for health and temperament over aesthetics while getting rid of all back yard breeding and especially puppy mills. I'm extremely lucky that two of the best Akita breeders in the country are in my state though at quite a distance to the center and opposite end of it.

And of course they have glorious fur and love snow. This is Yoshi my current beastie chasing after his own feet (something he does frequently) in one of our perpetual snow storms last winter...

He will pull through! He is getting the medical attention he needs!

I know it's hard not being able to be with him, but this will all be in the past soon and he'll be back home.

The long-term outlook is good. But this is going to be rough for a while.

Did he have a big bite taken out of him so the edges can't be stitched/stapled together?
My friend had a wonderful German Shepherd-Lab that looked part Newfoundland because he had a nice domed skull. Some mean dog bit the top of his head so that there was a circular cut-out of his scalp almost 2" across, as if a cookie cutter had been applied. Slowly but surely the wound filled in from all sides, and he had his nice thick coat on the top of his head again.
Best getting-healed wishes to your dog~ I hope he'll soon be back getting you to fetch his "Chuck-it" balls- what a great game he made up!

The pocket collected drainage and then necrosis set in on the affected skin.

The bite is bad, but it's not the worse area.

How terrible! I'm so glad that at least your doggie will make it. Any idea of any permanent injuries, or is he expected to be physically back to normal once recovered? Sorry, I'm probably asking things that are unknowable at this point.

What's been done about the neighbor's dog that attacked yours?

Please keep us updated so we know how things are going for both you and your doggie. Well, for me at least since I know I'll be worried sick.

Sending good healing vibes to both you and your poor dog!

He will likely survive and be generally OK. He'll have a big scar, and I suspect he won't be as agile as he once was. Depending on the amount of scar tissue, he may have to wear some sort of protection from UV when he goes out.

The County has the attacking Dog. I think today is the last day of the quarantine. The owner has the option of getting him back this time.

I hope the county at least gave muzzle restrictions for it or something.

I'm glad that there doesn't seem to be much in the way of permanent damage. I so hope he doesn't become fearful or traumatized by the experience. Dogs seem to be able to shake things like that off a lot of the time though.

I certainly hope that the neighbor is at least paying the bills for your pooch!

Try to hang in there. I can't imagine how hard this must be to deal with.

I haven't seen it. I do have a 8-iron by more door for when I go outside.

He said he would. It's already thousands at this point.

What a terrible thing to happen to your baby! But I am so glad that he will make it, after apparently a lot of work by the vet. Give him time to heal, and I can imagine that visits by you excite him. Just know that you are doing better by him with short visits....but that must be so hard.

I see that you said the neighbor has said that they will pay the vet bills----make sure that they do, even if you have to take them to small claims court. This is their responsibility. Pit bulls are so powerful and it should never have had an opportunity to attack.

And I'd want to make damn sure they do everything humanly possible to control their dog.

I can't believe this will cost under $5000.

That is incredible. I do hope that the neighbor will do the right thing and pay for this....I would expect that their homeowner's insurance would kick in for it. I hate the thought of this coming out of your pocket or you having to fight them for it.

Good luck.

I am going to do everything in my power to pass these costs to my neighbor. That's secondary.

I simply couldn't live with myself, if I did not get him every treatment available. I told the vets to treat him like they were (sequentially) his, his, his, and her dog and assume Bill Gates was funding them.

Make sure that the county checks on the future containment of the PB. I don't go as far as my city does, which bans those dogs, but I think that they never should be allowed to run loose. As far as the bills are concerned ask the vets to send them directly to your neighbor and a copy to yourself. Keep everything on paper!
best wishes for the recovery!

I hope that the other dog's owner is going to pay your vet bill.

And me too! I feel for him in many ways. This is an expensive lesson. My impression is that he believes this all to be incredibly unfair to him. I'm not sure consideration of how many times more incredibly unfair it is to my dog and to me has entered into the thought process.

wounds (including pictures) in case you do have to take the other owner to court. Adding in court costs the other owner does not realize just how expensive a lesson he might learn on the responsibility of dog ownership. I am amazed that the owner thinks that the situation is unfair to him, it is a matter of a difference between right and wrong. He needs to man up and make things right for you and your dog. I would also be concerned that his dog might also attack a child or other dogs.

I hope so too. I have lost my faith him his ability to make good decisions, however. I'm pretty resigned at this point to getting legal help.

For all who miss him, from our family:

His wound was closed. He still has to stay there, but I am hoping he is home before the end of the week!!

I miss him (even though i visit every day)

Of course you miss snuggling up with him.

In two weeks the sutures come out!