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My dog was attacked. How can I help him recover and be himself again?
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | American Eskimo Dog | Male | neutered | 8 years and 3 months old | 30 lbs
My dog was attacked by another dog a few days ago on a walk.was seen at animal hospital after. No bites or puncture wounds luckily but significant soft tissue damage on neck & shoulder area. My dog was completely in distressed when occurred. I know he is probably still in pain now but I worry his behavior & demeanor will change following this incident. He's generally a playful happy dog & have not seen this in him since it happened. Will he go back to his normal self? What can we do to help him?
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on March 29th, 2017
On walks, he may be very nervous about other dogs approaching for quite a while - so I would make sure to give him plenty of space, and don't walk in areas where other dogs are likely to be until he seems more relaxed and comfortable again. You can also carry treats with you on your walks, and praise and reward him every time you see another dog - this can be a very effective way of helping with fear.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpfulRelated Answers from Veterinarians
Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
I am sure it was very traumatic for both you and your dog. If you think he is in any pain than you could talk to your vet about prescribing an anti-inflammatory and/or pain medications to help alleviate any discomfort. You could also try an Adaptil collar to help alleviate stress. Your vet could also prescribe an anti-anxiety medication to help relieve an anxiety associated with the incident. Hopefull, with some time he will be back to normal. It may take a week or so for the soft tissue injuries to heal.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lauren Jones VMD
Veterinarian
This sounds traumatizing for both you and for Brody Bronx! There is a good chance that he is still quite painful as a result of the soft tissue damage and that this is causing him to move a bit slower and act more subdued. If he is not currently receiving an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; examples include Rimadyl/carprofen and Deramaxx/deracoxib), call your vet to see if it would be appropriate to prescribe one. NSAIDs can cause a big improvement in both the pain and inflammation from soft tissue injuries.
In all likelihood, once his injuries have resolved in another week or two, he will go back to his normal self. He may have some hesitation around other dogs. After attacks, some dogs act like nothing has happened, some become fearful around other dogs, and others become aggressive towards other dogs.
If Brody Bronx has another dog playmate that he knows well, consider reintroducing them (after he is feeling better, of course) with both dogs on leashes. This will provide a safety net for both dogs and for you. Otherwise, resume your regular walks when he is able and closely watch how he reacts to other dogs. If he barks and pulls towards another dog, this is often a sign of aggression. If he cowers and hides behind you with his tail and ears down, this is a fear posture.
For now, keep his routine as normal as possible and give him time to recover from his injuries. I hope he's feeling better soon!1Pet Parents found this answer helpful