German Shepherd killing a cow? - Page 2

Molly, You may have just hit on it!  In the winter snow storms, more than a few ranchers will let their cattle stray onto the mainline of a Rail Road.  What were "run of the mill" cows, suddenly turn into a prize herd, and the RR always Pays.

don't put your dog down - build a fence or otherwise keep her under control and on your property.  She shouldn't be allowed to wander into other people's property or run other people's livestock.  Not the dogs' fault - it's YOUR fault for allowing that to happen.  Also your responsibility if anything did happen.  The farmer has fences to keep his cattle in - if his cattle got out, wandered into others' property, trampled someone's garden or kid, or killed someone by being hit on the road - it would be the farmer's responsibility, and liability.  Your dog gets off your property and chases, kills or injures someone's livestock, pet or person -you are liable for the damages.  Control your dog - that's the solution.

molly

Molly, I understand what you are saying, and that is my intent.  But, I don't have $3-$5K (Substantial restirictions in our neighborhood) laying around to put up a fence that would suffice for this size of a dog.  I am going to put up a fence, and go into debt doing it.  But just know that the only reason I considered putting her down is that she has heartworms anyway.  So basically I am going to be putting up a fence, and at some point have the procedure done to get rid of the heartworms which is not cheap either.  And keep in mind she wandered up just this August.  I am learning as I go here, no need to get hostile.

When you say the dog has heartworm, do you mean she has tested positive for the microfelia in her blood or does she actually have the adult worms in her heart? There is a HUGE difference. If you can't afford a fence put up a kennel that will suffice when you are away from home. She can roam free when you do your yard work or are outside with her.

According to the vet we won't know for sure until she has been on the pills for one year.  They will kill the larvae and stunt the growth of the full-blown heartworms.  If after one year she comes up with a positive test then according to the vet she has Full-Blown adult worms.  She took her third pill yesterday so we won't know for 9 more months.  I have a feeling though that her previous owner knew she had heartworms so he/she dumped her off.  She had already been fixed so they had some money in her already.

Agree with Abhay's post 100%. I'm right smack dab in the middle of open range cattle, and I have 5 adult German Shepherds. We also have Goverment trappers that trap  coyote with deadly m44, hunt with dogs, and shoot from airplanes. Every rancher worth his salt has learned the ways of coyote and the danger they are to livestock. And my  dogs? lol...yes, they chase the cattle. But ONLY  when the cattle have busted through fences onto the property, and then tthe dogs herd and and chase the right to the edge of my 68 acres, then come back. None has so much as ever touched a cow or calf.

I'd put money on the coyote. I'd also put money on that rancher knowing, too.

Just another asshole looking for an excuse to screw his neighbor out of a few bucks and maybe shoot his dog too.  The guy needs to protect his dog and possibly have a private heart to heart with the rancher about the importance of nothing happening to the dog.  It's pretty rare for a single dog to kill large animals.  Chickens?  You bet!  Calf?  Not likely.

Abahy, I am laughing so hard, I have seen those nice checks cut to the ranchers for their PRIZE WINNING CATTLE, and just one Bull would have fed all of TEXAS, so they swear. To funny.

About the heartworms. Keep her on the heartworm pills and allow the adult heartworms to die off naturally. Heartworms are not the automatic death sentance they once were.

My GSD female tested positive, when she was in for the raisin emergency.  I have her on Revolution for 6 months then will retest and switch her to a pill. I know the issues with revolution but I am more comfortable using that than having a potentially heavy heart infestation and giving her the pill, just to have a mass die off and her end up with a lung embollism. Been there done that before.

I would boost her Vit C by giving Ester C. Our vet also advises giving Vit E and B12. He also advises of all things Garlic to help boost the immune system to ward off potential illnesses she may come in contact with that would put a strain on her heart.

jmo

Therese

"don't have $3-$5K (Substantial restirictions in our neighborhood) laying around to put up a fence"

Prefiert kennels are only $700.00 for a 10x 10 kennel, and that is more than enough space for a GSD when you are not home. 

I paid $480.00 for my 5x10 kennel, and that is plenty for my male, he is only in there when I am gone for the day, but all he really does is sleep in there anyhow!!

Best of luck to you!