This has been quite a month
 

Well, I am now dealing with the NEXT thing with Beanie. She sits on my lap in the car. And yes, I had bought a booster seat with a restraint, she was fine in it for a week and then decided to try and jump on my lap and almost hung herself while I was driving in the middle of traffic. I have tried other restraints and none of them work, she is determined to sit on my lap. SO, I let her do that, which I know isn't the safest thing, but neither is her hanging from the booster seat or tangled up in a restraint.

Anyway, she stands up and looks out the window at everything and she smushes herself against me safely, and then if we are driving a longer distance, she lays down and conks out.

This Sat., I went to visit a relative, parked the car and let go of her for like 5 seconds. She proceeded to fall into the area between the seat and the door and got her paw stuck in the plastic pocket part of the door, because she just HAD to try and get out of the car before I was ready.

I did not think anything of it because no yelps, no nothing. The relative wasn't home so I got back in the car with her on my lap and drive off. I look down and see blood all over my shorts. I fly home with her against me and have my landlord (who is like Dr. Dolittle) help me check her out, she seems o.k. so I take her upstairs, clean off her paw and go to bed. She gets up on Sunday and seems fine, running around EXCEPT she sits on the arm of the couch (like she does all the time), hears something outside and jumps/falls off the arm and then can't put her paw down and it starts bleeding again.

I called the breeder who said she probably split her nail on Sat. and it was going to have to be removed) and to call the vet today, which I did. I brought her in and he had to remove her nail which was basically split across - thank God he didn't have to sedate her. He put a cone on her head to stop her from licking it and said to keep her quiet for a few days. He knows her and knows me and he KNOWS that is not something possible, but said to do the best I could, don't panic if I see blood on her poor mangled paw and she would be healed in a couple of weeks.

OH MY GOD, she has already tried to lick her paw with the cone on and was stabbing it with the cone. I did end up giving her a tiny bit of Rimadyl tonight so she can sleep because she is in obvious pain. I also have to give her antibiotics for 2 weeks. I hate to give her any of this, but I don't want to take the chance of an infection and if she can't sleep from being in pain, she isn't going to heal, so I made the decision to give her the Rimadyl.

Anyway, after this long post, my question is, has anyone else dealt with this type of paw issue, and for how long does it take to heal and any suggestions on keeping her in the cone and quiet would be much appreciated. And yes, I also feel really guilty because I feel like I should have prevented this, just like I feel like I should have prevented her from getting attacked by the Husky last week - trying not to beat myself up too much.

She looks like she has a champagne glass without the stem on her head. ahahahahahahah, hey I have to laugh - I always try to - my poor baby stuck in a champagne glass!!!

Sorry, but you are allowing your puppy to run the show, so you will continue to have to deal with accidents and injuries. I insist all my new owners leave here with their pups in a carrier or a car seat. I have no control over what they do the next day on. I had an owner buy 2 babies....she really DID NOT want to put those babies in a carrier, but I told her she could not leave here without doing that. She did it, but then, like you, they begged her to let them ride in her lap and she just could not stand the pitiful look in their eyes.....so they started riding around in her lap, looking out the window..... About 8 months later, she had a small wreck....her doors crumpled and her window broke, and both those babies jumped out the window, scared and confused, and ran right into the intersection and BOTH babies were hit and killed, right in front of her eyes. She learned a very tough lesson....and she has never gotten over it....after a couple of years, she tried again to get two little babies, but she had to bring them back....she just couldnt get over what she saw in her mind's eye, everytime she closed her eyes or she got quiet.....hopefully, someone will read this and learn from this ladys lesson and restrain her dog in a carrier or a car seat...dont let the baby make the decisions about how YOU are going to behave.

Oh poor baby. Her paw must hurt real bad. Hope she heals quickly.

Umm, I actually didn't let her decide. I actually decided that having her on my lap was safer than having her strangle herself. As I said in my post, I DID try and restrain her in the car seat, actually MULTIPLE car seats and I decided that the safest way to handle her was to hold onto her in my lap.

I understand what you are saying, but I don't think that my situation is anywhere near what you posted.

Beanie would have really hurt herself trying to get OUT of the car seat and various restraints that I tried. Other than duct taping her to the passenger seat, I really didn't see any solution to keeping her safe other than hanging on to her, or not taking her in the car.

I guess that I am realizing that there are always risks with these smaller dogs no matter what we do to try and do to keep them safe.

And your post, no matter how well meaning made me realize that even more. Thank you for that.

Thanks, she is actually resting in bed with her cone on. I have no idea how she is sleeping, but she is.

Use a harness and not a collar. She can't REALLY hang herself in a harness. If the strap,is too long she might get out of the seat, but won't be strangled. You might have to make the tether strap shorter as well.

And yes, you did let her decide....just like kids....no mean no, or stay means stay. You taught her that if she keeps trying to get out she will get her way.

I know I made this mistake with my skin kids! I am Guilty a little bit with Maggie too, but this is a safety issue for both of you.

In some states it is illegal now to have the dog not restrained and it could get your dog killed very easily. It can also cause you to have an accident. You hit the breaks and just a little bump on that head could be deadly. If she has a harness on hooked to the carseat restraint then she is not going to hang herself that is the good thing about harnesses and many many people have picked them up by there harnesses and it does not hurt the dog. She needs to have her carseat where there is no airbag like the back seat and tighten the restraint so she can not get out of the car seat and as she gets better you can loosen it. The ultimate thing to do would be to have some one else drive a few times and sit in the back with her and put her in the car seat and tell her no when she trys to get out and put her back. I believe it was Sandra Bullock who never buckled in her dogs and learned the hard way by losing three in a car accident so now she buckles hers in. Trust me it is better for her 100% to be buckled in. If she really doesn't like the car seat then get a buckle that hooks to the seat belt and then to her harness and she can just sit on the set. Callie ripped her dew claw off once and it pulled the nail completely off and her nerves and veins where sticking out and very visible it did not bleed so I wrapped it up and had her at the vet the next day and they had to sedate her and cut the nerve and vein back as well as cauterize it. She seemed to be fine but It was her dew claw so it wasn't hitting the ground everything she walks. Yorkies should not be walked on collars so you should already have a harness. Every one thinks accidents in the car are never going to happen to them and that they drive great but you can't control other things and is it worth the risk of possible death?

You do have a harness on her right? YOu could always use a small travel crate too.

This very true people think these accidents will never happen to them but they do and they will.

Yeah there was a big case not to long ago here, dog was killed, propelled out the windshield cuz there is no holding them when gravity can pull our shoes off of our feet, ya know. I suppose your only option, which would be safest for the pup is a small kennel when traveling. I use one for Vinnie, Mini and Mia sit in back seat with harness/belt and sometimes I put them all in their own kennel. Some risks just aren't worth taking.

I understand where you're coming from, but unfortunately as pet parents we have to make unpopular decisions(in the pet's eyes) for the safety of our furbabies...have you tried hooking her to the carseat with her harness? Most travel seats for pets have the attachment and there's no way she should be able to get out of there. Also if that doesn't fly if use a hard plastic travel crates. I hope your baby feels better I love the champagne comparison! Does she walk like she's tipsy????

I bought a firm purse type carrier that is cushioned on the inside bottom of it that has a harness clip inside, and also has a very tight strap across the back, that you attach the seatbelt through. Maybe this might work for her and she would be really comfy in it with no risk of hurting herself ? I found it on amazon. If you would like I can look up the brand for you.

I myself have been in a horrible car accident years ago, where I broke my jaws in 4 places, my neck, and both of my ankles. After many surgeries, I got better but I will never forget that accident, because I always thought it would never happen to me. I learned a lot from that accident.

Best thing to do is put her in Buddy Belt harness. There is no way she can hang herself. Also tighten the strap. I was having that problem that Galen was trying to get in my lap. I would nudge him back into the seat. And said no. I adjusted the tether so he can put his paws on the side but can not get over. She will start to learn that this is where you sit when we are going in the car. Or you can always put her in a carrier. Do you know if you get into an accident and your air bag goes off. It will kill her from the impact. I do not want to scare you. Also she can become a projectile and hit you or the windshield. Please make it safe for yourself and her.

Maggie sits in the passenger seat. My car has a weight sensor so it lights up as air bag OFF because she doesn't weigh enough. The sensors were designed to protect children under certain weights. When dad is with us she sits in back.

Thanks guys, I am going to use the car seat again and just try and tighten the tether as much as possible to her harness so she can't go over it and hang like did last time. Maybe I can cut the tether strap to shorten it.

By the way are there any of you out there that DO have your dog sit on your lap in the car, or am I the only one?

Bad night, neither one of us slept much! She kept tring to get the cone off and banging her head on the wall next to the bed. All night, it was scratch, scratch on the cone, then thunk on the wall with the cone. Had to take it off so she could eat and drink for breakfast and couldn't get the thing back on. I live alone, so I have to wait for my landlords/friends to help me get it on her. Now I am trying to dtop her from licking her paw.

O.K., so I always thought that dogs were SUPPOSED to "lick their wounds"??? That is how they healed themselves?? Apparently not, hence the stemless plastic martini glass.

I am staying home from work with her today. I know her paw is hurting her, and I would rather have her home instead of in work where people come in and she will get all excited. Good thing I have a great boss who loves my dog!!

Hope Beanies's paw continues to heal well! These little pups are so fast that they can get themselves in trouble quickly.

Cali rides in her car seat all buckled in with her harness. We have been in an accident unfortunately but thankfully she was OK due to being safely strapped in. When I first got her she did not like staying in her car seat, but then neither did my son - both of them learned that they could not go in the car unless they were buckled in. Now Cali gets in her seat, waits for me to strap her in then watches out the window until she falls asleep!

I can't imagine allowing a dog in my lap either while driving or as a passenger. In a crash, an airbag deploys at 200 mph. More than fast enough to kill a small dog. I use a carrier that's strapped in to the back seat.

Well, believe it or not, there are tons of people riding around where I live with dogs on their laps and hanging out of windows. Maybe it is city living that people feel that they don't drive far and won't get into accidents. Which of course, isn't true! Apparently, no yorkietalkers do it, but I see it on a daily basis around here.

I'm sorry to hear this. Poor Beanie, I can't imagine how bad her paw must hurt. I'm sure it will heal in no time and she'll be running around and playing.

A couple of things. Did the vet give you pain meds for her. Please be sure to give them to her as prescribed. These little guys are very tough and brave and we often don't realize that they really are in pain. There is no reason to let them be in pain, it doesn't help them heal any faster. So please be sure to follow your vets instructions on the pain meds. And, of course, the antibiotics. Those are very important.

Also, if you have a Petco or Petsmart or other pet store close by, go and look for a soft cone for her to wear. There are several different styles and you'll both be much happier in the long run. This is one I have and my crew wear it with little difficulity.

ProCollar Premium Inflatable Protective Collar at PETCO

And PLEASE find a way to restrain her in the car. There are so very many things that can happen to them. As bad as you feel hearing her complain about the car seat it is nothing to how bad you'll feel if she is seriously injured or killed because she wasn't.

I have a small plastic kennel/carrier seatbelt secured in the back seat for both dogs. Luckily they were in there when I had a pretty bad accident 2 years ago. My airbag deployed & the impact was big enough that my shoes flew off of me & I was slightly hurt by the airbag. The girls were fine.

Oh the horrible cone.
 

Bentley broke his leg about 4 weeks ago and he has to wear a cone to keep him from chewing his cast off. The first week in it was pure he!!, but now he seems to have gotten used to it. He occasionally will still throw a fit when its time to put it back on (he only wears it when we are not with him to watch him for chewing) and if the cone is laying where he can get to it, he will try to destroy it, growling and snapping at it. absolutely hilarious. But she will get used to the cone!

As for riding in the car... Bentley hated his car seat at first but I began to leave it in the house and let him play in it at home and now he is much better with it in the car. Once he did jump out of it while I was driving but he was hooked in by his harness so he didn't get far. He didn't choke himself, he just got mad because he had constrained himself even more by dangling over the edge. After I pulled over, fixed him, and gave him a long lecture, he has NEVER done it again.

Here's some pics of Bentley's carseat and him in the dreadful cone.

That is a great idea about putting the seat out for her in the house! I will definitely do that.

Beanie's cone is clear plastic and looks much smaller and goes up higher on her head. My landlord just put it back on her and it is staying on her! She can't eat with it on, so I just hand fed her and put water in a spoon so she could drink.

She is absolutely miserable with it on, but I can't have her licking and chewing her poor boo boo paw. God it looks awful.

A lot of people do things that are bad its not an excuse to do what they are doing. Some are just not educated about it, some don't care, and some just think they drive good and no accident will ever happen to them. It is also a distraction just like cell phones, the radio, and putting make up on. No matter what its just not safe ever.

When my cousin had her dogs dewclaws removed her boyfriend made little cones to go over her feet instead of her wearing a big cone. You could also try a doggy sock they sell them at petsmart. I suggest getting the kiss e collar for emergency's. I bought one for Callie when she had to have knee surgery but she never licks her wounds so i never had to use it but it is a lot more comfy then the plastic ones and now I have it for any emergency's. The Kiss-E Collar

i drive with zoey on my lap only locally(even then i just put her in her carrier)...once i tried to drive with her on my lap at a longer distance and she kept moving i pulled to the side and put her in her carrier...you may feel guilty bec they seem miserable and just wanna be close to you but i guess you may actually be teaching them. i don't have kids yet and i always think would i do this with my puppy but not with my kid i figure to just do everything you would do if that was kid rather be sorry later on it is a life in your care after all...

Those look like they would be WAY more comfortable than what she has on now, but I fear she would find a way to still lick her foot with these because they look squishy. And Beanie is a total licker!!!

Even though pups would prefer sitting in my lap, I will not risk it. My boys travel in there crate which is seat belted in. They have been doing this since they were babies. My friend in high school was killed because their dog was riding in the passenger's lap, the dog squirmed and distracted the driver causing him to over compensate and crash into a telephone pole killing the passenger. They were taking the dog to the groomers and the pup normally lay quietly during the drive.

Update on the paw injury
 

I ended up taking her back to vet o Thursday (who waited for me after he was done with work and THEN did not charge me for visit - I LOVE these people) because she re-injured her paw on Thursday. Literally ran around yelping on 3 legs.

Anyway, he said she is healing beautifully, BUT she has serious irritation between her paws where she was injured. He put a soft donut collar on her since she figured out how to lick her paw with the plastic one on. Said she would be fine in about a week, just stop her from licking,, don't let her run around and don't walk her for the full 2 weeks of healing time.

ANyWAY, I let her play in the house today, running around after ball. Took collar off since I can supervise her. OMG she was an absolute NUT. I mean, a total nut, hyper maniac, like she could not control herself. Which I can understand since she hasn't walked or played in a week.

WHAT DO I DO, HOW do I stop her from being herself? By the way, she seems fine, her paw seems fine - no pain, but I have no clue if she is really o.k.

Any suggestions welcome!!

Bentley has not been able to run around and play for 4 weeks now and we have probably another 4 weeks to go. He has no way to release his extra energy except with chew toys. Kongs have been our best friend. Invest in a kong where you can put treats or peanut butter in it for her. Bentley's favorite is frozen peanut butter. That will keep him occupied for quite awhile.