WARNING about pet harnesses
 

Just wanted to let you all know about our tramatic incident last night. Mojo has the RC small pet harness, which worked great till he decided to reach down & chew on the part that goes across his chest. His lower jaw went thru the adjusting loop & when he pulled his head back up, it tightened around behind his teeth :eek: . Needless to say he panicked & we had to cut it off of him. I can't imagine how bad this would of been had it happened when he was alone. I guess I will have to start using a regular collar. I liked the harness because it doesn't pull on his trachea, but I will never feel comfortable again using it.

im not quite sure what harness you are talking aobut .. could u show me a pic of it? just for a visual

I hear so many stories of our precious pups being hurt by their collars/harnesses at home. I think it is best to keep them collar/harness free at home and only use when needed as going out for a walk...

That is horrible, but be careful with collars too. They can do that with them too. It's best to keep nothing on them when you are gone..accidents can happen! Thanks for the warning though.

I never leave mine in harness unless we are going out for a walk or leaving home. I would NEVER recommend leaving a harness on one. And I would NEVER EVER recommend a collar on any yorkie. They should be unable to get their mouth around the chest section on a properly fitted harness. That is too bad that happened and I'm sure it frightened both you and your yorkie.

Im sorry you went through that thank god your baby is okay.I still wouldnt go back to a collar.I only ever have a harness on prudence when we go for a walk.

I aggree with YorkieUSA that you would be better off finding a better harness than goign over ot collars.

I use the VestHsrness. Chewy used to do exactly what you have described above and get his mouth stuck in his harness. (of course, he didn't really flip out, and we just laughed at him)...still since getting the vestharness he hasn't done any of that.

Soft, padded, comphy, and v-cut so that he can't ensnare himself.

glad to hear mojo is ok
 

Glad mojo is ok. what kind of harness was it? I am out harness shopping as we speak. Was it an adjustable one? THANKS

i have a few collars that i bought lexi, real nice ones too, rhinestones,etc.
i actually bought them prior to her.. upon reading up on yorkies for a while now, i would never put a collar on lexi.. its no good for the small dogs.
i only have a harness on her when we go for a walk otherwise, shes bare.
also during the day when im at work, she gated with only plush toys and her kong.. never leave any rope toy or bone in with them while your not home..
they could choke on the bone and hang themselves with the rope..
sorry, went off the subject of harnesses, got carried away.just wanted to mention it for the newcomers

I agree. I NEVER leave a harness of Codie and Katie when I am not home during the day. The only wear their harnesses when I take them for walks.

Here is RC's website.
www.rcpets.com/harness.html

I don't leave his collar on by himself because of knowing he could get caught on something, but thanks for reminding us of all the dangers.
I don't think I would of had this problem if he hadn't got ahold of the adjustable part. (double layer that formed a tight loop) Perhaps I didn't have it adjusted properly. I usuallly take his harness off right after we come inside, but was just having fun playing with him when we came in. It wasn't life threating, but it was scary. He is only 4 1/2 months old. I like the look of the padded vest harness. Where did you get it at?

Wow.. Then must have been scary.. Its great you were with him.. and it certainly sounds like your very responsible. Sometimes these things just happen.. Im glad that everything is fine.. :) I have read alot of scary things when it comes to collars and such. When I got our first Yorkie we use to use those nylon type harnesses and though nothing ever happened like that she just would never leave them alone and would always chew them badly. I was replacing them all the time. Yeesh!! Then I started making my own and they have never bothered with these. I like the clothing type harnesses because they serve two functions at once :) They are safe and look cute too.. But thats just me.. I hope you find just the perfect thing for your little Mojo..

poor thing must have been scared to death! we don't use harnesses unless we're going somewhere. No collars, either...they could strangle themselves.

aww poor little guy! poor you too!! glad all is well!! :) but, try to avoid going back to collars, they are very dangerous.

I got mine at a store called "Bark", here in Seattle...However, you can find them online. The brand is VestHarness. Made by :canine friendly prroducts:.

It's an awesome one because it's super easy on and off again. Two latches at the top let you instantly snap it on and off without resorting to doggy contortionism.

Oh yeah, they also let you buckle your dog into the car!

http://www.petcarecentral.com/prhacarcost.html

this has happened to both Oreo and Ginger with both a Collar and Harness.. So i have them naked when they are at home.. and when they wear a harness they are under direct supervision at all times.

I just recently got yoda a new comfy harness..YT member Ponyup is the one that told me about www.gollygear.com I just love it and so does he

I'm so sorry that happened and that you were there to take care of it. I wouldn't start using a collar though, they can be dangerous for their throats. I think the best and safest option for these doggies is a step-in harness. Nothing goes over their heads and there is no way they can chew through it.

we had the same thing happen here. I believe it was because it was not tight enough which allowed Buckeye to get his jaw hooked in. we use the step in harnesses now. and i take them off and on all day long. when i am not here my husband just leaves them on. and i reckon it is best that he does because he can't seem to even get those on right. LOL

This has happened to my gucci when she was a few mts. old my daughter put a collar on her and she didnt want it on and played with it and it got caught across her mouth and she was scared. My daughter and I couldnt get it off so we had to cut it off. We were so scared, and I never leave a collar on her in the house , only when I take her for a walk. I learned my lesson...It was such a terrible experience...

Try the cat collars with the break away catches. They have bells on them, so you always know where the little booger is!! Dublin LOVES his and gets all excited when he hears the bells jingle. He even stands still for me to put it on!

Sometimes he pops them off and it takes a couple of days to find them, but they always show up, so I just keep a spare!

When we leave the house, I have a mesh wrap around harness that attaches with velcro closures on the belly and at the throat. It is really fast to get on and off but holds him securely. I keep his tags on that one. It's made by 'Cloak and Dawggie' I highly recommend it for ease & comfort...

Wow, sorry to hear about that but thank goodness you were there. I only use a harness when we are out walking. Bentley does wear a collar at all times w/ his ID tag on it, but we use a Safety-Lock collar so if he gets caught up it will break free. I think it is actually a cat collar but they probably make dog ones too. It has actually broken free before while I was trying to check and make sure it wasn't too tight and he started to walk away. We keep his rabies tag on his leash to keep the weight around his neck down. I am just a stickler for ID at ALL times, you never know what can happen...

I've never really read anything on collars, why are they so dangerous/bad?? Thanks!

I find that clothing harnesses work better on Gus too. I too have had to replace harness after harness because he chews them up.

Because yorkies have weak tracheas and the collars fit right around the area where the trachea is located, whereas harnesses don't...The pulling and tugging a yorkie does when on leash, if wearing a collar, can injure the trachea; thus, the coughing, gagging sounds so many experience when their puppies wear a collar.

I hope this helps explain a few of the possible problems. It doesn't mean your puppy has this problem or ever will:


Collapsed Trachea and Reverse Sneezing

The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is an important structure which connects the throat to the lungs. It is composed of 35- 45 C-shaped rings of cartilage that are joined by muscle and ligaments to create a tube-like structure. It serves the purpose of directing air into the respiratory tract.

When the cartilage rings are flattened from the top to the bottom, the trachea is said to be collapsed. Rapid inhalation of air can cause the trachea to flatten and make it difficult for air to enter the lungs, much like a soda straw being drawn on too vigorously.

Why does it happen?

We do not completely understand how this condition develops. However, we know that these dogs have an abnormality in the chemical makeup of their tracheal rings. The rings loose their stiffness so they are not able to retain their circular shape. We also know that it occurs in certain breeds of dogs, notably Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, Toy Poodles, and Yorkshire Terriers. Because of that, it is suspected that there is a genetic factor involved.

What are the signs?
Collapsing trachea or Reverse sneezing

With reverse sneezing the pharynx (back of the throat) goes into spasms. The dog finds it difficult to draw in air through the spasms, so it stands still, stretches out her neck, and thrusts its elbows out (like a bowlegged bulldog) as it honks, wheezes, or snorts. Often eyes open wide. The spasms will stop if she swallows a couple of times.

•Close off her nostrils with your fingers so it has to breathe through its mouth for a few seconds. •Gently rub its throat. This works for some. •Distract it by carrying the dog outside into the fresh air.

Young puppies can reverse sneeze, but the first episode typically occurs in late adolescence. Stay calm and get it to swallow with one of the methods described above. In a few seconds to a minute, it will run off to play. Reverse sneezing is a harmless phenomenon which needs no vet consultation and no medical treatment whatsoever. It is very common in toy breeds.

Other signs, however, will help you distinguish the two conditions: If it makes these sounds when excited or after eating or drinking, or turns her elbows outward and extends its neck and gasps inward with a rhythmic snork! snork! snork!, this is reverse sneezing. If it breathes through the mouth sometimes, or breathes with a raspy sound, or coughs reflexively when you simply rub its throat, it could have a collapsing trachea. If the cough is one or two expulsive outward bursts (forcing air through the trachea to open it), typically with a gag or empty retch at the end, she could have a collapsing trachea.

The most common clinical sign of collapsing trachea is a chronic cough. It is often described as dry and harsh and can become quite pronounced. The term "goose honk" is often used to describe it. Coughing is often worse in the daytime and much less at night. The cough may also begin due to excitement, pressure on the trachea (from a leash), or from drinking water or eating.

If you suspect collapsed trachea or are confused as to the difference between the two, contact you vet ASAP.

Sources
•Aminal Clinic Collapsing trachea in the dog Retrieved February 1998 from the WWW http://www.animalclinic.com/colltrac.htm
•Potter, Clayton Dr. Heartland Veterinary Hospital Retrieved February 1998 from the WWW http://www.hcis.net/heartlandvet/trachcol.htm
•Chihuahua Kingdom Retrieved February 1998 from the WWW http://3lbdogs.com/wellness/
•Richard, Michael, DVM Q&A-Dr Mike Retrieved February 1998 from the WWW http://www.vetinfo.com/Q&A.html
•Seranne, Ann (1980) The Joy of Breeding Your Own Show Dog New York Macmillian Publishing Company.

http://www.angelfire.com/on2/yorkies/medical.html

And this:

NOTE: I don’t recommend using a leash and collar for walks. Attach a leash to a body harness, not a collar. The collar is only to hold dog tags, not drag the dog around..

This is a small, somewhat fragile dog. Tugging and pulling on the collar around your dog’s neck can contribute to a collapsed trachea and other neck damage. Use a body harness.

http://www.toybreeds.com/YorkshireTerrier.htm

Sorry that happened to your baby. Stewie has several nylon step-in harnesses. You can get them @ PETsMart or Petco. I highly recommend them

Thanks Hamoth for the info. I'm going to order one of those. Also, just to let you all know RC pets is a great company who stands by their products. I sent them an email about what happened, & they replied the very next day. They have heard of this problem, & urge everyone to only use the harness when walking. They offered to send me a replacement free of charge. I thought that was a least something. Thanks for all of your replys.

Wow, I can't believe how many posts happened while I was typing my reply!!! I love the Gollygear site!!! Thanks Sliver! Also, to let you all know RC will replace their harness if your dog chews thru it. But really, if you never leave them alone with it on this should never happen. Hope all have a great weekend!!! :)

I like this one, too. I looked at the website and couldn't tell if it would fit my dogs. I have been having trouble finding harnesses to fit Pippa (just at 4 lbs) and Scout is in between-the puppy harness doesn't fit him anymore and the regular XS is too big ( he is 3.2 lbs). The website just said fits dogs under 15 lbs...hmmmmm