Two dogs received special care this week for serious injuries to their neck. They both suffered from embedded collar.
According to The Department of Animal Services the Riverside County Animal Services took this particular case to educate the public about the dangers of objects tied around pets neck for extended periods of time. It is extremely important for a pets collar to be properly sized and adjusted as the pet grows. You should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and the neck.
"As collar applied to rapidly growing puppies and kittens must be monitored frequently and a larger collar may be needed when your pet outgrows the first one. You want the collar to be snug enough that it doesn't fall off but loose enough so that it is not applying too much pressure to the skin." said Dr. Sara Strongin, the county's chief veterinarian.
One of the two injured dogs was a 1-year-old Chihuahua mix, was brought to the shelter in a box as a stray. The other was a 2-year-old female German shepherd mix, was picked up as a stray by Adam Haisten from an unincorporated area.
The Chihuahua smelled of decay and was in pain because a hair band was tied around her neck and had become embedded. The German mix had a chain wrapped tight around its neck, also causing an embedded collar. Dr. Itzel Vizcarra and registered vet technician Tonya Buenrostro treated the Chihuahua's wounds for several days and she was adopted on Thursday. Dr. Vizcarra and Sgt. Kellsey Hoesman were able to snap the German Shepherds collar off with bolt cutters.
"Although these injuries are quite shocking and traumatic on presentation, our team is very experienced in treating this condition and they provide excellent care. Once the offending object is removed, the wound is cleaned and the infection is treated. They tend to heal up quite well, although there may be permanent scarring." said Strongin.
Photo Credit-Department of Animal Services; County of Riverside, CA