Why you shouldn't let dogs on the couch after Scot's beloved pet left 'squealing in pain'
Scotland is a nation of dog-lovers, with around 25 per cent of the adult population proud owners of a pet pooch. As a result, we may be guilty of letting our dogs away with murder, or letting them rule the roost a bit.
However, there may be a crucial safety reasons why you shouldn't let dogs do certain things, including jump on the couch, which one Scot owner found out the hard way after her poor furry friend was left "squealing in pain".
Frances West's Jack Russell terrier, Patch, landed badly when she excitedly jumped off the sofa to greet Frances' daughter at her Dundee home late last year.
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The dog was in so much pain, Frances was convinced she was going to lose the loving animal her late husband Dennis bought when he was terminally ill.
"I was looking after Dennis 24 hours-a-day and I didn’t really want a dog," Frances, 68, said. "Dennis wanted her to keep me company when he passed, which was almost four years ago. She has been with me every minute since."
The bizarre accident happened out of the blue one Friday evening when Frances’s daughter Tracey popped round.
“Patch had jumped up on the sofa when she heard the car in the drive,” Frances explained. “She was so excited that she flew off so fast her front right leg went under her.
“There didn’t seem to be anything wrong while Tracey was here, but after she left Patch went to sleep and woke up whimpering. Then she started squealing in pain. The noise was really heart-wrenching and I knew I needed help."
Frances brought Patch to Vets Now as their Kings Cross Road clinic is out of hours but was "sure she was going to lose Patch," who was wrapped in a blanket, "petrified, roaring, and crying".
Ana Maria Rotariu, one of the vets, saw Patch scream in pain. They administered pain relief and Patch was sedated for scans which thankfully showed there were no obvious fractures or displacement of joints.
The pet was still unable to bear weight on her leg, though, so was kept on pain medication and under close observation at the clinic over the weekend. She was then transferred to her daytime vet to continue treatment.
It took Patch a couple of weeks to get back to her old self, with the vets recommending just very short, five-minute walks until she regained strength in the leg. She has since recovered, but a relieved Frances is taking no chances.
The freak accident has left her shaken.
“I’ve got a huge mountain of cushions lined up so she can’t possibly get on the sofa,” Frances said. “My living room looks like a bomb site. If somebody walked in, they’d think I’d been burgled.
“It’s crazy that there was such worry over such an odd thing.”
Repetitive jumping on and off furniture poses more risks for dogs than pet owners expect, says Doggo Ramps. Repetitive jumping puts more strain on the joints, raises risk of injury, and can trigger joint and back conditions.
Tips for minimising risks including providing a ramp or stairs, discourage jumping, consider your dogs age, and monitor for signs of pain.
