A 6.5-month-old golden retriever puppy is recovering from emergency surgery after an ill-fitting harness led to severe lesions.
The puppy was surrendered to the BC SPCA's qathet Community Animal Centre, near Powell River, on June 24, requiring urgent veterinary care from wounds from an imbedded harness, according to a news release from the BC SPCA on Thursday (July 10).
The release adds that the puppy was immediately transported to a local veterinary hospital to address two untreated four-inch bilateral axillary lesions caused by the harness.
Tara Daniels, qathet Community Animal Centre manager, said wounds that severe are quite rare.
鈥淚n an outdoorsy, coastal region like ours, it鈥檚 not unusual to see pets with minor cuts and scrapes from playing outside, hiking or swimming, but wounds this severe are quite rare. Even as a born and raised farm kid, the lesions from the harness around Air Bud鈥檚 armpits (axillas) and sides were hard for me to look at," Daniels said in the news release.
Daniels added that SPCA workers don't know how long the puppy, now named Air Bud, was wearing the harness, "but it was clear the straps had been digging into his body without any reprieve for a long time."
鈥淭he worst part is knowing that he was suffering from this entirely preventable injury without any treatment or pain management."
The SPCA said Air Bud underwent an emergency, same-day procedure to surgically repair the lesions on his body.
Air Bud is now in foster care with one of the clinic's staff members, receiving daily pain medication and antibiotics. Despite all that, the B.C. SPCA says the puppy is "very sweet and affectionate, loves snuggling and is already showing signs that he will be an active, outdoorsy dog as he matures."
Once Air Bud's wounds have healed, he will be scheduled for a neuter surgery before he can start looking for his loving forever home.
How to properly fit a harness
However, Daniels wanted to remind owners how to properly fit pets for a harness.
"You should be able to comfortably fit two fingers between the material of the harness and your dog's body. If not, it can cause injury and fear for the animal and lead to more harm than good. A harness should never be so tight that it鈥檚 causing chafing or cinching.鈥�
Owners who currently have puppies will likely need to purchase a new harness as the puppy grows.
"Most harnesses are adjustable, so it鈥檚 best to check before every walk to make sure your pup still has plenty of room for their legs, their shoulders, and their shoulder blades to move comfortably."
More to come.
