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My dog was attacked. How can I help him recover and be himself again?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Eskimo Dog | Male | neutered | 8 years and 3 months old | 30 lbs

My dog was attacked by another dog a few days ago on a walk.was seen at animal hospital after. No bites or puncture wounds luckily but significant soft tissue damage on neck & shoulder area. My dog was completely in distressed when occurred. I know he is probably still in pain now but I worry his behavior & demeanor will change following this incident. He's generally a playful happy dog & have not seen this in him since it happened. Will he go back to his normal self? What can we do to help him?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on March 29th, 2017

Poor Brody! How scary for both of you. Dogs can certainly be anxious and upset for a while after a traumatic event like this, just like people. This should improve with time, but there are a few things you can try in the meantime that may help. If he seems nervous all the time, you can try using a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to help him relax - these products are all very safe, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. On walks, he may be very nervous about other dogs approaching for quite a while - so I would make sure to give him plenty of space, and don't walk in areas where other dogs are likely to be until he seems more relaxed and comfortable again. You can also carry treats with you on your walks, and praise and reward him every time you see another dog - this can be a very effective way of helping with fear.

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    Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    I am sure it was very traumatic for both you and your dog. If you think he is in any pain than you could talk to your vet about prescribing an anti-inflammatory and/or pain medications to help alleviate any discomfort. You could also try an Adaptil collar to help alleviate stress. Your vet could also prescribe an anti-anxiety medication to help relieve an anxiety associated with the incident. Hopefull, with some time he will be back to normal. It may take a week or so for the soft tissue injuries to heal.

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    Answered By Lauren Jones VMD

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    This sounds traumatizing for both you and for Brody Bronx! There is a good chance that he is still quite painful as a result of the soft tissue damage and that this is causing him to move a bit slower and act more subdued. If he is not currently receiving an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; examples include Rimadyl/carprofen and Deramaxx/deracoxib), call your vet to see if it would be appropriate to prescribe one. NSAIDs can cause a big improvement in both the pain and inflammation from soft tissue injuries. In all likelihood, once his injuries have resolved in another week or two, he will go back to his normal self. He may have some hesitation around other dogs. After attacks, some dogs act like nothing has happened, some become fearful around other dogs, and others become aggressive towards other dogs. If Brody Bronx has another dog playmate that he knows well, consider reintroducing them (after he is feeling better, of course) with both dogs on leashes. This will provide a safety net for both dogs and for you. Otherwise, resume your regular walks when he is able and closely watch how he reacts to other dogs. If he barks and pulls towards another dog, this is often a sign of aggression. If he cowers and hides behind you with his tail and ears down, this is a fear posture. For now, keep his routine as normal as possible and give him time to recover from his injuries. I hope he's feeling better soon!

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