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AIBU?

To wonder if the dog did it?

21 replies

NameChange90210 · 12/05/2017 16:30

My Dear Parents visited today with their dog.

I have an 11 month old DS, and we are always very careful with DS and the dog, someone is always supervising when they are in the room together. DC is not allowed to pester the dog, but we do let them say hello to each other, but very closely supervised. Dog is young, and a softie, and has no history of aggression (has been re-homed through a charity).

Before DP arrived, DS has bumped his head on the kitchen floor, so I had just examined his head to see if there was a bump, etc.

Not long after DP arrived, the baby started crying. At this point he was being supervised with dog by my DM. DM picked DS up as soon as he started crying. While she was holding him I looked at his head again to check for a bump again (from earlier floor bump), and noticed a scratch on the top of his head. Nothing dreadful, but one of those scrape type scratches where the top few layers of skin has been scraped away and it was quite sore looking, but not bleeding freely (which scalp tends to if cut deeply), about an inch and a half long.

I cannot for the life of me work out when he could have done it. The previous head bump on floor had been on an open bit of kitchen floor, so nothing to scrape his head on. Plus I think I would have seen it, as I looked at his head then.

AIBU to wonder if it was the dog? If it was then it wasn't aggressive (dog didn't snap or growl) so I can only imagine dog might of caught DS by accident while he was on the floor. My DM was watching them at the time though, so I find it a bit odd that she didn't notice what had happened. All she said (to the dog) was "You weren't anywhere near him were you" which is odd in itself as they were right next to each other (I was in the same room and half watching from the corner of my eye).

Seeing as it is just superficial, I don't think I need to do anything, but I just have a slightly off feeling about the whole thing, as I can't think when else it could have happened!

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littlefurrysheep · 12/05/2017 16:33

doesn't sound like it. a dog wouldn't just scratch, it would have been a whole to-do if he had gone for your son.

TroysMammy · 12/05/2017 16:35

Could your ds have scratched himself with a rough fingernail when rubbing his bumped head?

NoncommittalToSparkleMotion · 12/05/2017 16:35

I'd say it's probable.

It may have been one of those things where she thought she caught the dog in time, but didn't quite.

You say the dog's young... Could they have been playing and the dog may have inadvertently scratched DS?

Your DM's supervision may not have been quite as diligent as yours, is what I'm saying (badly.)

Ilovehamabeads · 12/05/2017 16:36

How would the dog have made a graze? If it was teeth or claws I would expect more of a defined injury I think. If my dog catches me with his claws it's quite a shred across my arm. Unless I'm not picturing your description very well..

blueskyinmarch · 12/05/2017 16:36

Could your DC have done it to themselves with their nails or a toy?

blueskyinmarch · 12/05/2017 16:38

TBH from this age on your DC will probably start to acquire random non specific injuries. Best not to over worry about these things.

EB123 · 12/05/2017 16:39

It sounds like something done with a fingernail?

NoncommittalToSparkleMotion · 12/05/2017 16:41

@bluesky this is true, too. Could be anything really.

NameChange90210 · 12/05/2017 16:43

I have tried to get a photo, not easy with a bobbing head.
Possibly could have done it with a toy, but not a fingernail (just trimmed). I just would have expected tears when he did it, and we only had two incidents of tears today, one with the bump and one by the dog. God I sound like an amazing mum don't I?

To wonder if the dog did it?

OP posts:

NameChange90210 · 12/05/2017 16:44

I suppose however it happened, it doesn't really matter. I just worry about dogs and animals, but as I am confident no aggression was involved it isn't a worry.

Sorry I should have thought this through thoroughly before posting!

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VerySadInside · 12/05/2017 16:45

In my experience unless freshly cut dog claws are normally quite smooth ended- from walking on pavements. So if they are excited and jumping up their "scratches" tend to be leave red marks rather than actually breaking the skin.
And freshly cut dog claws would leave a much deeper cut.

Could DSs bump have been hurting and he scratched it himself? I find large bruises itchy when they are new.

StarryCorpulentCunt · 12/05/2017 16:45

Wouldn't have thought so. The only thing he could have done it with is a claw and that would be more of a scratch line than a scrape. Kids do start getting random injuries at that age. My DD is 20 months and for the last few months has been covered in grazes and bruises, some of them obvious and others unexplainable. They have no spacial awareness.

VerySadInside · 12/05/2017 16:46

But just trimmed fingernails are much sharper unless you filed them?

StarryCorpulentCunt · 12/05/2017 16:47

Actually looking at the picture, could be a claw mark. Does look like the sort of accidental scratches I get playing with my dogs.

NavyandWhite · 12/05/2017 16:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MuncheysMummy · 12/05/2017 16:52

That looks exactly like when my young GSD used to leave me with tooth gore marks where he had his mouth open panting and would scrape me with his canines whilst snuffling or rubbing his head on me or like a claw mark. Little one should NOT be on the floor beside the dog ever anyway then there wouldn't be this suspicion. It's just not safe not even about a dog ever attacking but just scratching or similar by accident etc or sitting on/knocking over a learning to stand baby. My DS is 11 months too

NameChange90210 · 12/05/2017 17:06

I think I shall chalk this up to experience and keep a much closer eye on them myself from now on. I just feel a bit awful that I don't know what happened, as it is a pretty obvious injury.

Unfortunately keeping them entirely separate would mean I wouldn't see my DP/mum as she has strong opinions about the dog being part of the family and, for various reasons, wouldn't shut the dog out of the way anyway.

Probably more than a touch of PFB going on here too, I admit.

OP posts:

MipMipMip · 12/05/2017 17:08

Is the dog's pad rough? That can scratch

StarryCorpulentCunt · 12/05/2017 19:26

Probably just an accident, he'll get worse tripping over his own feet. Doubt the dog meant to and I wouldn't worry about it. Bit shit that she didn't say anything though. I would have said oh no, sorry he's scratched DS's head by accident. Not denied he was anywhere near.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 12/05/2017 19:34

It really doesn't look like a dog scratch tbh. One of our dogs accidentally scratched my DDs face when he put his paw up for a tummy rub, when they were both on the floor, and she was a bit too close (she's 14 btw and she's fine!) and the mark was three sort of red lines down her cheek, skin not broken, looks nothing like that scratch. I don't think dog could leave just the one mark IYSWIM as the claws would be too close together. Anyway, poor little he's ok!

Doglikeafox · 12/05/2017 20:08

This sort of unexplained injury is my worst nightmare as a childminder
I don't think the dog could have done it to be honest.

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