On New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, an English pointer named Mattie was injured by a javelina while hunting in South Texas, leaving her bleeding from multiple wounds. Common injuries in hunting dogs, like those experienced by Mattie, often include skin lacerations, puncture wounds, and cuts, which can be caused by encounters with wildlife.

The incident involved one dog and one hunter and turned into a roughly four-hour ordeal as Trent Kleppen triaged Mattie’s injuries in the field and then drove her to a vet in Premont for treatment. The injuries included what Kleppen described as “some of them great gashes,” a terrifying reminder of the potential dangers hunting dogs face in the field. Fortunately, with prompt medical attention, the dog received care that was sufficient for her recovery, allowing her to be back in the field by early February. Additional coverage of this same incident can be found on .

Kleppen said of the first moments after the attack: “She was mostly red, bleeding from multiple wounds, some of them great gashes, and I was just praying that I wouldn’t see entrails.” He described quickly assessing and cleaning wounds to determine which required immediate attention. Owners can prepare their pets for such scenarios by ensuring they are fit and healthy through regular veterinary exams and conditioning that builds stamina for hunting activities. “I wiped every wound at first, just so I could triage based on severity,” he said.

The account stresses the violence possible in encounters with wild javelina, whose “razor-sharp tusks” contributed to the lacerations Kleppen described. After stabilizing Mattie on site, Kleppen drove to a veterinary clinic in Premont, where the dog received medical treatment that officials say was sufficient for her recovery. Hunters are legally required to control their dogs during hunts, which underscores the importance of knowing the rules regarding the safety of their dog.

Mattie’s owner did the initial field care and transport over the course of the incident, which Kleppen characterized as a sustained effort to keep the dog alive until professional care could be obtained. The veterinary clinic in Premont provided follow-up treatment and monitoring that led to the positive outcome recorded the following month.

Other handlers and outfitters interviewed about field readiness emphasized layered preparedness. Bryce Daviess, owner of Highsteppe Bird Dogs and Western Prairie Outfitters, said, “My belief is that you need to be able to work in tiers.” He added, “I carry stuff to keep a dog alive until we get back to the truck.” Coon hunter Josh Michaelis underlined the importance of knowing a reliable veterinarian, saying, “The most important thing in my kit is a very good vet that I know will answer their phone.” These remarks came in the same discussion that recounted Kleppen’s incident and illuminate how handlers organize emergency response in remote areas against common threats, including wild animals and rough terrain.

The episode has been noted within material aimed at helping hunters prepare for field emergencies. Background resources on hunting dog preparation and common field injuries are available from outlets such as Tier1Vet, and discussions of javelina encounters can be found in related video segments on YouTube.

Kleppen’s account centers on rapid response: immediate triage in the field followed by veterinary treatment. The dog’s documented recovery — returning to work by early February — underscores the outcome after emergency field care and clinical treatment, reinforcing the importance of being prepared for the unexpected while on a hunt.

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Original reporting: view the original article.