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DAA: Dogsters with Aggression, Anonymous » Group Forum

Medical Causes for Aggression

  
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Mocha Bear- (Mokie),- VGG, KPA,

CEO of Rewarding- Behaviors Dog- Training
 
 
Barked: Thu Jul 26, '07 4:48am PST 
Have any of you determined medical causes behind the aggression your dog has displayed?

I've heard vaccinosis and thyroid problems can both contribute to aggression.

What are other possible medical reasons? If you have discovered a medical reason for your dog's "poor" behavior, what steps have you taken to address the issue and how successful has the recovery been thus far?
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Nee

I don't ride in- purses...		 
 
Barked: Thu Jul 26, '07 5:22am PST 
Nee hasn't been diagnosed with any medical disorder, but anything neurological can cause behavioral issues. I also know of several cases where dogs with Lyme disease suddenly turned aggressive. Brain Tumors, epilepsy, head trauma, then of course if the dog is in pain at all, so tiny cuts, bone injuries, bruises, rotted teeth, arthirtis, etc.
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Penny Lane

In my ears and- in my eyes.
 
 
Barked: Thu Jul 26, '07 7:55am PST 
Penny had a few health issues to deal with while she was still around. She was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder somewhere around age 7 and on daily medication to control it. Once in a while, though, my mother would forget the medication for a few days and Penny would get grumpy. She once bit at a friend of mine (no broken skin) who unwisely decided to reach for her while she was in one of her safe spots.

As she got older and her pain became nearly unmanagable, she was more likely to snap at someone who got close to her. I knew, for example, that she was very close to The End when she snapped at me for the first time. We held a special bond; I was her trainer and advocate, so displaying any iota of aggression toward me was very abnormal.
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In Memory of- PEANUT

Miss Chief		 
 
Barked: Thu Jul 26, '07 9:27pm PST 
My vet told me that testosterone causes aggression and that sometimes estrogen is used. I decided against estrogen because a side effect is breast cancer. Also a friend's dog developed dementia when she got old. Her dog was always a sweet, gentle dog. After the dementia developed, she would growl and try to bite when startled.
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Belle

Will Take you- On!		 
 
Barked: Sat Jul 28, '07 2:25pm PST 
I've seen a ton of dogs start getting aggressive due to Lyme. It causes joint pain, so they're always sore. It takes a terrible toll and they end up snapping over minor bumps and jostles, and landing harder and harder bites each time. Since it's so common around here, most people know to go to the vet and get tested before things get too serious.

I'm most interested in the so-called "Rage Syndrome." It's incredibly rare, but most common among Springers and Bullies. The dogs literally attack violently for no reason. They often go into a sort of trance before an outburst, and the outbursts are usually triggered by movement - even the movement of non-living objects like curtains in the wind. Afterward they often sleep.

It seems to be a seizure based disorder, probably genetic. It's treated with seizure drugs, although the specific drug may vary based on the dog. A dog suspected of having rage syndrome should be evaluated by a behaviorist as well as a vet, to be certain there is truly no cause for the attacks. Many people believe their dog is attacking out of nowhere when they're actually misreading all the signs, or overlooking a pattern.
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Chipper

That's MR.- Momma's Boy to- you!
 
 
Barked: Sun Aug 5, '07 4:41pm PST 
We have not found a medical cause for Chip's agression, but we have noticed medical problems that seem to make it worse.

When we first started training with Chipper, he constantly got kennel cough/ upper respiratory infections. Every time he went to class or got groomed, 2 weeks later he was sick. Terribly sick. Poor thing would cough so hard that he would knock himself off of his feet. He went through 3-4 rounds of training starts (or grooming): Chipper gets sick, 2-4 weeks of antibiotics, back to class, start cycle over. We had enough after the 3rd or 4th time and the vet ran the whole gammet of tests including x-rays. All blood work came back fine. However, the x-rays showed a collapsing trachea. Poor thing couldn't breathe.

Each time he got sick, we knew it was coming. He never lost his appetite or looked sick. But, he would start to get grumpy 3-4 days before the coughing started. He becomes mopey, tired, growls at everything, snaps at his daddy, guards his food, overall unhappy.

We now know that if he is grumpy for no reason at all, he probably is having a hard time breathing. He may be getting sick, or he may have other issues. This week, he can barely breathe in the heat and humidity we are having. We do our best to keep him inside so he does not have an episode of not being able to breathe.

We also switched trainers and groomers to smaller places, and so far, no URIs. cheer
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Chipper

That's MR.- Momma's Boy to- you!
 
 
Barked: Sun Aug 5, '07 4:41pm PST 
We have not found a medical cause for Chip's agression, but we have noticed medical problems that seem to make it worse.

When we first started training with Chipper, he constantly got kennel cough/ upper respiratory infections. Every time he went to class or got groomed, 2 weeks later he was sick. Terribly sick. Poor thing would cough so hard that he would knock himself off of his feet. He went through 3-4 rounds of training starts (or grooming): Chipper gets sick, 2-4 weeks of antibiotics, back to class, start cycle over. We had enough after the 3rd or 4th time and the vet ran the whole gammet of tests including x-rays. All blood work came back fine. However, the x-rays showed a collapsing trachea. Poor thing couldn't breathe.

Each time he got sick, we knew it was coming. He never lost his appetite or looked sick. But, he would start to get grumpy 3-4 days before the coughing started. He becomes mopey, tired, growls at everything, snaps at his daddy, guards his food, overall unhappy.

We now know that if he is grumpy for no reason at all, he probably is having a hard time breathing. He may be getting sick, or he may have other issues. This week, he can barely breathe in the heat and humidity we are having. We do our best to keep him inside so he does not have an episode of not being able to breathe.

We also switched trainers and groomers to smaller places, and so far, no URIs. cheer
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ARCHMX Asher- RL1X RL2X- RL3X RL

we will dance in- the ring without- words		 
 
Barked: Mon Jun 2, '08 4:00am PST 
Bump for new members
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Donovan'sMajesticJet of Solace

Street sweeper!		 
 
Barked: Mon Jun 2, '08 5:29am PST 
Has anyone heard of a cranial exray? If so, what is it and how much does it cost?
Cracker

Dog About- Rosedale

moderator		 
 
Barked: Mon Jun 2, '08 8:51pm PST 
Jet, I think a cranial xray is simply an xray of the skull. They are not common unless they are looking for a skull fracture or something like that. I saw your post earlier about an inner ear deformity, why don't you ask your vet next time you are in?
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