Medical Causes for Aggression

  
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Cracker

Dog About- Rosedale

moderator
 
 
Barked: Mon Jun 2, '08 8:57pm PST 
As to Mocha's original post.

My client's dog, Oakley, had a sudden increase/relapse into aggression a few weeks prior to getting really sick. The client took him to the vet and it turned out he had a bleeding splenic tumour which had spread to his liver. He passed away a month later.
Since he had had aggression earlier in his life we all assumed he was triggered by changes in his environment. Not that we could have done anything, but I do feel badly that we assumed he was physically ok.

My other client, Cody, a golden has had reactivity issues on leash and we had been working on them to great success. Then, suddenly he had a rash of three aggression incidents in the park, off leash. I spoke to his owner and she said he had been acting oddly at home (not aggressive but slightly fearful, like when he was first rescued several years ago) I recommended she get his thyroid tested and sure enough he was low thyroid across the whole panel. He started on his synthroid a couple of weeks ago and he is back to his happy go lucky self (aside from the leash thing...that is ongoing).
Kiya

100% Spoiled- Rotten
 
 
Barked: Tue Jun 3, '08 6:52am PST 
Although Kiya's thyroid levels are normal I can personally sympathize with the whole Low Thyroid Level = Aggression thing.

I had suffered from thyroid disease for years. I was on a rollercoaster ride of hyperactive and hypoactive swings both of which affected my mood incredibly. Medication helped, to a point, but because of my violent swings in thyroid function the medication would only help for a while before I swung the other way and needed to switch meds. In 2002 I had a total-thyroidectomy and now dependent on levothyroxine (a synthroid) for life. Even now when I am not having the violent swings, if my body reacts even the slightest in how it is absorbing the levothyroixine and I become either a little "hyper" or "hypo" there is a marked change in my moods.

So the thought that thyroid issues in dogs cause aggression makes complete and total sense to me. And just like in humans where thyroid disorders are often overlooked or ignored I am sure it is the same in the vet world. So be an advocate and a voice for your dog. Demand a thyroid panel be done to rule out a thyroid issue because it is a very simple fix 99% of the time.

Actually, this goes for you humans too!! If you have any questions regarding YOUR health and thyroid feel free to pm me. I have researched it beyond belief and have made thyroid health my life since it has affected and still does affect my life big time.

As for the original question - Besides being abused at a very important stage in brain development as a puppy and Kiya's brain chemistry being off whack because of it causing severe anxiety, no she doesn't have any other medical conditions that have caused her issues.
ARCHMX Asher- RL1X RL2X- RL3X RL

we will dance in- the ring without- words
 
 
Barked: Fri Jan 2, '09 11:03am PST 
bump

♥ Angel Kendra ♥

My heart belongs- to my Daddy
 
 
Barked: Sat Jan 3, '09 8:41am PST 
My family and I tend to adopt sick/damaged dogs. Kendra is not our first.

I had a purebred Cocker growing up. She came from a long line of show dogs, and she was gorgeous. She developed a Protein Losing Neuropathy. Her body attacked her muscles, and ate them away, as if they were a foreign object in her body. She was put steroids. A few years later (she was only 5) she became very aggressive. She attacked me, our cats, and anything else. She was diagnosed with "rage." She was so scary. I can't even describe it. She would attack a curtain sometimes if it moved, and thrash it around until it was in pieces. She bit me in the face many times.

We had Hermia, mine and my husband's first dog. She was a double merle, Aussie/Sheltie. She was blind, mute, and went deaf over a few months. She had many neurological symptoms, but was still a sweetie. Out of nowhere, she became very aggressive. She would sit alone in a room and just growl that low, don't mess with me growl. It was soooo sad. We took her to a specialty hospital. She ended up going lame in both legs soon after. They eventually found a brain tumor, and we sent her to the Bridge. cry
Laila

A lesson in- unconditionnal- love
 
 
Barked: Sun Jun 14, '09 3:33pm PST 
I don't know but I want to get some tests done for Laila who is becoming more dog reactive and having a harder time calming herslef down.
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