http://dogtrainingireland.ie/blog/2008/10/27/medical-causes-of-aggression-in-dogs/ Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:21:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://dogtrainingireland.ie/blog/2008/10/27/medical-causes-of-aggression-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-1501 Tara Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:03:39 +0000 http://dogtrainingireland.ie/blog/?p=78#comment-1501 Thank you for sharing that vital information with us. We appreciate that. Thank you for sharing that vital information with us. We appreciate that.

]]> http://dogtrainingireland.ie/blog/2008/10/27/medical-causes-of-aggression-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-1464 Therese Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:32:26 +0000 http://dogtrainingireland.ie/blog/?p=78#comment-1464 Great blog on various medical reasons for aggression in dogs...would that people think "outside the box" before labelling dogs "aggressive" without further investigation. I would like to highlight another reason - side effects of prescribed medication. My dog was unfortunately diagnosed with trachea collapse early this year and put on a course of medication which she will have to take for the rest of her life. Within 7 days of starting the meds I noticed small, subtle changes in her behaviour which I documented and mentioned to the prescribing Vet. I suggested it was possibly side effects but as no one else had ever suggested such a thing before it wasn't taken too seriously. However, I was not a 'happy camper' and documented every behavioural change I noticed - which wasn't too hard as 14 days into meds she was a raging virago - to both dogs and people. To cut a long story short, it transpired she had been prescribed the human form of the medication (which was done routinely). I asked that a comparison be made between the human/animal form and discovered they are based on different molecules. I had the meds changed immediately and very soon she was back to her usual self - in fact a bit more 'laid back'. I urge all owners - who, after all, know their dog best - to please, please question anything they consider odd or out of the ordinary in such circumstances. If I had not done so my dog would not be with me today as there was only one way she was headed - euthanasia. I am not being dramatic here: I was told this by her usual Vet who knows her from puppyhood. Also, her quality of life had diminished: she was so hyper she no longer enjoyed walks and no way could she be allowed to run free anymore. To finish, I submitted a written report on the matter so hopefully something useful was learned from my experience. Great blog on various medical reasons for aggression in dogs…would that people think “outside the box” before labelling dogs “aggressive” without further investigation. I would like to highlight another reason – side effects of prescribed medication. My dog was unfortunately diagnosed with trachea collapse early this year and put on a course of medication which she will have to take for the rest of her life. Within 7 days of starting the meds I noticed small, subtle changes in her behaviour which I documented and mentioned to the prescribing Vet. I suggested it was possibly side effects but as no one else had ever suggested such a thing before it wasn’t taken too seriously. However, I was not a ‘happy camper’ and documented every behavioural change I noticed – which wasn’t too hard as 14 days into meds she was a raging virago – to both dogs and people. To cut a long story short, it transpired she had been prescribed the human form of the medication (which was done routinely). I asked that a comparison be made between the human/animal form and discovered they are based on different molecules. I had the meds changed immediately and very soon she was back to her usual self – in fact a bit more ‘laid back’. I urge all owners – who, after all, know their dog best – to please, please question anything they consider odd or out of the ordinary in such circumstances. If I had not done so my dog would not be with me today as there was only one way she was headed – euthanasia. I am not being dramatic here: I was told this by her usual Vet who knows her from puppyhood. Also, her quality of life had diminished: she was so hyper she no longer enjoyed walks and no way could she be allowed to run free anymore. To finish, I submitted a written report on the matter so hopefully something useful was learned from my experience.

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