Labrador Retriever Forum
I have a 4 1/2 year old male neutered lab. He has had three instances of sudden aggression in the last 3 weeks. Growling and snarling over food, and last night he snapped at our trainer when she was talking to him and patting him on the head. I'm taking him to the vet for a complete physical. What tests if any should I ask for besides a CBc, thyroid? Please be as specific as possible because I don't know what to ask for or where to look. TIA
Thank you, Nancy.
Good suggestion. He's Optigen A, but hasn't been CERF'ed in a few years...
Thank you. I'll let you know.
Ears look Ok, sometimes a ear problem will hurt enough for them to snap.
Ears look okay...I was wondering about maybe a tooth absess or something? Making a list to take with me to the vet.
I would check for Tick Borne illnesses as well, they can have personality changes with that.
On an interesting note, we have 2 patients that have had long term lyme disease and have dementia related changes associated with it. I bet in the coming years we'll see more...
Laura Berger had an article in the LQ about sudden aggression in one of her dogs - within the last 2 years I think - but you know how time flies - could have been longer.
In it she described finding out about (and someone correct me if I am wrong) some raised liver enzymes building up in her dogs brain that caused the aggression. I will try to find the article. It was a treatable condition and her dog returned to his old self (again I believe I remember that).
I know Laura is a member of Puget Sound LRA - perhaps you can email her.
Good luck in your search - wish I could be more help.
Valerie - Bibsmom
yes, that happened here as well...liver enzymes were elevated, the liver was not functioning properly and could not filter out toxins, these built up in the system and went to the brain causing all sorts of things, aggression , head bobbing, dementia...We had to put her on Lactulose which pulls the toxins from the body. However, we could see a yellow tinge to her eyes and ears and she was having trouble holding urine.
This was all the results of Ehrlichiosis (late stage).
Thank you for the suggestions. I will look for the LQ article, Valerie. Maybe I have it. If not, I will email Laura Berger.
And I will ask about tick borne illnesses, too. Which lyme test is the better one? I thought I heard one was better than the other?
I really, really appreciate all the input. This behavior is so unlike him...
Please have your vet check for a brain tumor. Sounds awful, and it is. But I have known a few cases of aggression coming on like that and in all 3 cases it turned out to be a tumor. Very hard to deal with, but you need to know before someone gets hurt. In one instance, the dog attacked his owner, who he adored, and then came out of it, and was so ashamed. The entire thing was so sad for all involved. I hope yours is a more treatable diagnosis. Good luck!
Please let us know what you find. I have a girl who was badly injured by a negligent handler. That was just the start of all her issues. Thought I had her back and then last summer she started having aggression issues. It was almost like a seizure, when she came out of it she was sorry for acting the way she did. It's sudden, no warning. I took her in and have spent thousands on tests, I know there is something wrong, I know what she is really like. At first I thought it was because of the accident now I don't know what is going on. The vets never found anything, perfectly healthy. This supposidly healthy dog has dropped a lot of weight to the point I have put her on puppy food for the extra calories. She once loved to be out and run and play, now she sleeps. It's been heartbreaking to watch.
Sorry this is so long, but you didn't give your email.
ALSO, take him to a Chiropractor. It could be his head/neck/back.
LYME DISEASE CAN BE LINKED TO SUDDEN AGGRESSION
Permission was granted to cross post this.
We recently had a very strange event that I think we should share around the rescue community:
Young (~2 years) male, a Lab mix, came into our program with a "questionable" background. He may have been aggressive toward some children, maybe not. We kept him for a good long while --- months of fostering in our premier foster home, with no problem -- and placed him carefully, with a single mid-age man who absolutely adored him. We also, as we do with all our dogs, tested him for Lyme. He had it; we treated it; case closed -- we thought.
Everything went very well after adoption -- he was the star of his obedience classes, a frequent alumni visitor to our clinics - for over a year. And truly adored by his adopter. Then, over a year after placement, Mojo became suddenly, erratically, and seriously aggressive: literally attacked visitors to the home, people at the vet's waiting room, etc. Terrifying. Very sudden. Totally inexplicable. He was returned to us with genuine heartbreak from a very loving adopter.
Mojo then went to our regular vets and was a totally different dog: bared teeth and growling to anyone who approached his kennel, lunging at other dogs when being walked, etc. We figured that whatever was happening with him, he had become unplaceable and started a TDC (Tough Decisions Committee - something we "convene" and that is open to anyone with an interest in the dog when we think that euthanasia might be an option).
However, someone at the vet's office said that perhaps we should test him for Lyme. Huh???????? They had had a regular client of theirs come in recently with similar, out of the blue aggression, and it turned out that was the problem - puzzled them, but seemed to be the case. Okay -- hey, we'll try anything -- so we had him tested. He was high positive! Fine, we started treatment while we continued to figure out what to do with him via the TDC.
Almost immediately, however, once the antibiotics were begun, the Mojo we knew came back!! He was himself again -- bouncy, happy, a bit neurotic, but not at *all* aggressive! The staff at the vet's was amazed, but all confirmed this change.
We didn't believe it; and the veterinarians didn't believe it .... BUT a thorough search of the internet turned up a number of studies and anecdotal observations indicating that in some dogs (and in some humans!!) the primary symptom of their Lyme Disease can be sudden, irrational and serious aggression.
Well, we've known for a while to check the thyroid levels of dogs that show aggression that just "doesn't fit". Now we have added testing for Lyme as well. And we have --- results not yet in -- another dog that we placed over a year ago who has been returned because of out-of-the-blue aggression ... and he has also tested high positive for Lyme! We've started treatment and will be monitoring his response.
So --- plug this in to your protocols. It's worth checking out. I spent the day today with Mojo ... and he truly is just the same dog we placed over a year ago. (We've let his original adopter know -- because he vowed that it had to be *something* causing this behavior. But he cannot take Mojo back because his roommate, one of the people attacked, won't even consider it. For the record, there were no skin-breaking contacts in any of these attacks, but plenty of fear and we consider them as serious as if they were full-fledged bites.)
We actually have additional insight into this because one of our volunteers (human) has had Lyme Disease. Took many months for her to be diagnosed, and once she was, she learned that it's a VERY nasty bug that really remains around permanently, waiting for a chance to "crop up" again. When we place Mojo again (and our TDC unanimously agrees that we should do this), we're going to explain the background, these amazing events, and require that the adopters have him tested every six months, whether or not he's showing symptoms. We have no idea whether that will work or be sufficient - we're rather flying blind in this -- but it seems a rational approach.
I'll post again if we learn more from the second dog (also a Lab mix). But based on what we know now, it is a real possibility: Lyme *can*, in a few rare cases, cause aggression, aggression that can be reversed.
Betsy Sommers Peppertree Rescue -- Albany, NY
www.peppertree.org
Wow. Thank you for this, Laura.
Thanks, Laura for posting.
I have a youngster that was returned, because of aggression. He is a 7th generation, from very sweet lines. I will check it out.
You have been given good advice.
If you choose to do thyroid be sure they do a full panel T3, Free T3, T4, Free T4. According to J Dodds TSH is not necessary for dogs.
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/HEMOPET.HTM
Sroll down to "note regarding thyroid testing"
Added to my list. Our appointment is this afternoon.
Thank you.
Good luck. Hoping you get some answers that are easily remedied.
Please update when you can.
No news yet. Vet took four vials of blood and is testing for everything that was suggested, and then some. He is also holding some back to send to some university for further testing. He said where but I can't remember. The vet is thinking hypothyroid. I am hoping he is right.
The vet also thinks he might have some chronic pain issues from his back and hips that we are going to deal with once the preliminary blood work results come back tomorrow.
We talked about a brain tumor and will get an MRI if nothing shows on the bloodwork.
The vet listened to everything I had to say and all my questions and suggestions that I received here, and is considering them all.
Thank you to everyone who responded. I'll let you know how we make out.
Sounds like you've got a great vet! Fingers are crossed you'll know soon what the problem is!
Fingers crossed for you that it's nothing serious and can be treated easily.
Valerie - Bibsmom
All the results on the bloodwork, with the exception of the tick panel and thyroid, are negative.
The tick panel and thyroid were sent somewhere (University of Michigan???? I know it's the University of Somewhere) and those results should be back early next week.
There have been no other instances of growling or snarling or anything all week. I suspect if the thyroid and tick tests are all negative, we will look at his back and hips to see if that might be the problem. There is a chiropractor and acupuncturist on staff at our vet hospital.
Again, thank you to everyone who weighed in with suggestions and support. It means so much to me and I really do appreciate it.
