Dog Being Aggressive To Strangers- What To Ask A Vet To Check For

[DesertDobes]

We attended a long weekend of dog shows and my 2.5 yo male dog seemed to be behaving different (and in a bad way).

He seemed very short tempered with my bitch if she got in his space, and then lunged at a man who tried to pat both of them on lead. He had barked and lunged at a lady who stuck her arm into my car to pat my bitch while I was paying for fuel the day before (I had to leave the windows down because it was so hot). With that incident I believed he had acted appropriately because I was away from the car and he was guarding it and I told the lady she was lucky he didn't bite her, but on a lead at the dog show is definitely not on. He has been showed and trialed fairly regularly since he was a puppy and has never showed any aggression before and has met a variety of strangers at our home.

My male dog was not eating properly over the weekend and seemed depressed so I scratched yesterday morning and went home. Since we got home he has eaten a bit but not as much as usual and has had a few runny poos but otherwise is running around and happy to be home.

Now I am going to rule out any health issues before I treat this as a behavior problem, but what should I ask for with a health check? How thorough should it be before I can rule out health issues? We live remote and have a great mobile vet that visits every month or I can take him into a fully equipped vet clinic 6 hours away I don't like or trust much depending on what needs doing.

Secondly, does anyone know or recommend any behaviorists that will be able to give advice at a distance if nothing health related turns up without seeing our dog?

[pipsqueak]

I am definitely no expert (far, far, far from it), but I think that thyroid problems can cause behaviour changes, including aggression, so may be worth getting it checked???

ETA... just googled, and apparently dobes are one of the breeds who can be susceptible to tyroid problems... but you probably already knew that.

Edited May 5, 2013 by futuredogtrainer

[persephone]

faecal sample, urine sample , blood tests ...check for anything and everything , basically!

Hope things get sorted soon .. he really must be feeling bad ...

[DesertDobes]

Thanks, actually in my frazzled state of mind since it all happened I didn't even think about thyroid issues but it does make sense. I think my mobile vet can take samples from home so will get them to call in and check him over.

[pipsqueak]

I hope you find an answer. I just didn't want to seem presumptious or a know it all, since I am not a breeder, just a dog owner who is intereseted in health stuff.

[DesertDobes]

Well the boys issues are on hold to be dealt with after my bitch recovers from a staking injury : sigh : my doggies aren't having the best week

[persephone]

Hope all is good with the stake injury . Ouch!

[Erny]

Thanks, actually in my frazzled state of mind since it all happened I didn't even think about thyroid issues but it does make sense. I think my mobile vet can take samples from home so will get them to call in and check him over.

If I were you I'd have the thyroid blood tests done through Dr Jean Dodds (Hemopet) in USA. Aussie tests aren't as thorough and a "negative" result wouldn't necessarily rule it out, especially as your dog is so young (which indicates - if thyroid is an issue - that the thyroid tissue may not have had enough time to degenerate to a level that is detectable by our Aussie blood tests.

[DesertDobes]

Thanks, actually in my frazzled state of mind since it all happened I didn't even think about thyroid issues but it does make sense. I think my mobile vet can take samples from home so will get them to call in and check him over.

If I were you I'd have the thyroid blood tests done through Dr Jean Dodds (Hemopet) in USA. Aussie tests aren't as thorough and a "negative" result wouldn't necessarily rule it out, especially as your dog is so young (which indicates - if thyroid is an issue - that the thyroid tissue may not have had enough time to degenerate to a level that is detectable by our Aussie blood tests.

O.K thanks, how would I organise that? I would have to have a vet collect the sample and then request they send it to Hemopet?

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

The other thing it could be is a general or specific soreness or injury somewhere. Ie pain.

Do let us know what you find.

[DesertDobes]

I've just had a look at the requirements for hemopet thyroid testing, as it needs to be centrifuged 30 mins after collection I don't think my mobile vet will be able to take the sample to send to them.

Its hard to tell sometimes if they are in physical pain if there isn't anything obvious, but he does seem to be back to normal now we are home. It was very hot at the show and these are dogs used to being inside under the air conditioning during the day so maybe he was dehydrated and just feeling off, but he is booked in to see our vet soon so will let you all know what turns up.