What Causes Dogs to Become Aggressive?

One of the most important steps in dealing with dog aggression is finding out the cause of the aggression. Knowing why your dog is acting aggressively can help you figure out the best plan for stopping the frightening behavior. The following are some of the causes of aggression in dogs:

There are a number of illnesses that cause dogs to become aggressive. If a dog who has never shown any sign of aggression suddenly begins growling, snapping, or biting, it may be caused by a disease or illness.

Brain tumors, thyroid disease, and rabies are just a few illnesses that may cause the onset of aggression. Talk to your veterinarian to determine whether a disease may be the cause of your dog's aggression.

Dogs often show aggression to establish their dominance. Dogs who display this type of aggression feel that they are in charge. The growling, snapping, or biting occurs when they feel their dominance is being challenged. If your dog is displaying aggression in an attempt to establish dominance, he may snap, growl, or bite when you try to move him off the furniture, restrain him, grab his collar, or give a leash correction.

Fear is another reason a dog might display aggression. Usually, the dog only exhibits aggressive behavior if he feels he is in danger and needs to defend himself. This can occur if a dog is backed into a corner with no means of escape, or if a dog perceives the hand you raised over his head was to hit him rather than pet him. A fearful dog usually only bites when he feels he is unable to escape some impending harm and must defend himself.

Possession aggression occurs when a dog gets possessive of food, a toy, a bed, your yard, or some other object. A dog who exhibits possession aggression may growl if someone approaches his food bowl or goes near him when he's chewing a favorite toy. He may bite a stranger who steps into your home. The degree of aggression can vary from dog to dog and between objects. For instance, a dog might not care if you sit next to him and pet him while he chews a rubber toy, but may turn and snap at you when you do the same thing while he chews a pig's ear.

Aggression that is caused by frustration is often referred to as redirected aggression or barrier frustration. It occurs when a dog is frustrated at not being able to get to something, and he takes the frustration out in another way. An example of this is a dog who is tied in the yard and spends the day straining and trying to get to a dog that lives across the street. The dog will usually bark and growl as his frustration grows. When his owner comes to bring him in, the dog redirects his frustration and bites the owner. This type of aggression is often seen in dogs who spend a lot of time tied out, restrained on a leash, or behind a chain link fence.

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5:07 PM by Thanapon · 0

Understanding Dog Growling

When you hear a dog growling, it can be very frightening. Dog growling can be the first indication of aggression. For this reason, it's important to understand why your dog is growling so you can figure out the degree of aggression and the best way to deal with the problem.

Dog growling is a form of communication. Your dog is not able to tell you when he's unhappy or uncomfortable, so instead he may growl to let you know these things.

The most common reasons dogs growl are: fear, possession aggression, territoriality, and pain.

Figuring out exactly why your dog is growling is the first step in preventing escalating aggression. A growling dog is warning you that he may bite. Since we don't have a dog-to-English dictionary, the following can help interpret what a growling dog is saying:

Fear: Dogs growl when they are afraid. A good example of this can be seen with dogs who are afraid of strangers. When a stranger approaches, a fearful dog may growl. This is his way of saying, "Back off."Possession Aggression: Some dogs growl over their possessions - a bowl of food, a toy, a rawhide bone. When a dog growls when someone approaches him while he's eating or chewing a bone, it is his way of saying, "This is mine, and I'm not sharing!" Territoriality: Sometimes dogs growl when they feel the need to defend their territory - think of the mailman approaching the door. When the dog sees someone who he believes doesn't belong on the property, he wants to let them know that they're overstepping their boundaries. Dog growling in this instance means, "Hey, you don't belong here, and I'm willing to protect my people and property!"Pain: Dog growling may also occur due to the pain of an injury or illness. There is usually a combination of things going on here. First, there is the unexplained pain going on in their bodies. Very often this is followed by veterinarians poking and prodding. This means on top of the pain, dogs are experiencing a great deal of confusion. The dog may associate the people trying to help him with the pain and fear. Dog growling in this instance usually means, "I'm in pain and afraid, and you need to stop hurting me."

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2:32 PM by Thanapon · 0

Your Quick Guide to Seizures and Brain Diseases...

A seizure is the result of sudden and abnormal neurological activity, basically a kind of electrical storm in the brain. In humans and dogs, seizures can manifest themselves in many ways and have a multitude of causes. However, seizures are always accompanied by altered or loss of consciousness. They may last a few seconds, several minutes, or, in the worst cases, hours. In general, seizures in dogs can be categorized into two categories: generalized and focal.

Generalized Seizures:

These seizures are sometimes referred to as "grand mal," though this term is used less commonly in veterinary medicine than in human medicine. Generalized seizures visibly affect the entire body and are characterized by overall stiffness and/or spastic, involuntary movements. During this type of seizure, the dog typically experiences full-body rigidity along with convulsions. The dog may lose control of its bladder and/or bowels. Some dogs will vocalize. Also called "tonic/clonic" seizures, generalized seizures are the most common type of seizures seen in dogs.

Focal Seizures:

Sometimes called partial seizures, these are isolated to a particular part of the brain and therefore affect a specific part of the body. Focal seizures are typically quite mild and may simply be characterized by facial twitching. However, they can occur in another part of the body, such as a limb. Sometimes, a focal seizure will look like a fainting spell or a brief period of disorientation. In other cases, a dog experiencing this type of seizure may compulsively snap at the air (sometimes called "flybiting").

Cluster Seizures:

If your dog has more than one seizure in a 24 hour period, then they are considered cluster seizures. Dogs that experience these types of seizures have a more urgent need for medical treatment than dogs with occasional seizures. Additionally, if your dog has more than three seizures in a 24 hour period, it is considered an emergency. Your dog should be seen by your primary care veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian that day. Delaying may result in increasing frequency and severity of the seizures, posing a greater threat to your dog's health.

Status Epilepticus:

Status epilepticus is a prolonged seizure or a series of seizures that occur continuously. This is a dire emergency situation that, if untreated, can lead to brain damage, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) and even death. Dogs in status epilepticus require hospitalization and often need to be placed on a drip of Valium (diazepam) or other drug to stop the seizures.

Phases of a Seizure:

Many seizures are preceded by a period of abnormal behavior called the pre-ictal phase. During this stage, dogs often exhibit signs of anxiety and apprehension. They may whine, pace, and/or pant. Not all dogs display pre-ictal signs, and some may only do so intermittently.

The seizure itself is sometimes referred to as ictus or the ictal phase.

Following nearly every seizure is the post-ictal phase. This period may last minutes to hours and is often characterized by stupor, disorientation and/or blindness. The post-ictal phase can vary with each seizure. This phase should not be confused with the seizure itself.

Causes of Seizures in Dogs:

Seizures occur for a number of reasons. In an attempt to find a cause, your vet will recommend a variety of diagnostic tests. This typically starts with blood tests, but may lead to advanced brain testing such as CT, MRI, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap. In the case of the latter, your vet might refer you to a veterinary neurologist. The following disorders may be the source of seizures in a dog:

Structural or developmental abnormality Reaction to toxin or allergen Systemic disorder, such as liver shunt or thyroid disease Bacterial or viral infection Brain tumor (malignant or benign) Idiopathic Epilepsy

Epilepsy is an idiopathic disease, meaning its cause is unknown. There is no specific test to diagnose epilepsy, so advanced diagnostic tests (CT, MRI, spinal tap) are recommended in order to rule out other causes for the seizures. However, a presumptive diagnosis is sometimes made when a dog fits the criteria for epilepsy. Typical onset of epilepsy is between the ages of one to five years. Breed and family history may also play a role. Though uncommon, dogs outside of this age range may still be epileptic. Many epileptic dogs will respond quite well to drug therapy, but they usually must be on medications for life.

If you suspect that your dog is having a seizure, do not panic. However, there are some steps to take.

NEXT: What To Do When Your Dog Has a Seizure

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11:22 AM by Thanapon · 0

Why is My Dog So Itchy?

Is your dog itching, scratching and chewing at his skin? Is it keeping you up at night? If so, you are not alone. Skin problems are common in dogs, but they can be caused by a variety of things. To learn how you can help your itchy dog, your best option is to figure out why he is having skin problems in the first place. Fortunately, even if you cannot get to the bottom of the itching right away, there are some things you can do to help.

Itching, medically known as pruritis, is a symptom of many different types of skin issues. Often, the itching can be traced back to some type of allergy. There are some non-allergic skin issues as well. It is up to your veterinarian to diagnose the exact cause of your dog's pruritis. Fortunately, you may be able to make certain changes to your dog's environment, lifestyle and routine care to help control the itching.

Before we talk about other allergies, we first must discuss the most common reason dogs itch: fleas. These tiny parasites can live on your dog's skin beneath the coat. Fleas survive by biting the dog and ingesting its blood. Not all dogs seem bothered by fleas. This is because some dogs are not actually allergic to fleas. However, most dogs itch when they have fleas, which means they are allergic to flea saliva. Flea allergies vary in severity. Some dogs experience only mild itching when exposed to fleas, while others develop intense itching from just a few flea bites.

Every dog should be on flea prevention. However, if you have an itchy dog, do not take any chances: make sure your dog is on the best flea prevention available all year long. Ask your veterinarian about the right flea prevention product for your dog. Fleas eventually develop immunity to flea prevention products, so new products are constantly emerging. What worked to kill fleas a few years ago might not necessarily work today.

Itching in dogs is commonly related to allergies. Flea saliva is just one of many dog allergens. Dogs can be allergic to virtually anything in the environment, such as dust mites, dander (cat, human, etc), pollen, grasses, mold spores and more. Many dogs have seasonal allergies. These are most likely caused by pollens and other outdoor allergens that change with the seasons. Dogs can also be allergic to ingredients in dog food, such as chicken, beef and various grains. Some dogs only experience mild to moderate reactions to various allergens and respond well to treatment. Others suffer from a more serious allergy condition called canine atopic dermatitis and may require more intensive therapy.

Allergies, scratching and chewing may cause inflammation, potentially leading to secondary infections (especially bacterial and yeast infections). Irritation and secondary infection can occur on the skin and feet, in the ears and even in and around the eyes. Once a skin infection occurs, the dog often needs medical treatments such as antibiotics, antifungals, steroids, topical treatments, medicated shampoos or even more. Depending on the severity of the skin infection, it may take a long time for the dog to recover. This is why it is important to communicate with your veterinarian about your dog's health. If possible, bring your dog to the vet during the early stages of itching, before the skin looks affected. Letting skin infections get out of control leads to the need for much more time and effort to treat the infection.

Your dog's itching might not be related to allergies, but to another skin condition. Parasites such as mange (demodex, scabies) may be the cause of the itching. Certain auto-immune or other metobolic conditions can cause itching as well. The treatments for these conditions are potentially much different that the treatments for allergies and secondary skin infections. This is why it is so important to visit your vet if your dog is itching persistently, has hair loss, or if the skin has an abnormal appearance (redness, scaling, flaking, bumps, etc.).

There are some ways you can help control itching and allergies in your. There are often little things you can change at home to prevent or alleviate mild itching before a secondary infection develops. Sometimes, however, you will need your veterinarian's help. Learn about the best ways to prevent and manage allergies in dogs.

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8:18 AM by Thanapon · 0

How Long Will Your Dog's Pregnancy Last?

Question: How long is a dog's pregnancy (gestation)?

Answer: Pregnancy in dogs, also called gestation, typically lasts 63 days (about nine weeks). The duration of a dog's pregnancy can fall in the range of 58 to 68 days.

Though estrus (heat cycles) can vary from breed to breed, the normal gestation period falls within the same range for all dogs, regardless of breed.

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10:22 PM by Thanapon · 0