Is my Dog Potentially Dangerous - What Should i do

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Andalusianlover1

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Hi there.

Had another incident this weekend and I dont know what to do. My dalmation is almost 13 years old. His temperament unfortunately has been slightly suspect and he has some fear agression issues. Other than that he is a wonderful big stupid loyal and loving dog. I hasten to add, none of his problems have been with humans, just other dogs.

It was confirmes a few months ago that he has issues with his front legs so is constantly on Metacam.

I had to take him to the vets on saturday as he'd been sick and his poo had gone black. Vet has put him on different pain medication and something to help his tummy recover. About 2 hours after we returned home he had a disagreement with one of my 3 little JR and he picked her up and shook her resulting in a couple of puncture wounds and an emergency out of hours visit to the vets.

Unfortunately this is the third time in 12 months this has happened to Lulu, she is the only one of the three that stands up to him.

Its difficult in my house to separate them and these incidents can come out of the blue for no reason whatsoever.

He makes a beeline for one of my other Jacks for no reason at all when he gets grumpy but he stays well clear of him.

This is really worrying me and I dont know what to do for the best.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
My dog is agressive to other but we just muzzle her but she fine with my other dog, I guess muzzling in the house all the time might be difficult but maybe your only choice..???
 
What did the vet say? Hate to say it but at his age is it likely he could be getting dementia? One of our great danes went a bit odd towards the end bless him.....hugs though, it's obviously worrying.
 
has you dalmation suddenly changed? or has he always been a bit "dodgy" sounds like there is an underlining problem if he has only been recently. How you spoken to your vet about change in behaviour? Having said that, I have jacks and they can be pain in the necks some times, I know mine can and wind up my borzoi. You boy might be in so much pain the thought of another dog messing about just upsets him too much. I am so sorry for you, it is a difficult situation to be, 13 is a great age for a dalmation. Good luck
 
dressagedreamer said:
has you dalmation suddenly changed? or has he always been a bit "dodgy" sounds like there is an underlining problem if he has only been recent


Unfortunately he's always been a bit "dodgy" but the picking up and shaking the little ones problem has definately intensified in the last 12 months.

My old dally who was very sadly PTS in April at the grand old age of 14 was also often on the wrong end of Cecils issues.

I just worry that at some point he will get hold of one of the little ones in the wrong place and it will be curtains.

He's on pain medication but both dogs are back at the vets tomorrow so will see what the vet thinks.

Its like living on a knife edge with him, bless him
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His moods may be worsened by whatever pain he might be in, sensory loss (eyesight, hearing) or as mentioned, dementia. Agree 13 is a good age for a dog of his size and breed, may be time to think about whether he is happy in himself x
 
Andalusianlover1 said:
dressagedreamer said:
has you dalmation suddenly changed? or has he always been a bit "dodgy" sounds like there is an underlining problem if he has only been recent


Unfortunately he's always been a bit "dodgy" but the picking up and shaking the little ones problem has definately intensified in the last 12 months.

My old dally who was very sadly PTS in April at the grand old age of 14 was also often on the wrong end of Cecils issues.

I just worry that at some point he will get hold of one of the little ones in the wrong place and it will be curtains.

He's on pain medication but both dogs are back at the vets tomorrow so will see what the vet thinks.

Its like living on a knife edge with him, bless him
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I am really sorry to be blunt, but I would probably have him put to sleep. It sounds as though he is not a happy chap. Often dogs that are in pain will act out of character. I really think that in his case it would be the kindest thing. If you don't do anything (muzzling is a good idea but will likely make him even more unhappy) you may end up with a dead Lulu. My mini JR was picked up and shaken by one of our pyrenean mountain dogs. She suffered two punctured lungs and was in intensive care at the vets for a week. In her case she was the aggressor and had been ragging the pyrenean any chance she got, which wasn't often because we tried to keep them separate, but this one day she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and the pyrenean bitch just snapped. We now ensure that they never meet. Luckily, our pyreneans are outdoor dogs and the JRs are indoor, so it is slightly easier.
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oh dear what a difficult situation you find your self in. Have you considered finding someone to foster your little dog until the dalmation crosses the bridge and then you can have the little dog back home, a family member or very close friend maybe?
 
What a horrible situation to be in, it does sound like its pain related and probabley dementia. It would also worry me that his poo has gone black which could indicate that something is going on inside and he is having some sort of blood loss.

The worse scenario is he is going to kill Lulu and given your Dallys age is it worth the risk, if he was my dog Im afraid I would pts.
 
Wagtail said:
Andalusianlover1 said:
I am really sorry to be blunt, but I would probably have him put to sleep. It sounds as though he is not a happy chap. Often dogs that are in pain will act out of character. I really think that in his case it would be the kindest thing. If you don't do anything (muzzling is a good idea but will likely make him even more unhappy) you may end up with a dead Lulu.
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I have to say deep down I kind of agree with this ^^^^... 13 is a grand age and if he is showing these aggressive tendancies to the smaller dogs, then id be affraid of him progressing onto humans. Unfortunately you know he is pain, but to what extent youll never know as he cant tell you. When animals are in pain they do tend to start to act differently but id be really worried about him attacking the other dogs. How much do you trust him now not to do it again or even make the mistake of biting you or a family member?

Muzzling him in the house all the time will make him more unhappy.:(
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Thanks everybody. Your opinions have helped a great deal. I've been leaning towards the thought of having him PTS as when I look at his behaviour in general he probably isnt very happy anymore. Unless your next to him on the sofa, he's always up and down, up and down whining and looking for my lodger upstairs etc, perhaps its the kindest thing thing for him.

The only problem would be my guilt. I love him to death, he is my big beautiful stupid boy, I dont know if I'd ever be able to forgive myself as he seems healthy (if you know what I mean). My old dally who went over rainbow bridge in april couldnt get up without help any more so I knew that was the right decision. He is getting a little scary though!

Yesterday I told a girl at the yard that she was giving her horse far too much unsoaked hay and he is on box rest with bad lami! The moral here is maybe I should take a bit of my own medicine.

Thanks all. You've been really nice about all this.
 
I agree with the pts comments. as difficult as it is, its better a week too soon than a day too late

if hes relivivly happy now....let him go. 13 is a brilliant age :) *hugs*

been where you have been twice in 2 years. not an easy thing to do.
 
My old dally who went over rainbow bridge in april couldnt get up without help any more so I knew that was the right decision
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No need to allow this dog to get to this stage. He sounds desperately unhappy, in pain and dangerous (to your other dogs). I would have him put down.
 
The main problem here seems to be a Pack issue: i.e. your oldie is obviously now feeling insecure as he's no longer the Pack Leader and it is this which is maybe the prime reason for him going for the other dogs in the pack. He's trying to assert his dominance and senses that he's no longer the Alpha Dog.

Also the pain & medication will no doubt be contributing.

Can you isolate him at all??? Not that that will make him any happier coz it won't, it may in fact stress him out, but it just might be a temporary fix until you can think out what to do.

If he's a happy dog and enjoying life relatively pain-free it seems an awful shame to PTS; to me at least while there's life there's hope, BUT then again you have to bear in mind the welfare of your other dogs and you are obviously afraid that one more attack will be one too many and you can't run that risk.

Its an awful situation, and one I would hate to have to deal with: but just wonder whether before you make the PTS decision there may be some other way to deal with his behaviour. I know you can get dog pens (a bit like kiddie pens basically) which may be a solution? That way, he'd be with the other dogs and know they're around (and vice versa) but he wouldn't be able to physically get out and attack???

Just a thought anyway.
 
Metacam is hard on the stomach and can cause bleeds,which is what is happening.He is in pain,no doubt about it in my mind,hence the short temper and restlessness.A constant stomach ache is debilitating ,and I would not go on..there does`nt seem much prospect of life being fun anymore .
 
Mijods, with the best will in the world, I don't think any of us can say what is 'obvious' about this situation, not being able to see it with our own eyes, but I will respectfully disagree in that IMO this has gone way beyond pack theory/leadership/dominance/Alpha dog issues.
 
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I am going with the majority here and would say I think he sounds as if he is unhappy and uncomfortable. Whereas I am all for crate/pen training a younger dog, a dog of his age would struggle to understand why he was suddenly being confined. I know its a horrible decision but in your shoes I would pts, he is a good age and his quality of life is only going to deriorate.:(
 
Dobermanns cant have Metacam for the very same reason, I wonder if this is the same with this dog as he has been passing black poo which is usually indictive of old blood. I was surprised the vet hadnt picked up on it.
 
"The only problem would be my guilt. I love him to death, he is my big beautiful stupid boy, I dont know if I'd ever be able to forgive myself as he seems healthy (if you know what I mean). My old dally who went over rainbow bridge in april couldnt get up without help any more so I knew that was the right decision. He is getting a little scary though!"

Yesterday I told a girl at the yard that she was giving her horse far too much unsoaked hay and he is on box rest with bad lami! The moral here is maybe I should take a bit of my own medicine.

Thanks all. You've been really nice about all this.[/QUOTE]

You should not feel guilty, it is our ultimate responsibility with any domesticated animal to know when the time is right. He sounds a very unhappy old boy, regardless of how he looks. How guilty will you feel if he really hurts or kills one of your other dogs or has a go at you or your lodger. Don't let it get that stage as you don't want to be remembering him in that way.
 
Dobiegirl said:
Dobermanns cant have Metacam for the very same reason, I wonder if this is the same with this dog as he has been passing black poo which is usually indictive of old blood. I was surprised the vet hadnt picked up on it.
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I had him to the vets as soon as he started being sick and pooing black. He's been taken off Metacam given some medicine for his stomach and Tramadol for his pain relief, so far no change.
 
I had my mum's old cat of 24 put down in March this year. She had developed feline dementia and would wander round wailing when she couldn't find anyone. One dangerous thing she did do was wee on the plug extension which was connected to the gecko's tanks so even though she didn't develop aggression, she did do something which could endanger her/the gecko's lives.
 
I have to agree with CC. He doesn't sound happy, or comfortable. Sometiems it's only when you write these things down that you realise how things have deteriorated. He might be physically ok, but if he's mentally not ok, he will still be distressed. He can't rationalise what's happening to him, he can only live in the here and now - and here and now, he does not sound happy from what you write (although of course only you really know him and I can't see him any more than anyone else can).

Sorry about this, I know it's hard:(
 
Our 16 year old labs who had congestive heart failure, couldn't settle and started to become aggressive towards us at times. that's when we made the decision to pts. very hard to do, but I know it was in his best interests.
 
You shouldnt feel guilty PTS in this scenario, he is old and unhappy and medication is making him poorly.

Imagine your much worse feeling of guilt if you do nothing and Lulu is killed by him? not being melodramatic but it sounds a real possibility.

If he were happy or younger that would be different but the story only has one end, whether you step in or not.

In the scenario you describe, I would call a halt for your sake and that of Lulu, but also for his sake.
 
Poor old boy. He sounds like our old black lab, who was PTS last year at 16yrs old. She was unsettled when not sitting near someone and was definintly starting to become demented. She was grumpier too (althought would NEVER have considered snapping at a human) and was less tolerate of other dogs annoying her. She was never aggressive but not particularly interested in other dogs, even as a youngster, and would snap at them if they annoyed her (would have just ignored them previously).


dressagedreamer said:
oh dear what a difficult situation you find your self in. Have you considered finding someone to foster your little dog until the dalmation crosses the bridge and then you can have the little dog back home, a family member or very close friend maybe?
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This might be a nice idea? I don't blame him for disliking the jackrats (not a Small Dog person in the slightest! :o ) and they're probably making his stressed and anxious (esp as he's becoming more vulnerable).

Could you farm the little dogs out to your parents or someone for a couple of months? It sadly does sounds like your old boy doesn't have long left but it would make his time more enjoyable, give you more time to spend with him and take pressue off you to make a quick decisions?
 
I agree with the masses:p he does sound more intollerant than he usually is, even then it does not sound like a leadership thing as suggested, he just sounds like he is typically grumpy with the other dogs at times as not all dogs love and tolerate other dogs around them, they love their own company and it does not make them dominant/typically aggressive) and even more so now when in discomfort and dealing with drugs in his system, even us humans get tempered, snappy during illness and being drug induced and dogs are no different only you see it more in actions because they can't very well say "what the hell is this ****** in my system anyways and why did I feel this way":(
I would try and keep him as stress free and comfortable as possible and always put the little ones in a secure place away from him when you are not around to safe guard them and when you are there by al means stick to the same routines but be aware of his triggers. My old whippet often lost her blob with the others for what seemed like nothing at times:D I always made sure she had peace and quiet and that the youngsters where not in her face, banging into her and she got most of my time in t he end and more privelages than the rest but she was old and not long for this world. As suggested when the time comes and not just physically but metally, let him go sooner rather than than later.
 
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