Medical causes of aggressive behavior

[Chris Wild]

Occasionally aggressive behavior is not a result of personality, lack of training or socialization, but is in fact a medical issue that can be treated. Medical issues should always be considered, especially if the aggressive behavior is a new development in a previously mild mannered dog.

Some links to provide additional info:

http://www.akitarescue.com/aggressi.htm

http://doglinks.co.nz/health/aggr_theroid.htm

http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/DODDS-BEHV-THYROID.HTM

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Another one-
http://www.k9aggression.com

Good thread!

[blackbirdzach]

Thanks for the links! That'll give me some new reading material while bunsiess is slow.

[Kayos and Havoc]

Me too.....

[Kayos and Havoc]

Just read this......

This fits Max to a T. I never consider hypothyroidism because he does not have typical thyroid sx (dry skin, wt gain etc).

Going to have this checked!!

[pupresq]

Great info!

We actually went through this with Grace - she presented with greasy skin, poor coat, itchy skin, change in behavior (extreme agitation, irritation) but also ravenous appetite and dramatic weight loss in spite of the fact that we were shoveling tons of premium food into her.

Her thyroid tests came back within the normal range and we never questioned it because everything we saw on thyroid issues in dogs talked about lethergy and weight gain which was totally opposite of what we were seeing.

After a zillion inclonclusive tests and an ultrasound of her abdomen, the clinic ended up saying they suspected food allergy and bowel inflamation. Lots of meds and special diets later, she improved but wasn't 100 percent. Much later, tests indicated thyroid problems!

Bottom line - the medical profession is still learning the role of these horomones. You can't even rely on the tests to tell you conclusively what's going on. I wish I'd seen these articles when we were going through it!

[LisaT]

Our boy had a good coat, he was skinny, and hyper -- he had low-normal T4, low T3, and also was TgAA positive (so autoimmune thyroiditis), which means that his thyroid was probably on it's way to dying out. I had to leave a vet because he wouldn't treat a low-normal thyroid dog. Once treatment started, there was a definite calming behaviour.

[Qyn]

Originally Posted By: JeanKBBMMMAANAnother one-
http://www.k9aggression.com

Good thread!

Thanks, Jean

This site has some great information for agression within the home

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Med...cle/detail/8417

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm...l.jsp?id=17521


And elsewhere - definitely worth researching.

[xwildman138x]

I'm off to the vet this describes Baron to a T.

[Lauri & The Gang]

Just adding more info I've found on the 'net:


http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-...andthyroid.htm

Quote:
Tables 1 and 2 summarize results of complete thyroid diagnostic profiling on 634 canine cases of aberrant behavior, compiled by the authors in collaboration with Drs. Nicholas Dodman, and Jean DeNapoli of Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA.

*Ninety percent (568 dogs) were purebreds and 10% were mixed breeds.

*There was no sex predilection found in this case cohort, whether or not the animals were intact or neutered.

*63% had thyroid dysfunction as judged by finding 3 or more abnormal results on the comprehensive thyroid profile

*The major categories of aberrant behavior were: aggression (40% of cases), seizures (30%), fearfulness (9%), and hyperactivity (7%); some dogs exhibited more than 1 of these behaviors.

*Thyroid dysfunction was found in 62% of the aggressive dogs, 77% of seizuring dogs, 47% of fearful dogs, and 31% of hyperactive dogs.

*Outcomes of treatment intervention with standard twice daily doses of thyroid replacement were evaluated in 95 cases. Of these, 58 dogs had greater than 50% improvement in their behavior as judged by a predefined 6-point subjective scale (34 were improved >75%), and another 23 dogs had >25 but <50% improvement. Only 10 dogs experienced no appreciable change, and 2 dogs had a worsening of their behavior. When compared to 20 cases of dominance aggression treated with conventional behavioral or other habit modification over the same time period, only 11 dogs improved >25% and of the remaining 9 cases, 3 failed to improve and 3 were euthanized or placed in another home. These initial results are so promising that complete thyroid diagnostic profiling and treatment with thyroid supplement, where indicated, is warranted for all cases presenting with aberrant behavior.

Dr. Dodds on Thyroid Disease:

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/Dodds%20on%20thyroid.pdf

Quote:
An association between behavioral and psychologic changes and thyroid dysfunction has been recognized in humans since the 19th century. In a recent study, 66% of people with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder were found to be hypothyroid, and supplementing their thyroid levels was largely curative. Furthermore, an association has recently been established between aberrant behavior and thyroid dysfunction in the dog, and has been noticed in cats with hyperthyroidism.