Hank is becoming aggressive

[hankbaby]

Over the course of the last two months Hank has started becoming somewhat aggressive. He has been on prednisone for the last 6.5 months so I think this may have something to with it from what I have read about long term pred use. Hank is 1 year old and a month and is also neutered. Over the last two months he has becoming aggresive towards other dogs. It seems to only be towards dogs that are either the same size or larger. Every time we go to the dog park he seek out a dog (different one every time) and run up on them and then attack them, and these dogs aren't doing anything and are nowhere near him. Like I said he has only started doing this in the last two months, and we can't take him to the dog park anymore because this happens every time. Also he will attack the younger newf we have at home (female 6 months) over bones. If they both get a bone and he gets done with his first he will attack her for the bone. And when I say aggressive I mean he will attack vioently and draw blood. It only at these times that he behaves like this though. He never used to do any of this until about two months ago. Does anyone have any opinions on this. I asked my vet and he believes it to prednisone related.

 

[migrandl]

Sounds like roid rage. Is there any way he can be weaned off the prednisone? Good to see that your vet believes the aggression could be related to the pred, did he offer you any solutions if Hank can't be off it? What is he taking it for? Depending on why he's on it, if there are any nearby, acupuncture could really help.

 

[ardeagold]

Yep, I'd try to see if he can be weaned off the pred if possible

And make sure you don't give bones when they're in the same place. Separate them and don't give any high value items if they're in the same room!

Keep your young dog safe, and keep Hank away from other dogs you don't know right now. And don't reach down and grab the bone yourself, unless you know he's finished and has walked away.

Best of luck with Hank. Please keep us updated.

 

[Prdmary]

Could be the meds, but I'd try to start working with a behaviorist ASAP. Don't wait around thinking it will get better.....

 

[noblenewf]

Definitely could be the steroids! I see what they do to people! Completely different personalities! I'd wean him off ASAP and get him to a behaviorist. I would not feed him or give him bones unless he is crated or separated from your other dog- and no more interaction with other dogs until his behavior becomes more predictable. This is an urgent issue as he could hurt someone or another dog terribly. Good luck.

 

[Lori]

I would also get his thyroid tested.

 

[Newfs Forever]

I had my late Dexter on natural hydrochortisone (sp?). While on it, he bit 2 puppies, he was hyper beyond belief. It really changed his personality. Needless to say, when we realized what was causing his total change in personality, we weaned him right off it.

Keep us posted!

 

[dannyra]

No eye contact, no posturing, no loud voices. Make sure everything is in it's place. Trying to think of anything else I do when my wife's on prednisone.

 

[noblenewf]

No eye contact, no posturing, no loud voices. Make sure everything is in it's place. Trying to think of anything else I do when my wife's on prednisone.

:!rolling:

 

[hankbaby]

The thing is we can't take him off of the prednisone. He has imha and without it he will die. We tried to ween him off (very gradually of course) and his red blood cell and hemoglobin counts began to fall rapidly. So his dosage increased back up (60 mg) and then we tried only 20 mg a day and his counts only dropped a couple percent and then two weeks later his counts dropped almost 9%. we have his dosage at 40 mg a day right now and his count after 2 weeks on 40 mg is back up to 35%. so we can't take him off of it probably ever and 20 mg wasn't enough to keep in an immunosuppressive state. I just hope his aggression doesn't start to get worse. Trust I wish we could take him off of the prednisone.

 

[ardeagold]

Could you ask your Vet to do some research and see if there's anything else you could try?? Perhaps there's something else out there that will help.

 

[hankbaby]

I am wondering if behavioralist would be worth it if the meds are causing it.

 

[ardeagold]

I'm not sure a behaviorist can overcome physically/chemically induced behavior, but you could talk to a few and see what they say.

Also, make sure the behaviorist is highly recommended by people you know. There are some out there that aren't so great, like anything else.

 

[hankbaby]

We've researched many things and unfortunately all the drugs used for treatment of this disease all come with serious side effects and the costs of the other drugs is too much for me to afford. Right now the cost of pred+vet visit+blood panel is costing 100 monthly. The cost of the other drugs and there monitoring are 2-3 times that amount. Unfortunately there is high mortality rate with this disesase and the average life expectancy is 2-4 years.

 

[4ondafloor]

First, I'd protect that pup! No more free feeding of bones. No more free feeding anything.
Second, You need to modify your routine as stated above.
Donna (Ardeagold) can give you sound, sound advice on dealing with aggressive newf behavior. Listen to her and heed. She knows what she's talking about.
There are plenty of places to go besides a dog park. Socialization can be done without all the hormones of males both neutered and intact. UGH..we don't do dog parks and ours get socialized plenty.
What do you do when it happens? When he attacks I mean? How do you react?

 

[ardeagold]

Donna (Ardeagold) can give you sound, sound advice on dealing with aggressive newf behavior. Listen to her and heed. She knows what she's talking about.

Thanks Debra, but I've never had or met an aggressive Newf. LOL It's just "dog" behavior that I've had a lot of experience with Sometimes aggression isn't. It's expected, normal behavior dog if you examine the circumstances. The key is learning how to handle various situations and be able to read dog body language.

But in this instance, it definitely sounds like aggression (at the dog park and with other dogs), probably chemically-induced, and the important thing is to limit exposure to the triggers as much as possible. A behaviorist could help with this.

Wishing you nothing but good luck with Hank and the future.

 

[JackandKelly]

I know nothing about this, but will something like puppy prozac help since it is a chemical issue?

 

[hankbaby]

I am no stranger to dog aggression, I owned 3 Akitas prior to deciding on a Newfoundland. I look for his body language to try and prevent it from happening such as staring down another dog, hair raised on back, tail up and stiff, etc. When he attacks I use a stern deep voice and say no and get in there and pull him off of the other dog and and then put him on his back and hold there and growl at him till he relaxs his body and calms down. He was and has been plenty socialized prior to dog parks. The reason we started taking him to dog parks was to give the chance to run around and interact with other dogs. He had been going to the dog prk since he was 5 months old and he is 1 and almost 2 months old. It wasn't until about 2-2 1/2 months he started this behavior and when he started this behaviour he had been on prednisone for about 4 months at this point.

 

[Garden_girl]

I kind of get the feeling from your last sentence that you don't believe the aggression is entirely caused by the pred? Have you talked with your Vet about the aggression and I hate to suggest it-but is there a possibility that he could prescribe something for the aggression? I feel so bad for Hank & you.

 

[ardeagold]

I owned 3 Akitas prior to deciding on a Newfoundland

Yep, I'd say you're probably very aware of a dog's body language especially an aggressive posture!

I just hope you can find something that will help to offset what's going on. I know you're worried about him in so many areas.