Heeding the Signs of Dog Arthritis and Aggression

Dog aggression is a very serious problem for which large number of dogs are euthanized annually. Some of these dogs are showing aggressive behavior due to the pain of dog arthritis and these deaths can sometimes be avoided if we are aware of the signs of dog arthritis and aggression.

Heed the Signs  

A  big problem is that dogs do not show pain well, especially the chronic pain of dog arthritis. If you notice any of the following warning signs in your dog, you may be able to detect the onset of dog arthritis and take the very crucial steps of early intervention:

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   Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump, or play  
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   Limping  
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   Yelping or whimpering when touched  
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   Lagging behind on walks  
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   Difficulty rising from a resting position  
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   Stiffness when rising from rest  
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   A personality change  
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   Resisting touch  
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   Out of character snapping and biting aggressively

As with humans, pain is a major influencing factor on mood or temperament in animals. These results contribute to some animals being tagged as aggressive‚ or as a problem animal, when in reality they are just reacting to the pain.

If your dog is suffering from arthritis, he may respond with signs of defensive aggression when being touched or handled. Even long after successful treatment, a conditioned response may remain (learned defensive aggression) even though the pain has been eliminated completely.

Solutions 

The elimination of discomfort and pain is a major step in solving the condition causing the aggression. If suspicious of dog arthritis, your veterinarian will suggest some treatments including anti-inflammatory medications, along with surgery, physical therapy and analgesics.

It is also sensible for the dog owner to keep a detailed and updated journal of the dog’s abnormal behaviors, noting the time, frequencies and outcome of the events.  

Erring on the side of caution is reasonable and sensible: keep very young children away from a sick animal and teach older children not to disturb, touch or surprise a resting animal.  Adults should as well take care when in the company of a dog that is unwell and in pain.

Euthanasia (death) is sometimes the answer to a serious behavioral problem, but it is not the first action. A vet will consider other ways to resolve the behavioral issues, but ultimately the final decision will rest with you.

Your veterinarian can perform a comprehensive health check, and offer the best  solutions if dog arthritis is the problem of your dog’s aggression.