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Aggression, Dog 41

metabolites and may excrete metabolites of clients can learn to call the dog to them and
Clinical Presentation excitatory neurotransmitters in their urine. teach the dog, with positive reinforcement,
DISEASE FORMS/SUBTYPES
VetBooks.ir Victim/target (e.g., human directed vs. animal • Amygdala, caudate nuclei, and frontal cortex to offer behaviors that are appropriate (e.g., Diseases and Disorders
teaching the dog to lift its head/neck for a
implicated in the cognitive component
involving when and how to react
directed) approach is limited; prefer functional
collar to be slipped on).
approach (see below)
Five commonly encountered types of DIAGNOSIS • For fear aggression, the dog should feel
protected. Do not continue to expose the
pathologic aggression: dog to the feared trigger, thinking the dog
• Impulse-control/aggression: can involve dog’s Diagnostic Overview will “get used to it”; usually, the dog will
growling, baring teeth, staring, and/or biting, The diagnosis is entirely based on history and only suffer and become worse.
especially in response to certain human pattern of aggressive behavior; a complete • For interdog aggression, separate the dogs
behaviors (e.g., staring at dog, reaching history is necessary to identify features that when not supervised. A video of the dogs
toward or over dog, punishment). optimize treatment and prognosis. when they are not fighting reveals body
• Fear aggression: characterized by dog’s postures and signals indicating which dog
trembling; growling, barking, or snapping Differential Diagnosis is the aggressor; this dog must be prevented
while backing up; cowering; possibly biting Primary neurologic disease (encephalitis, adverse from actively or passively threatening other
from behind and running away. The fearful medication reaction). Brain mass/neoplasm is dogs.
dog, even when aggressive, is signaling a an uncommon cause for aggression. • For food-related aggression, if the food over
desire to increase its distance from the target which the dog is aggressive is a food toy (e.g.,
of aggression. Initial Database treat cube, rawhide), remove it from the dog’s
• Interdog aggression: characterized by dog CBC, serum biochemistry profile, and urinalysis repertoire. If the dog is aggressive over meals,
making threats, staring, and challenges that to rule out underlying medical conditions and feed the dog separately behind a locked door,
are not normal and occur despite the response contraindications for psychotropic medication. and do not take the food dish until the dog
of the dog receiving these signals. Usually Generally unremarkable is out of the room and otherwise focused.
male-male or female-female. May be neuter- If children are in the household, dogs and
responsive in males that fight with non- Advanced or Confirmatory Testing children must always eat separately.
household members. Not all aggressive A video recording of the dog’s behavior can • Do not kennel, crate, tie, chain, or put
behaviors that dogs exhibit toward each provide essential information to distinguish aggressive dogs in a run if they can be
other are pathologic (consult veterinarian/ between forms of aggression. Provocative testing approached and harassed or if it makes them
behaviorist). leads to false-positives and enhanced risk. more reactive.
• Protective/territorial aggression: characterized • If the client is thinking of euthanizing the
by dog’s barking, growling, snarling, biting TREATMENT dog or is afraid of living with the dog,
to protect stationary (e.g., house) or mobile consider boarding the dog for a week so the
(e.g., car) property. Worse with discrete Treatment Overview client can make an informed, nonimpulsive
boundaries (e.g., fence). Not aggressive away Treatment goals: decision. The vast majority of these dogs
from territory. May be normal and/or • Abort the exhibition of aggressive behaviors improve dramatically when clients under-
encouraged. to render the dog safer and prevent the dog stand triggers for biting.
• Food-related aggression: characterized by from learning to be more aggressive.
growling when eating if approached (even • Enhance public/familial safety and emotional Chronic Treatment
from far away), biting if food/treat is thought bonds with the dog. • Dogs should be taught to sit and relax while
to be threatened. This does not include mild • Alleviate or prevent anxiety underlying the making eye contact with the clients as a
grumbling that can occur between dogs as aggression. preferred default/substitute behavior when
part of normal canine behavior. This is the • Render the dog happier by meeting its needs; the dog encounters a situation about which
most easily managed of these pathologic this may mean that there are certain circum- it is anxious or unsure.
aggressions. stances in which these patients should never • Systematic desensitization can be used if
be placed. the triggers can be safely identified and
HISTORY, CHIEF COMPLAINT • Aggression involves a set of rules that allows manipulated.
• Early signs are often not noticed by clients the dog to cope with what it perceives to be • Head collars can be used indoors/outdoors,
and must be specifically screened for by an uncertain world and is ideally suited to allowing a dog’s mouth to be humanely
veterinarians. treatment by substituting a more humane closed while behavior is redirected in a way
• Biting, growling, snarling, lip lifting, snap- set of rules that helps make the world more that mimics normal dog signaling.
ping, staring, and body posturing (e.g., predictable to the dog. • More specific behavior modification designed
blocking of access) are common early signs to teach the dog to trust the client and take
of aggression. Acute General Treatment cues about the appropriateness of their behav-
• Abuse, neglect, or lack of socialization seldom • The key to keeping clients and dogs safe is ior should be coupled with medications:
factor into histories of true pathologic to avoid all known provocative circumstances, ○ Amitriptyline (tricyclic antidepressant
aggression, with the exception of food-related even if humans must alter their behavior [TCA]): 1-2 mg/kg PO q 12h × 30 days
aggression that may have hormonal and (applies to all forms of aggression). If the to start, or
epigenetic associations with heightened dog becomes reactive, ignore/avoid/contain ○ Fluoxetine (selective serotonin reuptake
reactivity/arousal. it until the situation calms. inhibitor [SSRI]): 1 mg/kg PO q 24h ×
• Physical punishment/threats/discipline are 60 days to start, or
PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS strictly contraindicated—they intensify ○ Clomipramine (TCA): up to 3 mg/kg PO
Exam is almost always unremarkable, barring pathologic aggression. q 12h × 60 days
dog bite wounds in interdog aggression. • The trigger in impulse-control aggression is ○ Combinations of lower doses of amitrip-
about the dog’s perception of or response to tyline and fluoxetine (synergistic)
Etiology and Pathophysiology humans who exhibit any type of action ○ Benzodiazepines are thought to disin-
Dogs with impulse-control aggression may have associated with control (e.g., reaching for hibit such dogs, but they actually only
abnormal levels of cerebrospinal neurochemical the dog). Instead of reaching for the dog, disinhibit inhibited aggressions, an effect

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