My aggressive dog bites. Should I talk to a vet before euthanasia?

Hi there, thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is a big question, and I encourage you to schedule a consultation with your vet to discuss the situation and potential options more fully. However, from the brief description, I think euthanasia may be a valid option in this case. Hope this helps.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem with Zeus! Owner-directed aggression is a complex behavioral issue that we really can't evaluate properly in a forum like this, so I would recommend getting in touch with a canine behaviorist in your area who can evaluate Zeus in person. He/she can give you a realistic assessment of your options (keeping Zeus and working with him vs. euthanasia), and will help you put together a detailed plan to work on his aggressive behavior if you decide to keep him. More information on finding a qualified expert in your area can be found here: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/findabehaviourist

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry for Lucy's troubles. As dogs age, they do seem to sometimes become more anxious with the world around them. Diminished senses, such as sight & hearing, & chronic pain from osteoarthritis would make anyone grumpy. Is she ready to be euthanized? If she is a danger to anyone, then yes, but with a little more care & considerations, she might be OK. Never leave her where unsupervised children will be, & put her up when non-family will be around. Make sure any underlying disease or osteoarthritis is addressed with the proper medications. Calming pheromone sprays can reduce anxiety ( Adaptil ). Any dog can develop aggression as they get older, but I do not see more retrievers with this any other breed. If you can take some precautions, then I would see how Lucy does, but if this is a severe change in her disposition, then there may indeed be something more serious going on. I hope this helps in your decision. Take care.

No, euthanasia is not the only option for Reo. I would recommend speaking to your vet about enrolling him in with a professional behavioral expert. Sometimes aggression can be trained, and I would give him that chance first before putting him to sleep. I would also recommend neutering him, as that can reduce some aggressive behaviors as well.

I'm so sorry that you're in this position! Behavior problems like this can be heartbreaking for everyone involved, and you're correct that the unpredictable nature of the aggression makes Jack much more dangerous to manage. I do believe that euthanasia can be a reasonable option in cases like these, even though this decision may be very difficult. If you want a professional opinion to help you make a decision, I would recommend consulting with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Jack in person. He/she can give you a much better idea of the risks involved in working with him and trying to manage him safely, as well as an opinion on the prognosis for significant improvement. Your vet should be able to help you find the nearest veterinary specialist in this field, generally at a referral center or teaching hospital, if this is something that you decide you want to do.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Maila. I recommend setting up a consultation with her veterinarian. It is important to discuss her behavior and any treatment options. She may do well on an anxiety medication or an antidepressant. However, this depends on her aggression. If there is a risk of her harming someone, euthanasia may be the best option. These are hard decisions. I hope this information helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry to hear about Blue, but you are not alone! This type of behavior is usually related to fear - fear that is so extreme that the pet has no choice but fight or flight. It often leads to aggression. The bad news is that an expensive trainer may not be able to help Blue anyways because her fear level is so high. The good news is that there are several great anti-anxiety medications that can make a HUGE difference in Blue's life. Not only will they reduce fear (and therefore aggression), but they will make whatever training you try MUCH more effective. (Pets cannot learn when they are scared). My favorites are amitiptyline and trazadone, but there are others available. Talk to your vet about what is available and reasonable to try for Blue. I hope this helps and best of luck to you and Blue!