Why is my dog aggressive to my sick dog after coming home from vet?

Unfortunately this is not unusual and it could happen as often dogs fail to show and read properly body language and facial expressions between each other when one of them is sick. Do not leave them unattended together as that could result in more and more aggression episodes. Unfortunately there is not much you can do a part from monitor them closely. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This sounds like it could be anxiety related, probably due to (or worsened by) the recent trip. Try separating them for a day or so, then taking them for a walk together. If it continues for more than a day or so, talk with your vet about anti-anxiety medications which can help tremendously with this sort of thing. Best wishes to you, Charlie, and Grey!

I'm sorry your pups have been so ill. Being sick with Parvo, being isolated and going through the treatment is very stressful on dogs. They come home from the vet smelling funny and they may still not be feeling perfectly yet. First step is to keep them apart but try to have a baby gate between them so they can see and smell each other but not reach each other. Try to give them both equal attention and love. Reintroduce slowly, maybe in a more neutral space, like the back yard. Try a product like Adaptil, which is a dog pheromone that reduces stress. You can get it in a collar or a spray (the spray you would put on a bandanna then tie around the dog's neck). This can really help to calm. Just try to be relaxed with them and give them time-- most dogs will come around once they settle back in.

Im so glad you found your dog! She may need some time to reacclimate to him. Consider having him examined by your veterinarian since he was gone so long. Afterwards a good bath and a gradual re-introduction would be recommended. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser, may decrease any anxiety or aggression associated with his return.

Dog's don't bite on accident. He bit because he was uncomfortable with the situation and sounds like he's still on high alert after the incident. I'd recommend giving him lots of space and lots of love from afar by way of tossing him special treats. Rocky may need to be separated from your other dog for a while if he can't stand you being around him. It's possible he's in some pain if one of the nails was cut too close, or that he's still upset from the fear of the nail cutting. If he doesn't calm down in a few days, I'd recommend another vet visit to discuss medications to help him calm. Wishing you the best of luck in this tricky situation.

Ruby is probably trying to become top dog as she senses that Annabelle is getting older. I would separate them to eat, and monitor them more in the yard. This can be an isolated incident or it may become serious. I reprimand Ruby if she is acting aggressive, hopefully when she is just starting. I find competing for toys and food makes this behavior worse so eliminating those things to fight about should help. Also make sure you pay attention to both. If Ruby seems aggressive I separate them and put Ruby in a crate until she calms down. While this is natural behavior it can be bad so please protect Annabelle. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Annabelle and Ruby.

Oh dear, how stressful! Unfortunately it can be common for cats to lash out when one cat in the household suddenly smells or acts different - as they tend to do when they come home from the vet. Most of the time they go back to their normal interactions once the strange smell (in this case, from the vet clinic) wears off and the cat relaxes and acts like herself....but in your case, there's nowhere for Tribble to hide and isolate herself while she readjusts to being home. The most important thing right now is to not allow them to fight or have negative interactions. As long as they can be kept separate while they both settle down, they will probably do ok - but if they continue hissing and growing, and worse yet if it escalates into a fight, that could permanently damage their relationship. I would absolutely keep them separate until they seem to be relaxing. I understand that'll be challenging in a 1 BR living space - but if possible, you could put 1 in the bathroom with her own litterbox & food, and then have them switch places tomorrow so they can get reacquainted with each other's smells. If that's not possible, you may need to crate them both while you work on their reintroduction. Perhaps you could borrow dog kennels so they can each have their own living space while they're confined. I know this isn't an easy answer - but the most important immediate intervention is to do what you need to do, to keep them from fighting while the stress levels come down! Finally, adding a pheromone diffuser such as Feliway Multicat may help promote a calming atmosphere. I hope this helps!