My dog is aggressive and itching after neutering. What can I do?

Hi there. Jack may be suffering from allergies. Allergies can be due to food and environmental allergens, so he does not have to be infested with fleas to be itchy. He could also be having problems with his anal glands or biting at himself because of pain. I recommend taking him to the veterinarian so he can get a full check up. The vet will probably be able to give you some medications or recommendations to help Jack feel better. Hope this helps!

It sounds like Milo could be very itchy, which is causing him to gnaw on his back. In order to keep him from going at himself, the cause of the itchiness needs to be diagnosed. It could be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, I can give you one for him. First, I would give him Capstar. It's a one time pill that starts killing fleas within 30 minutes. Then follow up with a spot on treatment, such as Advantage or Revolution. This is a treatment that has to be used once a month. You will also have to disinfect the environment. Wash his bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. If he is up to date on his flea treatment, I recommend taking him into the vet for an exam today or tomorrow. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. Keep the cone on him until you can get him in to see the vet. You can also try an oatmeal bath to see if that temporarily relieves his discomfort. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Without being able to observe the behavior, it's impossible to know if this is true aggression or if this is play behavior. True canine aggression is a complex behavior as it can stem from dominance, possessiveness, fear, anxiety, resource guarding or a combination. Unless you are very familiar with reading canine body language and training, I recommend to work with a professional trainer. Researching on your own will also be helpful. Familiarizing yourself with canine body language and dog training can help you to recognize what your pet is trying to say. You can find many books written on the topic and there is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who I think is particularly helpful. Rough play is a completely different behavior and will not generally be affected by neutering. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Ouch, poor Bobby's skin looks so irritated! If you are sure he doesn't have fleas, then other causes of this incessant bleeding include allergies, mites, or ringworm. Without seeing him in person, I can't say for certain what is causing this itching, but he should see a vet for it in the morning. The vet can diagnose the cause of his itching so he can be treated. I would also be concerned he has a secondary bacterial infection due to the trauma to his skin, and that needs to be treated as well by the vet.

Hi, neutering might not be the answer as some dogs get even more aggressive after neutering. I would recommend to find an association that will take him over and is able to work on his behaviour prior to rehoming. Unfortunately it takes a lot of money and time to do this on your own and your risk of getting bitten in the meantime is high. Hopefully you will find a solution that it’s helpful for everyone.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Boris. It could be his bum area is itchy causing this behavior. This may be due to intestinal worms or his anal sacs may be impacted. I would have him seen by a vet for this in the morning. I hope this helps!

Good morning! It is concerning that Bongo is able to reach his stitches to lick them. I recommend purchasing an Elizabethan collar (soft or hard cone shaped collar) or inflatable donut shaped collar immediately to prevent him from being able to lick his incision site. It is recommended to bring him back to your veterinarian to have his incision checked to make sure he has not removed any of his sutures and that his incision has not become inflamed/infected from him licking. Another potential complication includes Bongo developing a scrotal hematoma if he is too active during recovery. It sounds as though your veterinarian can revisit the need for pain medication/additional pain medication +/- a mild sedative during recovery +/- antibiotics during recovery pending the appearance of his incision. The only acceptable table food for dogs (that won't inadvertently cause pancreatitis) is plain unseasoned boiled rice and chicken which can be given during recovery from surgery (or firings recovery from episodes of vomiting/diarrhea). I would recommend placing an e-collar on Bongo, offering plain boiled rice and chicken and calling your veterinarian to schedule a consult to be sure that the incision looks clean/dry and does not need repair. Definitely be cautious and exert necessary precautions to avoid anyone getting bit! Best of luck!