Why is my senior dog biting after back surgery? Is she in pain?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The signs you are describing sounds like Koko is having some lower back pain. This can be caused by a herniated disc, infection of the vertebra, or inflammation of the spinal cord. Your vet can perform x-rays, and refer you to a specialty hospital that can perform specialized imaging such as a CT scan or a spinal fluid tap to further distinguish what can be going on. In the meantime, I recommend trying to keep Koko as calm and quiet as possible and avoiding her jumping up/down from surfaces. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Poor thing. My two top would be that he was really sore before and/or after the surgery and remembers that being traumatic. Fear-based aggression is very common in dogs. Your comment that he seems worse than before the surgery makes me think perhaps he never loved having his feet touched, and if that's the cause, having an injury could have caused him to think "see, I was right! awful things happen when people touch my feet!" even though I'm assuming the injury itself was unrelated to a person. Since he's gotten to the point of biting, I would recommend talking with his vet about some medications (such a prozac and/or trazodone and gabapentin) to help him calm and then working with a very qualified trainer on desensitizing him to having people touch him. I would also recommend never letting kids interact with him until he's more comfortable, so that no one is in danger. Good luck with this very difficult problem.

How long ago was it when she was spayed? If it was very recent, is she on pain meds? If not then I would recommend discussing this with your veterinarian and see if they can put her on some type of pain medication. If it wasn't within the last week then it most likely has nothing to do with pain related to the spay and there may be something more going on which would require a vet visit and potentially a trainer. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is always difficult when this happens. First step is taking her to a veterinarian to make sure she is healthy. Before you can say it is behavioral I would make sure to rule out medical. Often older dogs suffer from arthritis and can make them painful which can cause biting. I would start with a good check up and addressing pain if needed. Hope that helps

The sudden temperament change can be due to stress from a new baby or maybe an indication of pain or a neurological problem such as tumor or dementia. You can talk with your vet about medicine for pain but with a new baby it is probably safest to not chance it and always keep them separate. If the medicines do not help and her behavior continues then I am afraid your only other option is considering euthanasia for everyone’s safety. I am so sorry you are faced with this!

Hello. Any sudden change in behavior, especially in a senior pet, is worrisome. This may be a neurological problem, like early onset cognitive dysfunction, or the beginning of a loss of senses ( hearing, sight ) that may be causing his reaction. You really need to have Buster fully evaluated to see if there is a medical reason for this strange behavior, or if there is a medication, diet change, treatment or behavior modification that might help. I am sure if there is a need for any treatment, a method to get it into him will be found, or perhaps a consult with a behavioral specialist should be tried first. Hopefully, you can find a solution to his distress. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

There are lots of possible causes, but the most important one could be pain. I would consult with your vet and make sure her pain medications are all at the best doses for her currently. Alternatively, she could be developing some resource guarding. She has gone through a stressful procedure and she may be feeling more sensitive and protective of herself and her spaces. For now, I would keep the puppy away so he doesn’t get hurt. This article may provide more insight: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102897&id=10464193