Why Do Older Dogs Start to Bite?
If you’re the pet parent of senior dog like Bella and wondering, “Why is my dog being aggressive all of sudden?” your first course of action should be to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. They’ll help determine the reason why your older dog is starting to bite. Below, we’ll explore some common causes of a senior dog becoming aggressive, as well as their possible treatments and solutions.
Pain is one of the most common causes of an older dog starting to bite, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dogs who are uncomfortable or achy like Bella might not want to be touched, and can react to someone reaching out with preemptive growling, a warning air snap to discourage contact or even an actual bite.
Dogs might telegraph that they’re in pain in ways too subtle for pet parents to notice, or might not acknowledge their pain at all until accidentally pushed to reaction. Senior dog pain can manifest in a variety of ways, including:
Pain can be caused by conditions associated with normal aging, like joint pain or arthritis, bone and muscle deterioration, dental issues, flare ups from old injuries, or can result from undiagnosed illnesses, like cancer.
Though many dogs maintain a cheerful disposition throughout their lives, a combination of factors related to aging can lead to “grumpy dog syndrome,” the unofficial term for when a dog exhibits an increase in aggression due to the combined effects of aging. These may include mild pain (possibly due to one of the conditions listed above), balance issues, hearing and vision loss and the early effects of dementia.
Seniors who have aged into grumpy dog syndrome are the canine equivalent of older neighbors who yell “get off my lawn” to playing children. They’re set in their ways and need their predictable routines to stay content. And because of physical deficits like hearing and vision loss, they may prefer to be left alone rather than join a group.
When pushed beyond their comfort zone, dogs aging into growing intolerance might react with a nip or a bite, or the dog becoming aggressive. Senior dogs in households with small children who don’t understand canine body language, or households with younger dogs who play roughly, might also be more likely to snap when they’re pushed beyond their limit.
Dogs who are entering that senior grumpy zone might behave in the following ways:
Senior dogs can experience cognitive changes that are like those seen in human Alzheimer’s. Called canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), this progressive decline is more dramatic than changes that can be attributed to normal aging.
“Canine cognitive dysfunction is a slowly progressive behavioral change that leads to declines in several aspects of a dog’s life,” says Holly Brooks, VMD, a small animal veterinarian at Quakertown Veterinary Clinic in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. “Similar to humans, it is related to plaques that form on the brain. There can also be decrease in brain mass as well.”
CCD, also known as dog dementia, includes a cluster of predictable indicators, including personality shifts; formerly standoffish dogs might begin seeking out more attention, and dogs who were friendly in their youth might begin reacting aggressively. Because of the attendant confusion, CCD dogs might seem to be aggressive all of a sudden and escalate to biting.
Senior dogs suffering from CCD will likely also exhibit the following symptoms:
What is going on with my old dog?
As a primary care veterinarian, I have often had the bittersweet pleasure of caring for a furry family member from puppyhood to the end of life. At times, I would see a sweet, friendly dog show behavior changes that seemed out of place and confusing to the pet parent. As my expertise in behavior grew, so did my knowledge of the effects of aging on the body and the brain. I could help my clients understand how the neurological changes in their aging dog would reflect behavior changes. Over my 30 plus year career, I see dogs advance in age and have found three categories of behavior changes stemming from three areas of aging changes. Many older dogs show increased aggression, anxiety, or compulsive behaviors. These behaviors are aggravated by body inflammation, sensory changes, and cognitive decline.
It is important to use the correct definitions of aggression, anxiety, and compulsion in dogs to communicate accurately with veterinarians, behaviorists and trainers. It is much more clear to me as your veterinarian when you say ” My dog is growling, snarling and snapped at my grandchild” than to say ” My dog grumbles a little and makes a funny face around my grandchild”. I now know how your dog is escalating up the ladder of aggression and what situations at home I need to help create a plan for safe interactions.
Aggression is defined as agnostic body language directed towards a perceived threat. Use the Canine Ladder of Aggression by Kendal Shepherd DVM as a guide to accurately describe the body language of aggression. Canine ladder of aggression handout From the chart, you can see the switch from anxiety to aggression occurring at stare – stiffening up. This is the first level of aggression and increases to the bite. The stare is a warning, as is the growl and snap. Get your dog away from the stimulus. This is the first order of decreasing aggression. Even if your dog tolerated noises, or touch in the past if they are growling now they are escalating up to a bite. It just has not happened yet. It is very important to use the words on the scale when you describe your dogs behavior. Please do not discount staring – growling or snarling as just a bit of a problem. I have had so many cases where people would say “He growls but it is not a problem”. Yes, it is – your dog is not bad. He is likely painful, cannot sense what is coming, or has cognitive problems.
Anxiety is defined as “apprehensive uneasiness over an impending or anticipated ill.”(2) When your dog walks with the tail down, ears down, and walks away from a stimulus that dog is saying ” Something bad is going to happen and I am trying to get away”. The body language of Canine Fear by Sophia Yin DVM is a great handout to use to recognize and identify anxiety. The body language of pain is very similar to anxiety. Both may be present. Canine Body Language of Fear handout.It may seem really odd that an older dog who tolerated noisy kids is now pacing around the house, panting, drooling, or whining. Pain, vision and hearing problems, and cognitive decline all increase anxiety. Tell your veterinarian – anxiety raises the heart rate, stress hormones and worsens health problems.
Compulsion is defined as ” repetitive, unwanted, and functionally impairing overt or covert behavior without adaptive function ” (3) Examples are dogs who lick their skin until an Acral Lick Granuloma forms. While the actions may not cause deep harm, the repetitive nature of the behavior may interfere with the ability to play, explore the home, go on a walk or there may be a risk of self-injury. Determining if the lick granuloma is a compulsive behavior, response to a painful joint, or skin inflammation will be determined by your veterinarian. Often a mix of medications to address all of these factors is needed to decrease compulsive problems in the aging dog.
The purpose and intent of the information presented in this article is not to provide behavior advice or recommendations, but rather to encourage thought and discussion among pet caregivers and their veterinarians about recognizing signs of aggression and the best ways to deal with it.
It’s hard to reduce your dog’s aggression if you’re not sure what’s causing it. It might be being startled, loud noises, being touched, a change in their environment, or something else. Senior dogs may be showing their anxiety, stress, annoyance, pain, or confusion through aggression. Pay attention to new stimuli or changes around your home that may be causing a negative response from your dog. Making a note of their triggers may show a correlation to pain or confusion that your vet would like to know about. At the very least, it’ll help you to create an environment for them that eliminates those problems.
A change in an animal’s behavior is something you should go to the vet for. If your senior dog is becoming aggressive, it’s important to rule out any medical issues. One of the reasons a dog can get aggressive is due to illness, injury, or confusion, regardless of their age. As a dog ages, it’s common to have some health concerns. Something like dental pain, arthritis, or vision and hearing loss can trigger aggression in a senior dog. If a dog is experiencing dementia or confusion, these can also trigger aggression. Some of these concerns can be helped with medical intervention, so it’s important to visit the vet before putting them in any other triggering situations.
The familiar can be comforting to many dogs, especially senior dogs. Consistency can make them feel at ease. Some things are difficult to keep familiar such as introducing a new family member, or moving to a new home. However, keeping their consistency can help them stay calm and therefore less aggressive. Work to keep their schedule and their environment the same. For a senior dog who is confused or senile, familiarity can help to keep them aware. They know how to step that may not cause pain in their joints, and they know when they will get their meals. When new people and experiences are triggers for your dog’s aggression, structure can be a big help.
Even the most docile dog can have issues with aggression as they age. Though there are plenty of reasons for this, and plenty of ways to help that problem, it’s still important to take the matter seriously. A dog bite can cause infection, emotional distress, and maybe even legal intervention. A dog can even be put down for biting another dog or person depending on the severity or serial nature of the aggression. If your dog is becoming aggressive in their old age, be sure to take the necessary precautions to keep them and everyone else safe.
The Truth About Dog Years (Your Pupper Is Older Than You Think!)
You’ll probably have spent many happy years with your dog, and feel as though you can accurately predict their behaviour in many different scenarios. However, as dogs get older some owners find their previously calm and friendly pooch becoming more irritable and even becoming aggressive. When you’ve built up such a deep relationship of trust with your four-legged friend this can be very distressing for all concerned. If you’ve started noticing your older dog becoming more aggressive, read our helpful guide on how to cope.
Alongside arranging older dog insurance, there are plenty of things you can do to help them through this testing time. The caring team at Petwise are always here to answer any questions you have about protecting your senior dog. GIve us a call and see how we can help!