Pheno for agression

Question

My 2 year old Old English Bulldoggey has started to become aggressive for about the last month. We went to two different vets. The first one said he thought maybe Ralph had some wires crossed and we should put him down. I made an appointment at a different vet, first because I had given up hope and it was cheaper at the new vet to euthanize, and secondly because deep down I needed to know if this was my only option. I knew that I could go in the direction of a behaviorist but if my boy had a medical condition, then that was a lost cause. 
After speaking with the new vet and a long ride there in tears, she suggested that Ralph may be having seizures. He seemed to be glazed over and  not aware of his outbursts. I have had a dog with seizures before, and never had seen anything like this. There where two incidents of real aggression at this point. She suggested we try him on phenobarbital to give him another chance. This was a week ago.  He has had all the side effects, but his behaviour has deteriorated tremendously.  He just gets crazy. We call it going into attack mode. He nips and jumps around like a crazy dog. Now if he really wanted to do damage he could, but other than bruising, or scratching, he hasn't. I have a behaviourist coming tomorrow.  I truly love Ralph, he is really only a baby.  I also want to add, he no longer sleeps at night, for the last three nights. He wants out of his crate, and refuses to go back in. I have tried, feeding him at 2am and he acts like he hasnt eaten in months, he then drinks like crazy, goes out, and just won't settle down. Could this medication be making things worse? Someone please tell me if their dog acts like this. I am going to call the vet today as well, but I am hoping after reading all the knowledge here, that maybe I can get some insight. Thanks

ralphiesmom · Answer

Thanks for your information Tony, I do have a behaviorist coming in tomorrow. He has a lifetime guarantee that he can help, and he will continue to work with Ralph for the rest of his life. Yes it is expensive. But I want to save my dog. I will also look into your research regarding the food. Thanks again for your help.

tonyb286 · Answer

Hi. I do have lots of issues with any dry dog food. You should have a read of my researched article about it here (and the mention of seizures):

http://www.infobarrel.com/Why_Dry_Dog_Food_Is_Bad_For_Dogs

With regard to blood work ... it's good he seems otherwise healthy from the blood results at least, but the blood work needs to be done regularly if you continue using phenobarbital. It's the only way of knowing if the dosage is accurate ... and things can change with seizures, making changes to the dose a necessity from time to time.

I'm still inclined to think this is seizure related - so, solve the seizures and hopefully it will resolve the behaviour change. Of course, it would be even more helpful to know what is causing the seizures, but this isn't always possible, so treating the seizure symptoms is the second-best option.

A qualified and professional canine behaviourist may have some useful input to add to this investigation ... depends on whether you have finance for this, as it can be expensive.

Tony

ralphiesmom · Answer

Sorry, I forgot to add, no changes at home either.

ralphiesmom · Answer

Thanks for you quick response Tony. The vet did blood work before starting the phenobarbital. She said everything was normal. I feed Ralph a dry dog food which contains, no wheat, corn, and is lamb protein. He has issues with his skin if I feed him any protein(such as poultry, or fish) and the corn and wheat cause him gastro issues. He has never shown aggression up until this point. I will be honest, that he was only an extremely mellow dog when he was a pup. He has always been strong willed and plays rough. We knew he needed some training when it comes to his manners but didnt expect this.
I got him from a farm when he was three months. At that time he was living in a small barn with his brother, and the mother was on site. The seller said that the family did interact with him. But I really don't know how much.  As for anything around the house, I dont have any plants inside, and when he goes out he has a specific area that he is in where nothing has changed. I hope I have answered all of your questions.  Thanks

tonyb286 · Answer

Hi. This is a hard one to try and answer without seeing you and your dog and knowing his history. I think a behaviourist is definitely the way forward - as this will provide you with some answers and a plan of action.

Seizures come in many different forms ... some are the typical grand mal epileptic fit ... but others are known as petit-mal, minor seizures that some owners don't even see happening. They can cause a dozy, drunken like state, or an animal can seem "lost" for a few minutes, as if he doesn't quite know where he is, who you are or what's happening to him. The "glazed over" comment you made is fairly symptomatic of a petit-mal seizure.

Phenobarbital is probably another good route to go down, because if it is a seizure episode, the phenobarbital will solve it. Be aware of the side-effects and just stay patient about them, if they appear.

The question will then be ... what's causing the seizures? This is something your vet needs to consider and investigate. Blood tests will be needed for phenobarbital, so that's a good time to look at other potential abnormal readings. I would also like to know what you are feeding him, as some dog foods can also cause seizures in some dogs. Treats and scraps are another reason. As are some toxic substances, including household cleaners and plants and chemicals used in the garden.

Also, history ... where did you get the dog from? How long have you had him? Has there been any symptoms of aggression before this? Has there been any change to you or your household/family in the last month or so?

Tony