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HELP - aggression post neutering?

11 replies

EmMcK · 14/08/2018 21:53

So, two weeks ago we neutered our 17 month old Golden Retriever and suddenly he is aggressive having been the most placid, chilled dog ever. He growls at children he has seen every day and also really went crazy barking at a neighbour whom we have seen many times. Is this normal? Is this a reaction to loss of testosterone that will even out. I am just not leaving him alone with anyone and am trying to reassure him, although he is totally fine with me.

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Hoppinggreen · 14/08/2018 21:57

Has he been back to the vet for a check up?
Our Goldie was neutered at a similar age, he had his 2 week post op check and vet said he was fine. Next day he bit DH when he tried to take a ball away which was out of character. Later that evening a huge internal abscess burst in his wound - rushed to the emergency vet and was eventually ok
Other than that we found neutering calmed him down, although he was always more daft than aggressive

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EmMcK · 14/08/2018 22:02

He has, and he is tip top post-op wise. It is just SO out of character for him - I have always walked him to school for drop off and pick up and he has been a dream, but there is no way I can imagine doing that now as I don't feel I can turn my back on him if there are children around.
Our dog is definitely daft too, bless

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HomeOfMyOwn · 14/08/2018 22:10

I would wonder whether it was his wound still healing and causing some pain/discomfort, at this point. Keep him out of stressful situations for a couple of weeks.

However some dogs can become fear-aggressive with the lost of testosterone.

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EmMcK · 14/08/2018 23:09

I'll keep him chilled and in stress free situations for the next couple of weeks and cross my fingers. I so so hope it isn't the fear-aggression due to loss of testoterone. If it is, I broke my lovely dog!

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tabulahrasa · 14/08/2018 23:25

I’d be taking him back to the vets tbh, yes castrationis believed to cause/worsen aggression in fearful dogs... but testosterone takes a few weeks to get out of their system, so it’d be a gradual thing.

With a sudden change like that, I’d be looking for pain or illness.

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cameltoeflappyflapflap · 14/08/2018 23:32

I have a fear aggressive dog from the lack of testosterone after neutering and I'm still working through it with him. some days are better than others but it's been 2 years. I can't let him off the lead because he will chase adults and other dogs and try and grab their clothes.

I would take him back for another check up just to be sure that everything's ok sound wise.

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cameltoeflappyflapflap · 14/08/2018 23:32

Wound wise* bloody autocorrect.

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EmMcK · 15/08/2018 00:40

I have just made an appointment to take him back, and have a good chat with the vet. I had never heard of fear aggression from lack of testosterone before, gah.

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BiteyShark · 15/08/2018 06:49

It sounds a bit quick to be the loss of testosterone as it takes a while for it to descrease if I remember correctly from googling prior to having my dog castrated.

Definitely a vet visit.

About the fear aggression my vets wouldn't castrate if there was any behavioural issues that had not been addressed specifically fear of humans or other dogs as they need the testosterone for confidence and removing it could result in fear aggression.

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AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 15/08/2018 07:36

I've only ever heard about it in the context of dogs that already have issues that are then exacerbated post neutering. I've not heard of it causing issues that weren't present before.

Pain, on the other hand, is a very very common cause of aggression, and my bet is that it's a pain issue rather than a testosterone issue (but I'm not a vet!)

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fivedogstofeed · 15/08/2018 08:42

I think post neutering aggression is more likely to be directed at other dogs - the fact that it is with people would make me think it's more likely to be a pain issue.

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