Deer Antlers

[Belladog1]

I went to a natural pet shop and treated my two dogs to a split and full antler to gnaw on. They ignored the full one and just enjoyed the split one. They both had a chew on it, almost taking it in turns, but my cockapoo started obsessively licking it, so I put it away in a cupboard when unsupervised.

The whole antler hasn't been touched.

But for the last 3 nights since buying it, my cockapoo has been aggressive in nature at night. So much so, the split antler hasn't been out for the last 2 days as that was the trigger ..... I'm guessing.

On the first night I took them outside for a wee, shut the lights off ..... and I heard a low grrrrrr. Looked at my dog and he was showing true aggression on his face. Teeth out, shaking, growling. He soon snapped out of it, but its been every night since. I'm feeling quite nervous about it, especially if my other dog, who's tiny, got too close.

I barely slept last night listening out for any hint of trouble. The two dogs are best friends who sleep together and love each other and have done for 7yrs.

Could natural antlers really have caused this?

Could he have a splinter in his mouth?

I have just checked over the antler and I can't detect any area that's splintered. They seem to have focused on licking the marrow (?) inside.

But it is a possibility of course. But why only aggressive at bedtime? It's almost like licking something from a wild animal has turned him wild.

Potentially a cracked tooth, deer antlers are very hard we have stopped buying them.

Sounds like a vet check for pain is required regardless.

Personally I would crate one dog overnight going forward as fatal attacks between dogs who live together is not uncommon.