Our dog bit DS. What next?

[newnamefortoday]

NC for this one. Our JRT bit 4yo DS on the foot at the weekend. Not terrible, but a huge bruise, puncture wound, visit to minor injuries and antibiotics. We’re not sure exactly what happened, dog was in the garden, DS climbed on the gate as he has done dozens of times before but this time the dog bit his foot as he put it through. Just heard a snarl then a scream. Dog knew exactly who it was as the gate is between garden and house, not the road. It would have been much worse had the gate not been between them. We also have a small baby. We are obviously considering dog’s future and keeping him separated for now. He snarled at my mum this week and caught my ankle snapping at me last week. He’s always been a bit of a grumpy terrier but has never bitten before so we’re considering all possibilities. He’s quite old. Lots to think about but with a small baby we can’t take any chances. What would you do next, apart from taking dog to vet to check for pain etc? Would you expect any follow up from SS or HV through the hospital?

Absolutely this, the dogs homes and sanctuaries are bursting at the seams with younger dogs that they can't find homes for, please think of your dog and PTS don't pass him on

I’ve known two jack Russell’s that friends had PTS for biting children. I know they won’t all be bad but I’d not have one around a child at all. Growing up, a neighbour had one and it it used to growl and snap at me. I was terrified of it. Definitely rehome at least

I know a friends dog who suddenly turned a bit aggressive, it turned out the dog had cancer, he had treatment (leg removed due to bone cancer, I think!) there has never been anymore incidents of aggression that I know of, also (different species) when my Nan had dementia she became physical which was so unlike her, it sounds like there’s some medical issue there. I would do more investigations. He definitely needs to be kept separate from your baby and child though.

Hope you have kindly managed to have the dog put down. If he has epilepsy/dementia it’s for the best. It doesn’t sound like the dog is right.

not to be callous but a new dog often heals the pain of the old dog… potentially start looking for another one if you are dog people and don’t have others!!

I think, for your DH's peace of mind, you should find out for sure what is going on with the dog. If it is a brain tumour or something that will get progressively worse, then the kindest thing is to have him PTS now while still with his family/your DH. If he's just a grumpy bugger, then he should be rehomed. 9 years old is not old for a JRT.

This happened with my SIL dog. Usually placid and then all of the sudden aggression. Turned out to be a brain tumour and had to PTS. I’m sorry you’re going through this OP.

I once had to take my son to A & E because of a deep cut above his lip. I never forget the little boy I saw there who had half his face destroyed by a dog. I would never take any chance on this

Please don’t put the poor dog to sleep - he nipped him yes but what happened in the garden - children can be rough - he might have kicked out at the dog so the dog retaliated - also your poor dog might be in pain himself or has a form of dementia - please consider rehoming him to a quiet household - young children and old dogs are not usually a good mix for obvious reasons -

My JRT is 13, we always explain to our children to be careful around him - he is the most loving dog but we appreciate that due to his age one day he may snap if someone accidentally knocks into him etc. we never leave them alone together, OP it’s quite clear you were supervising and anyone suggesting otherwise is just being a knob for the sake of it.

my whippet turned on me when I was 10, completely out of the blue, he went straight to vet for tests and he was found to have a brain tumour. My parents decided to put him to sleep, it was awful for them but the right choice for our safety.

if your dog has been diagnosed with epilepsy I really think it’s kinder to let him go to sleep. Sending love to you and your DH xxxx

Sorry but would have to rehome, especially with a young baby around

What the actual hell?

My elderly jrt bit me couple years ago so took for check ups. She has dementia and inset of arthritis so now on mess for both. Handled correctly and monitored making sure away from children if it is either pain or dementia then no need to rehome (no one would want an elderly snappy dog) Your dog has relied on you for love and care all the years and had to adapt to small humans arriving. Try your best to find out if anything wrong and manage if you can for their last few years. It's hard but they deserve you to do the best in their old age.

PTS so may say!

Pathetic and thoughtless!

There are rehoming centres that can and will work with your JRT to see if can be rehomed.

So what happened OP? Did you get a second vet opinion to diagnose your husband’s dog brain tumour? You’ve had some great advice on this thread once you filter through the predicable shrieks of the old MN trope of ‘PTS or your baby will be diiiiiie’. I’m also surprised that no-one has yet mentioned a behaviourist, a good one could also help re environmental triggers etc and some straightforward consistent training may help. I suspect brain tumour personally, but as a young dog, you maybe could explore a behaviourist angle before you kill him.

@SurferRona is there any need for emotive language like that I’m sorry if he was mine he’d be gone already, you don’t sit around and wait for them to bite your child twice.

i’m actually quite surprised the vet didn’t suggest it there and in then if they were aware of all the information.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-20425189

I’m afraid I’d be putting the dog down or moving him to somewhere with no children. If it has bitten once it will bite again.

My son was mauled by a dog when he was 3 and he still remembers it and he’s 15 next month. He had to have plastic surgery as the top of his ear was bitten off, he had facial injuries and puncture wounds on his arm.

we have had a dog for 7 years and we adore him, but if he bit, I’d have to let him go

i’m actually quite surprised the vet didn’t suggest it there and in then if they were aware of all the information

A vet would never reccomend PTS in this situation until further investigation was done. 9 is young for a JRT, epilepsy is relatively simple and cheap to treat, especially in a smaller dog. If the aggression is due to epilepsy, and studies have shown that idopathic can cause sudden changes in behaviour, then medication will resolve the issue.

I haven't suggested a behaviourist because the cause is obviously medical. No behaviourist would work with the dog until further testing had been done.

If OP can't afford the treatment she needs to find a rescue who will treat the dog and surrender him. A 9year old JRT has almost half his life left, if not more. He will not be a hard dog to place, especially given that elderly JRTs are the choice of most pensioners. If he was staffy his chances would be different but JRTs are a popular breed.

@newnamefortoday If you only have a limited amount of money for vet bills phone them and ask how much it would cost to test the dog for toxoplasmosis, and if it is a likely cause for both the seizure and the aggression.

I love animals and have a dog myself. I know what I’m about to say in controversial - but my babies will always come first and should this situation ever arise in my house there would be,sadly, no second chances - dog would be being rehomed.
sorry OP. It’s heart breaking. But as you say, you have small kids xx

I don't remember my foster JRT having brain scans. IIRC she had a full blood work and then the vet prescribed epilepsy medication. It was a case of "if this makes it better it's epilepsy, if it doesn't then we do scans". Epilepsy is diagnosed via a process of elimination in dogs as it's not possible to test for. Or at least it wasn't 10 years ago.

OP, you could ask the vet if it would be possible to skip the brain scan. This is the expensive bit. Many vets do payment plans. The PDSA might help if you get certain benefits.

There are so many stories of previously docile dogs suddenly turning against children or adults and causing serious injury. I really wouldn't run the risk and let this dog stay living with you.

What nonsense ! Dogs are often treated appallingly by children. I do not think that a JRT is a very suitable for young children. He is old enough to prefer a quieter home but pts NO.

Find a JR Rescue and allow the dog a proper life. Having dogs around small children is not a good idea. I have owned 5 JRs but now they have all died of old age. They are wonderful dogs, but in the right family.

@Scoobydoobydo

Do you not believe a JRT could kill a baby?

Because it's happened before a number of times.