Anyone had an aggressive dog PTS?

[SpanielSOS]

Looking for a handhold really.

Some background... he's 8. He's not a difficult breed. He's a Sprocker Spaniel. He hasn't always been aggressive.

He was diagnosed with a terminal cancer a year ago. No one expected him to live this long. He's on medication for anxiety.

His behaviour has deteriorated over the last few weeks - resource guarding, fear agression, dominance, reactivity towards other dogs. He finally snapped, literally, and bit 14 DD on the foot (he was under table, she kicked him by accident). Spoke to vet immediately, was told this incident alone didn't meet the threshold to PTS.

Over Christmas it's been tough. Growling, snarling. Hasn't bitten a human but has attacked our other dog. He is now muzzled, which he doesn't mind.

To see him, he looks racehorse fit! However, we suspect cancer may have returned but don't want to put him through further veterinary treatment (he's insured - this is not about money).

We know PTS it's the right thing to do. For him. For us. But it's still bloody hard. We feel so guilty.

Not really looking to debate the rights and wrongs of it, just wondered if anyone else has been there?

I haven't, but in your shoes, I absolutely would. I am so sorry

I've not, but a friend has. She had a situation with a dog that resource guarded, and after a couple of bites she got his measure and managed it very well for years. He then bit her twice in the space of a couple of weeks, and both times she saw it as a failure of management on her part. And then he bit her again, completely out of the blue. She made the decision at that point to PTS. She felt terrible, but as time passed her emotions caught up with her rational mind, IYSWIM. She accepted that she'd given him a good few years that he would not otherwise have had (he came to her from someone who couldn't manage him), and that he was now at risk of randomly biting which was too dangerous for everyone.

In the case of your dog, he doesn't sound happy at all, but constantly on edge despite being medicated - and you must all be on edge too, which will he will sense and which will make him more anxious. That welfare basis alone would worry me, but you also have the risk to your other dog and to the people in the house. You can of course manage this as you are doing, but that is in itself another source of stress to you, and with management you either worry about it failing, or you have to pick up the pieces when it does.

I'm so sorry that you are going through this. You have done your best for your dog, and now you need to do your best for your DC and for your other dog.

I would bet money that the aggression is due to pain and discomfort. If he has terminal cancer

To me his behaviour would show me that he is feeling very poorly and I would be having a discussion with the vet. He is obviously not enjoying life and either needs a medication change or a discussion if his life is too hard for him to tolerate.

How long has he been on anxiety meds?- these often need to be tweaked before behaviour changes can be seen.

I am so sorry you are going through this a very difficult time.

I've been part of decision making at rescues. For me health includes mental health and typically dogs that are very reactive are not mentally healthy. They tend to spend their life worried which I don't think is fair and gives them appropriate quality of life if they aren't comfortable even at home

I would want to rule out potential ways of improving quality of life though. I'd assume your dog is now in pain and that by its self would lead to quality of life discussions.

Is there anything you can do to help improve the pain? It may be some decent pain relief significant improves things if that's not been fully explored yet

I agree he could be snappy because he’s in pain. I’m surprised the vet won’t pts especially with children in the house. If it was a one off bite which was provoked (unintentional) I’d say give him another chance but with the continued aggressive behaviour that seems unfair decision by the vet. I’d be tempted to go back and say you either pts or that you’re leaving him there! I bet they pts then.

i did have an aggressive dog pts years ago but he had bitten multiple people by then. Mainly dh who had been bitten every day for two years! He was only a small dog but the vet was terrified of him and couldn’t do it fast enough!

No, but I absolutely would if your situation. It sounds like your pup has reached the end of his road.

we had a collie PTS for behavioural issues which vets thought was pain related we spent £100s on trying to help him in the end life was too much for him.

I think you need to do whats best for the dog.

The vet doesn't get to decide when to PTS. You as the owner can tell them it's time.

Anyway, it does sound like you dog is miserable. I'd say pain medication needs upped a lot or it's time to pts. I'm sorry, it's very hard. The worst bit of being a dog lover.

Thank you all for these replies.

I think the most compelling thing is that, whether or not he is in physical pain, he is mentally distressed all the time.

It's hard for our DCs too - they're are older teens and know how to manage/avoid him but we have had to ban them from bringing friends home as we can't risk him biting else.

We are speaking to the vet this afternoon. Obviously the vet is another thing that terrifies poor DDog 😢