02/18/2022
Recently we had a case where a 3 year old had cortisol poisoning and unfortunately had to be Euthanized. I do not recommend that often, but in this case, it was best for the dog. Cortisol poisoning is when the pregnant dog is so terrified that she is flooded with cortisol and it can affect the fetuses. Usually puppies are fearful, but in some cases they can be aggressive.
A few words of advice to those who have a dog is becoming more aggressive as they get older.
Always rule out any pain. Always. Do everything to make sure pain isn't causing sudden aggression. For example In Doxies it's often their spine: check from their neck/shoulders down to their tails. Check their knee caps. Doxies can get sliding patella (kneecaps.)
Do not ever give a dog who has aggressive tendencies Prozac or any other medication(herbal or prescription) because it lowers their inhibitions and makes them more likely to bite. Check with your vet.
Always check their environment: what changed? Get down and actually look at the environment from the dogs perspective. One time I had a case where a new neighbor put a flag up, and it was flapping and startling the dog, who could see it through the window but the client couldn't because of the view.
Always consult your vet. Anxiety and cortisol poisoning are not the same even though cortisol poisoning starts with anxiety. MOST cases of cortisol poisoning are fearful, not aggressive.
And last, please be careful who you hire for help. Many trainers are just not qualified to deal with anxiety and inadvertently, you could make things worse. Do your homework, research, and ask for recommendations from people you know. For example, I only take clients through word of mouth. You want a trainer who has a good reputation, not just social media reviews.
