Help! My Dog Bit Me!

[Suzanna828]

We've had our dog, Jake, for 2 years. He is a rescue who we adopted at about age 2-3. Jake has been the perfect dog and has never shown any signs of aggression or dominance. All of the sudden tonight he growled, lunged, and bit me. He got me in the mouth and drew blood. I'm swollen now, but the bleeding stopped quickly and wasn't too severe. Everything happened so fast that now I'm not sure how to even describe it. Definitely, nothing out of the ordinary was going on. I was trying to get him to come the bedroom to come to bed, which he normally doesn't mind. I don't know what to do! We sent him to "his room," where he stays when we aren't home, and we'll make him sleep there tonight. He is up-to-date on his rabies. Do I I need a tetanus shot? What do I do about Jake? Can I trust him again? Is it a lack of training/respect? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Rowdy's Dad]

I can't give you any advice on Jake, but a tetanus shot will be a good idea if you haven't had one in the last 5 years.

 

[Johnm]

Maybe he was playing

We also have a two year old boy named Jake. I'm wondering if he was saying he wanted to play some and wasn't ready for bed and lunged with what was to meant to be a playful nip and didn't really mean for it to be mean but playful. Our Jake will get into a playing mode with me when he wants to play wrestle with me. and will bark and nip but I know he is just playing. You'd think he was a mad dog on the loose. He sounds really violent when he plays like this. It's my own fault for playing and wrestling with him. He is a boisterous and spoiled boy and I have always found him to be funny when he acts like that. As I said it's my own fault but he wouldn't harm a flea intentionally. Maybe if he was threatened or thought harm was being inflicted on his family he would bite with intent but our Jake has never been in that situation. It's just a thought that he was trying to play and didn't really mean to harm. When our Jake plays like that with me, the neighbors might think he is really being viscious but he isn't.

 

[Suzanna828]

Unfortunately, I don't think Jake was trying to be playful. I've seen him in that mode before - both when I'm trying to get him to come in and when it's bedtime. This wasn't play, and it wasn't a nip. He growled, lunged, and bit me, as if he were possessed. It was like he was afraid of me. My face is still swollen, and it did bleed a little. I don't even know where to begin to deal with this. I definitely need to call the vet and the doctor.

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

First, take the dog to the vet and have him thoroughly checked out. Sudden changes in temperment such as this often indicate that the dog may be ill and not feeling well. They don't show their illnesses the way we do, so have him checked out thoroughly.

Secondly, if he is healthy and this IS in fact a behavioral problem, you need to see a behaviorist asap. Tell them *exactly* how this happened and see if this cannot be worked through.

Good luck.

 

[myrocky]

What were you doing to get him to come to bed? You said you have seen him in this mode before, so when was that and what were you doing?

Also take him to the vet and have tests run. He might not be feeling well and everyone gets snappy when they don't feel good

 

[Suzanna828]

Originally posted by Tulsa-Dan
First, take the dog to the vet and have him thoroughly checked out. Sudden changes in temperment such as this often indicate that the dog may be ill and not feeling well. They don't show their illnesses the way we do, so have him checked out thoroughly.

Secondly, if he is healthy and this IS in fact a behavioral problem, you need to see a behaviorist asap. Tell them *exactly* how this happened and see if this cannot be worked through.

Good luck.

We're on the same wave length. I just called the vet and have a 4:00 appointment. I also just left a message for a behaviorist. I still love this dog and will do what I can to work it out. Thanks for the advice!

 

[JulieM]

How up-to-date on his rabies is he? (When was his last shot?) A common side-effect of the rabies vaccination is aggression, and somtimes this doesn't show up for several weeks after the shot.

Also, if the vet doesn't find anything, ask him to run a full thyroid panel (not just the T4) - thyroid issues can also cause aggression.

 

[Peggy G]

Originally posted by myrocky
You said you have seen him in this mode before, so when was that and what were you doing?

I think she meant she has seen him in play mode before and this time it was not play mode as there was a difference.


Hope all goes well with the vet an he is able to pin point and fix whats going on.

 

[lsbbigdog]

I would make sure the test your dog from head to toe . Millie was my first boxer and she was great for about 7 years . We moved , my wife was 8 months pregnant and Millie started to show signs of aggression . She was nasty with my wife and started to growl at my kids , but was perfectly fine with me . We noticed some skin problems ( staff infection) when all this started and she eventualy bit my neighbors friend and tried to bite my tenant 14year old daughter . After all the vet visits the finaly found out on top of the staff infection see had a serious thyriod problem . After heavy discussion we had to put her down . I hope Jake is ok but the point i'm trying to make is that when dogs are ill they will act very different .

Good Luck