Pet care: If it's hard, it will take a while
The hidden, physical cause of Polly's agression
Rather than indulging in frivolous ego-driven jealousy, like humans, our dogs live in the moment. They compete because they're programmed to worry that food or proximity to their leader might vanish, causing them to wander aimlessly in the abyss, wither, and die of starvation, isolation and heartache. Polly's aggression was turbocharged by her severe anxiety disorder, very likely genetic in its origin. Her squabbles with Holly were already beyond name-calling and hair pulling; a shootout with life-threatening injuries, or worse, was right around the corner.
My clients wanted an immediate end to the hostilities but a close second priority was a peaceful life for the dogs they love. Everybody was safe when these combatants were separated. Holly, the victim, was definitely happier but Polly's agitation just kept on.
Nobody can be taught to abandon their anxiety. Polly's misery stemmed from a disorder of her neurochemistry. Brain transplants are not a part of our treatment repertoire (no suitable donors), so we rely on research into the medications we carefully choose to adjust their chemical transmitters. We understand what to prescribe for different behavioral motivations but we're not practicing a perfect science. Genetic differences among individuals can require different meds. There are many dozens available to us. Fortunately, we can usually succeed, to varying degrees, for pets like Polly.
This high-status but unstable dog behaved better during her first several years of treatment. Then her aggressive tendencies worsened. We'd been submitting annual lab panels all along, looking for early signs of internal problems that could hamstring our efforts. Then, a few months ago, Polly's thyroid screening test came up low. A full thyroid panel confirmed that she had become officially hypothyroid.
Supplementing thyroid hormone with oral tablets often corrects classical signs of hypothyroidism, like sluggishness, hair loss and oily skin. But aggression, a behavioral symptom with a long list of possible causes, can be the only indicator. We hit the mark. Within days of starting l-thyroxine (thyroid) tablets, Polly relaxed and began acting more civilized.
The practice of medicine, on any species, is often challenging. Wise warriors have observed that "if it is hard, it will take a while; if it is impossible, it will take a while longer."
• For help with behavior problems, sign up for a Zoom group conference at drjeffnichol.com.
Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist in Albuquerque. He provides consultations by Zoom group and individually/in-person. Sign up for his weekly blog or post questions (drjeffnichol.com) or mail to 4000 Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109.
