There are many dog and cat owners dealing with behaviour issues in their pets that seemingly never get better, writing off their pet as being untrainable or a lost cause. But they, and you, may be surprised to learn that there could actually be another culprit to blame for those truly stubborn behaviour problems, namely an underlying health issue.
If your pet's pain comes on suddenly, then their aggression likely will, too. If, for example, your dog recently fell down the stairs, but seemed fine, and is now all of a sudden growling when you go near its back leg, then that might be something to mention to a vet. If your pet was previously comfortable with most types of handling and suddenly shies away from touch or becomes aggressive when touched, this can be a big red flag.
Van Haaften adds that it can be harder to identify chronic pain or pain that has slowly escalated over time. So be mindful if your dog or cat is aging, has arthritis or has had previous injuries.Nothing drives people crazier than when their cat or dog all of a sudden starts using the living room carpet as its own personal toilet. "People often assume that inappropriate urination is something animals do out of spite," says van Haaften.
According to van Haaften, the most common iatrogenic symptom that shows up in dogs is aggression or irritability. For example, "prednisone, which is a steroid, has been known to cause sharp increases in behavioural aggression and also an increase in thirst, since the urine becomes less concentrated and more water is lost through elimination." It's best to educate yourself about all the possible side effects of any of your pet's medications before you begin treatment.