Question:
Two years ago, I adopted a Shih Tzu dog from a shelter. While he is adorable and well behaved most of the time, he has serious issues that have us puzzled and upset.He is extremely food-protective: He'll attack if you go near him. If we are in the car, no one can go near us (gas station, drive-up bank, etc.). He gets ferocious and uncontrollable. He has bitten us on several occasions and, truthfully, the only reason we haven't put him down is because he is so sweet most of the time. We're hoping to overcome his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde behavior.There have also been unprovoked attacks. His back arches and his eyes glaze over, and then he either growls or tries to bite. He growls and barks at my husband more than anyone else. For the most part, he is not social with other dogs, either. He gets along with my son's two dogs, who are with him almost every day, but he either ignores other dogs when we are outdoors or he tries to attack.We have had dogs all of our lives and have never had this kind of problem until
E.B., Pomona, NY Jan 29, 2006
Answer:
Your dog is not unique. He suffers from a schizo-affective disorder, a kind of "split personality." This may have a genetic basis, or it could also come from being teased and abused earlier in life.My advice is to avoid confrontations in those situations in which he may flip. Ignore his growls and snaps around the food bowl. Take extra precautions around strangers, especially children, and consider having him wear a comfortable muzzle when high-risk situations are unavoidable.Your veterinarian can prescribe psychotropic medications, such as Prozac and Elavil, that may greatly improve your dog's emotional stability, quality of life and relationship with the rest of his family. Some dogs like yours can become so disturbed that they go into seizures, which may reflect a neurological abnormality. Low daily doses of a mild tranquillizer or sedative prescribed by the veterinarian for a trial period of seven to 10 days would be a good start in finding some resolution to this difficult disorder.
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