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Originally Posted by greenmagick  I just have to say, rehoming a dog like this is not responsible.
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Yeah, I just want it to go on record that re-homing dogs with bite histories, especially when caused by unknown triggers, is really, really, really irresponsible.
There isn't a trainer, or a shelter director, or a rescue coordinator, or a BCVB (board certified veterinary behaviorist) worth their marbles that would condone re-homing a dog in this condition.
And for those of you tossing around the advice of seeing a "behaviorist", I just want to clarify what that means. There is a HUGE difference between trainers and behaviorists. Many trainers are knowledgeable in animal behavior, but to be an animal behaviorist as recognized by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, you must first be a DVM and complete a residency with 200 cases under the supervision of a mentor approved by the American Board of Veterinary Specialization.
If you hire a personal trainer who is claiming to be a behaviorist, you are being robbed.
And please, people, stopping handing out the advice to give away potentially dangerous dogs. It's irresponsible and not all supported by any reputable agency or authority. Besides, it's dicey at best to advise on possibly aggressive dogs over the internet anyway, let alone to pontificate their future with little more than a few paragraphs of information to back up your advice. We can all chime in with what we think may be the problem, and what might help, but we have not evaluated this dog, therefore none of us are really qualified to make any sort judgment call about the future of this dog.
My advise? Find a vet willing to get to the bottom of the health issues. Has the vet done any sort of blood work to investigate the seizures? How did he determine it was a reaction? Has her ears and eyes been tested? Her confused behavior reminds me of an English bull dog I knew who went deaf. He acted like he was going crazy until they figured out why he was confused and ornery.
And about the seizure meds, while they may indicate to cause problems with long term use, sometimes you have to weigh the pros and cons. If I had a dog in this position I might choose quality of life over length of life. You may be trying to prevent organ damage, but if on the medication, if she does in fact have seizures, her quality of life might improve. If the alternative is humane euthanasia because of behavioral problems caused by seizures, you might get a few healthy years out of her first if you try the drugs. Something to think about.
