I've been reading like crazy about the bilateral triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) surgery that Samson, hopefully, will be able to get. I've read some heartwarming stories from others that have been through it and everything sounds quite positive! Most of the dogs seem to live full healthy "darn close to normal" lives after they have recovered. However, with each story I read I started to notice an ever so slight mention concerning aggression in the dogs... Little dogs, medium dogs, and big dogs alike.
None of the stories spoke of SERIOUS AGGRESSION but they all seemed to mention with just a line or two that the dog had become "grumpy" (growling and such) at unexpected times after the recovery. This odd aggression was being noticed even years later. The mentions didn't say it was constant...but rather "rare or only very occasional" leaving the owners in a position of never knowing when it would happen. One owner noted the aggression was only toward other dogs...but not the "other dog" that lived in their own home. Another owner noted that it would only happen if you pet the hip roughly but even then only like once a year or so...
One story I read wondered if it had something to do with the prolonged recovery itself and long time that the pup was "down" and healing that maybe either distorted his maturity in the area or caused a bit of hostility somehow.
I imagine it's not directly related to the hip surgeries but rather a "serious surgery or illness" that would cause the dog to be in pain for 8 weeks or more, drugged (doggy downers and painkillers) for several weeks, and just generally miserable....
I'm extra concerned about the "potential" for aggression simply because Samson is a rottweiler and they tend to have a bad enough rap in the area as it is....
Does anyone have any thoughts about this? Has anyone seen this type of behavior change in a dog that's been through something such as a long recovery (but not abuse because I believe abuse shows the dog a different human attitude than recovery/health actions do)? I'm thinking mental stimulation is going to be a MUST during the recovery so Samson doesn't go crazy with all of the down time and sort of hoping that if we keep his mind active even while his body is not that it may help in preventing that type of slight attitude change.... I'm curious what other's thoughts and ideas are concerning this. Heh I don't even know if he can get the surgery yet but I'm trying to think positive and get prepared just in case...it sure beats sitting here doing nothing but wondering anyway...
None of the stories spoke of SERIOUS AGGRESSION but they all seemed to mention with just a line or two that the dog had become "grumpy" (growling and such) at unexpected times after the recovery. This odd aggression was being noticed even years later. The mentions didn't say it was constant...but rather "rare or only very occasional" leaving the owners in a position of never knowing when it would happen. One owner noted the aggression was only toward other dogs...but not the "other dog" that lived in their own home. Another owner noted that it would only happen if you pet the hip roughly but even then only like once a year or so...
One story I read wondered if it had something to do with the prolonged recovery itself and long time that the pup was "down" and healing that maybe either distorted his maturity in the area or caused a bit of hostility somehow.
I imagine it's not directly related to the hip surgeries but rather a "serious surgery or illness" that would cause the dog to be in pain for 8 weeks or more, drugged (doggy downers and painkillers) for several weeks, and just generally miserable....
I'm extra concerned about the "potential" for aggression simply because Samson is a rottweiler and they tend to have a bad enough rap in the area as it is....
Does anyone have any thoughts about this? Has anyone seen this type of behavior change in a dog that's been through something such as a long recovery (but not abuse because I believe abuse shows the dog a different human attitude than recovery/health actions do)? I'm thinking mental stimulation is going to be a MUST during the recovery so Samson doesn't go crazy with all of the down time and sort of hoping that if we keep his mind active even while his body is not that it may help in preventing that type of slight attitude change.... I'm curious what other's thoughts and ideas are concerning this. Heh I don't even know if he can get the surgery yet but I'm trying to think positive and get prepared just in case...it sure beats sitting here doing nothing but wondering anyway...