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What to do when a Dog Bites You

When a dog bites you, it’s important to know what to do. Not only should you take care of the wounds medically, but, to prevent harm to others, you need to file an official report if your dog bite injuries are serious.

Each year in the U.S., there are close to 5 million dog bite incidents.  Sadly, most of the victims are under the age of 10, with the highest number in the 5-9 year old group.

Boys are bitten by dogs more often than girls.

Unfortunately, most of the dog bites are preventable.

When a dog bites you, you should not run from him.
When an aggressive dog bites you, he can jump high and do real damage.

This article will discuss:

  • Who is most likely to be bitten by a dog?
  • Situations where dogs are likely to bite someone
  • How Serious are Dog Bites?
  • Signs a dog is about to attack
  • What to do when a dog bites you
  • Taking care of a dog bite wound

Who is most likely to be bitten by a dog?

There are several groups of people most likely to get a dog bite.

Children and Babies

Children come to mind first.  They are perceived as weak, and they are not strong.  Children are generally uninhibited, and they run to dogs, flapping their arms and yelling with excitement.

While they are having fun, a dog may not view a child’s behavior in the same way.

From 2005 to 2020, 26% of all dog bite fatalities were children and infants younger than 2 years old.  During the same period, when you include children up to 10 years old, the number increases to 64%.

Dog Owners

Most of us cannot even imagine our dog attacking us, let alone killing a member of our family.  However, from 2015 to 2019, there were 74 deaths of dog owners, killed by their own dogs.

To keep this in perspective, we should note that, 53% of the family dogs who killed a family member, were pit bulls, the breed most likely to cause a fatality.

In addition, because of the pack mentality, pet parents with 2 or more dogs are 5 times more likely to suffer a dog bite than those with just one dog.

Pet parents in the way

dog baring teeth before a dog biteattack
When a dog bites you, he will usually warn you with signs like baring his teeth before attacking.

Another group that sometimes suffers from dog bites is pet parents who interfere in a dog fight.

Dog owners who try to stop a fight between dogs can become the object of one or both of the dog’s aggression!

Never, ever try to stop a dog fight.  Dog owners who reach for their dog’s collar, a natural thing to do, put themselves at risk, right in the middle of the fight.

If you must try to remove your dog, a safer way is to grab a dog by its back legs instead of reaching near its mouth.  You still run the risk of being bitten, as dogs are quite agile and reach around to bite you.

This, of course, is still risky business!

Other People in Danger

Anyone who has frequent contact with a variety of dogs can also be in danger.  This includes professionals like your veterinarian, the groomer, the mailman or letter carrier and your dog’s trainer.

Of course the best solution is prevention.  Better to be aware of your surroundings, keep your dog on a leash when there could be trouble and be familiar with the other dogs in your neighborhood.

And make sure that your dog is under control at all times.  Training and control of your dog go a long way toward preventing injuries.

Also, it’s important to note that, if your dog shows signs of being aggressive, the sooner you take action to correct his behavior, the more likely you will be successful.  Don’t ignore a problem and let your dog’s behavior get worse!

Situations where dogs are likely to bite someone

Of course there are times when a dog is more likely to bite, than others.  Here are some that come to mind:

  • When someone takes a toy or food from the dog. This is always a bad idea, but especially bad for children.  Dogs are naturally territorial about their possessions and especially, their food.
  • A dog has not been socialized properly. For example, he has not been around children.  You have visitors, and the kids are excited to see your dog.  They rush toward him, squealing with delight and waving their hands.  This new behavior makes your dog nervous.  The situation could easily and quickly escalate into a dog bite incident.
  • Your dog has an injury or illness that causes pain. When someone touches him at that spot on his body, he reacts to protect himself.
  • A dog with predatory instincts goes after a quick moving object. This can be a bicycle, car, running person or a ball.  Fast movement attracts the dog’s attention.  If you are riding a bike past the dog’s house, and he starts chasing your bike tires, you can be bitten because your leg is in the way.
  • Chained or tethered dogs. From 1979 through 1988, the Journal of the Veterinary Medical Association reports that 26-28% of fatal attacks by dogs were by dogs who were chained at the time of the attack.  Most of the victims were children who approached the dogs.

Signs a Dog is About to Attack

When you pay attention to your dog, you will be able to tell whether he’s really stressed and about to take action, or he is just warning you or someone else.

Growling

Bichon Frise in playful pose
This cute Bichon Frise is using the universal dog body language that means “Let’s play.” This is different from the warning posture used by dogs when threatening someone.

If you listen closely, you’ll see that your dog has different voices.  Growling can be threatening someone or something, or it can be playful growling.

If your dog simply wants to play, he will probably lower his front end onto his elbows, while his back end remains up.  This is universal dog language for “Let’s play.”

Body Position

If a dog is warning you, he will stiffen his body and sometimes “freeze”.  If he does this, he will stare at you with a threatening look.

A dog who is about to attack will raise the hackles on his back and his hair will stand up.  His lip will be raised to show his teeth.  And his ears will be laid back or stand out from his body.

You will also see this dog get into a guarded position, where his neck is a bit lower than shoulder level and his head is reaching forward.

Watch the tail.  It will be wagging nervously and quickly or it could be wagging just at the tip.  In this case, a wagging tail does not indicate a relaxed and happy dog.

If he is getting closer to attacking, the dog may actually lunge or try to get closer to the victim and he may start nipping at the person.

How Serious are Dog Bites?

Dog bites vary in degree.  And, based on the severity of a dog’s biting problem, we can evaluate how dangerous a dog is.  Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist even developed a Dog Bite Scale to make this evaluation objective.

Level 1

The dog snaps at you and bares his teeth.  The dog did not miss you.  His near miss was intentional.  If a dog did this, he probably gave you other warnings like growling or freezing, and you ignored them.  The dog was feeling stressed or fearful and so went directly to the “air bite”.

Level 1 behavior is obnoxious and aggressive behavior that threatens, but there is no teeth contact, no actual bite.

Level 2

This is a more serious warning.  The dog purposefully did not break the skin.  But he intends to make sure that you understand his warning.

At Level 2, there might be slight nicks on the skin and a little bleeding, caused by teeth moving forward or side to side on the skin.  There are no deep penetrating punctures.

Over 90% of all dog bite incidents are at Levels 1 and 2.  Dogs who are aggressive at these levels are not really dangerous.  They are more likely to be fearful, rambunctious and out of control.  This type of dog responds well to training, and the prognosis going forward is good.

Level 3

This is a real bite and it punctures the skin.  However, the punctures are few and shallow.  There is no bruising with this bite.

With this bite, there are usually 1-4 punctures from a single bite, and they are no deeper than half the depth of the dog’s teeth.  There may be some deeper lacerations caused by the person pulling their hand away or by the dog’s owner pulling the dog away from the victim.

At this level, you cannot ignore training.  Treatment can be time consuming and it could also be dangerous, so you should take appropriate precautions, like using a muzzle, if necessary.

Prognosis for this dog is still fair to good, with good training.

Level 4

The dog’s biting is now more ferocious, there are at least 1-4 punctures, and they are deeper.  At least one puncture is deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth.

Level 4 dog bite with deep puncture and bruising
This is an example of a Level 4 dog bite. There is a deep puncture and we see bruising around the wound.

With a Level 4 bite, you may see deep bruising around the wound.  When biting, this dog will hold on for a few seconds and he will bare down.

In addition, there are slashes from the dog biting and shaking his head.  This is very serious biting, and the dog must not be allowed to continue attacking without intervention.  This is a very dangerous dog!

Prognosis for this dog is poor.  When a dog has bitten at this level, it’s really hard to break the habit.  He should be confined to his home at all times, except for visits to the vet, with a muzzle.

Only adults should be near this dog, never children or even guests to the home.  When outside, the dog should be confined to a roofed, chain-link run.

File a report when a dog bites you this hard

If you have had a Level 4 dog bite, you need to file a dog bite report with animal control or the police.  No matter how serious the bite, you should still do this.  The report is filed with local city or county authorities.

Filing this report documents your case and actually helps anyone else who is bitten by the same dog.  This gives the authorities a paper trail and a history.

You’ll want to ask for a history on this dog.  Has it bitten someone before you?

There is a legal category, “potentially dangerous” or “dangerous” that a dog law officer may use.  If the dog has been designated in one of these categories, you’ll want to know that.

Level 5

To be classified as Level 5, a dog must have bitten at least twice at Level 4, and he may have multiple dog bite incidents at other levels.

Because he must be isolated, this dog’s life is very difficult.  His prognosis is very poor, because of the difficulty and danger of trying to rehabilitate an adult hard-biting dog.

One of the problems with this type dog is that owners are seldom wholly compliant, and they tend to make excuses for the dog or defend its actions.

This dog’s life is so difficult in solitary confinement that euthanasia is recommended.

Level 6

This level is horrific, and the victim dies.  This dog is extremely dangerous.  It is not safe to have him around anyone, including his owner.

What to do when a dog bites you

So, even if you have socialized your dog well and trained him to obey you, you or a family member may still be attacked by your dog or another person’s dog.

What should you do?  Well, there are some actions that you should take immediately.  If the injury is serious enough, you may well end up in court over the attack.

Here’s what one dog bite lawyer recommends:

Identify the dog and the owner and get contact information.

Ask for proof of the dog’s rabies vaccination.  If the dog has not been vaccinated, or you can’t prove that he was, you will be forced to undergo a series of painful and expensive shots.  This generally costs over $3000.

Get medical help.  Depending on the extent of the injuries, call 911, see your physician, or go to the emergency room of a hospital.

Even if the injury doesn’t seem that bad, you should do this anyway.  The risk of an infection with a dog bite is very high.

Photograph your injuries

Have someone take photos of your injuries.  Even if the bite did not break the skin but left only bruises.

Include photos of your torn or blood-soaked clothing and make sure you document where the attack occurred.

Get a Lawyer

Legal issues surrounding dog attacks are very complicated.  Part of the problem is sorting out who was at fault.

You will want to be represented, whether your dog bit someone or you were attacked by someone else’s dog.

Start a Journal

You need to do this if you anticipate filing an insurance claim or a claim against the dog owner.  Legal proceedings can take several years.  You need to keep records of your physical changes and your thoughts and feelings.

A good website to check out is https://dogbitelaw.com

Taking Care of the Wound when a Dog Bites You

If you are bitten by a dog, you need to take care of the wound right away.  Depending on how serious the bite is, you should seek medical attention.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) estimates that there are 4.5 million dog bites each year, and nearly one of five bites becomes infected.

Here’s what you need to do, right away:

  • Wash the wound with mild soap and warm water.  Let the water run for 5-10 minutes.  There will be a lot of bacteria in the wound from the dog’s mouth.
  • Slow down the bleeding.  You can use a clean cloth or gauze held tightly on the wound.
  • Apply a cream like Neosporin to the wound.
  • Wrap the wound in a sterile bandage.
  • Change the bandage several times a day.
  • Watch for signs of infection, like swelling, redness, increased pain, fever and pus.

So, of course, the most important approach is prevention.  When you commit to having a dog like a Bichon Frise, it’s important to understand that there are responsibilities that go along with dog ownership.

Training and socializing your dog is critical, for your family’s safety and for the safety of others.

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Why Do Dogs Bite People?

Knowing why dogs bite people will help you prevent aggression issues with your Bichon Frise.  While dog bites are not always predictable, with a carefully chosen dog and good training, most incidents can be avoided.

Every year in the U.S., dog bites put 14,025 people in the hospital.  The average cost for a dog bite hospitalization is $18,200, which is about 50% higher than the average accident related hospitalization.  With dog bites, there are often complications, like serious infections.

Sadly, some people require reconstructive surgery, some have extensive stays in the hospital, and a few never make it home.  In 2020, homeowners’ insurance companies paid out $854 million in liability claims made against owners of the dogs who bit the victims.

Fortunately, not every dog bite requires hospitalization.

However, most of the dog bites that do not require emergency care, are never reported.  So the issue is far more common than most people believe.

Because of all this, as pet parents, we simply cannot ignore the problem.

Tethered dogs like this one often attack people
Dogs who are tethered become frustrated and often attack people who approach them.

This article will discuss:

  • Which dogs are most likely to bite a person
  • Why dogs bite us
  • Breeds most likely to kill
  • What you do to prevent your dog from biting
  • Do you have an aggressive dog?  A downloadable checklist for you

Dogs most likely to bite a person

Over the years, insurance companies and veterinary organizations have gathered data to help us all understand the extent of dog aggression and how we can prevent attacks.

Certain dogs are more likely to attack a person than others:

  • Frustrated dogs that are tethered or on a leash
  • Male dogs that have not been neutered
  • Dogs that have not been properly socialized
  • Cat or small animal chasers – Every dog loves a good chase.  However, when a cat stops, turns around and hisses at the dog, most dogs simply retreat.  The game is over.  On the other hand, if a dog continues to go after the cat, he is overly aggressive and is threatening to both you and the cat.
  • Dogs that were harshly trained or trained to attack.
  • Predator dogs whose instinct is to chase and attack.  The sudden movements of children or a child who is  running can cause a predator to chase the person.  However, keep in mind that, any dog can become a predator when instinct kicks in.

The American Veterinary Medical Association Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human Interactions cites 5 factors that increase the chances of a dog biting.

I’ve added a few additional factors to the group.  Each factor gives us some insight into why dogs bite other dogs or people.

Why Dogs Bite

Breed and parents of the attacking dog

Some breeds are more likely to be aggressive than others.  For example, pit bulls were bred to fight. They are vicious fighters and they often attack other dogs, without provocation.

When pit bulls get into a fight with another dog, pet parents instinctively try to separate the dogs in order to protect their own dog.

Getting into the middle of a dog fight is dangerous business.  A dog who is intent upon fighting with another can easily bite a person by mistake.  This is often how a person is injured by a pit bull or another dog in a dog fight.

However, breed is not everything.  Parental history of the sire and bitch also plays a part.  Not every single pit bull or Rottweiler is  dangerous, so we really can’t say that it’s always a certain breed that attacks.

And any breed dog, including Bichon Frises, will attack if the circumstances are right.  The size of the dog is not an indicator of whether or not the dog will attack!

Socialization of the dog

One reason why dogs bite is that they are not socialized
When your dog is still young, take her everywhere to socialize her.

A dog who has been exposed to all kinds of people, young and old, will be less likely to be stressed, especially around children.

Your puppy also needs to become comfortable in a number of different settings, quiet or noisy and busy.  When your puppy is still young, you need to take the time to take him places with you.

Your puppy needs to be socialized before she is 14 weeks old.  Just like with children, the best time for learning is when your puppy is still very young.

If poorly socialized, a dog reverts to instinct, and he is more likely to be territorial or stressed in new situations and with people he doesn’t know.

A Dog’s Training

Obviously a dog who was trained to protect or attack could be a problem in a social situation.

On the other hand, if a family pet has been poorly trained or not trained at all, he can also become dangerous.

Inadequate training and discipline can lead to a dominant dog becoming aggressive.  This is true, even for a small dog like a Bichon.

Health of the Dog

A dog who is sick or was injured, or old, tired and stiff, can get snarly.  This is especially true if the dog is startled or touched where he hurts.

A dog with a brain tumor, thyroid issue or an old dog with arthritis can show aggression towards people  or other dogs.

Fearful Dogs

In addition to pain, fear can lead to aggression.  A dog who is fearful of everything becomes defensive and then aggressive.

This is simply a form of canine self-defense.  But, even though we know that a dog is protecting himself, we need to change the scenario so he is more comfortable and doesn’t attack others.

Behavior of the Victim

We usually don’t think of the victim as causing an attack.  However, a baby rolling over on a bed or a young child hitting a dog can cause a dog to attack.

If a person approaches a dog quickly and startles it, or if a child pats a dog near the face, the dog can behave defensively.

While we don’t view these simple acts as provocation, your dog may view it differently.

Late Vaccinations

When a dog doesn’t get his first vaccination until after 8 weeks of life, he is more likely to be aggressive.

Un-neutered Males

Statistically, males who are not neutered are more aggressive than neutered ones.  If you are not going to breed your male dog, consider having him neutered.

Males dogs are more aggressive by nature than females.  In fact, of all recorded attack incidents, 70-87% of the attacks were by male dogs.

Multiple Dog Homes

This is where the pack mentality comes in.  More than one dog in a home increases the chances of a dog attack on a person.

The more dogs you have, the greater the chances that one of your dogs will attack someone.

The interactions between dogs are complex, and sometimes instinct wins out over training.

New Dog or Person

A new dog in a home is dangerous for the first 60 days, and a person new to the home (say, a grandchild, mother, or mother-in-law who is visiting) is in danger of attack for the first 60 days.

Approximately 1/3 of all dog bite fatality victims were people who were living temporarily with the dog’s owner when they were attacked.

Fully 75% of these victims were children, 8 years old or younger.

Breeds most likely to kill

You may have seen information on the internet, proclaiming the “myth” of pit bulls being aggressive.

The actual fact is that, statistically, pit bulls are the most likely dog breed to attack and kill another dog or a person.

Second in line are Rottweilers.

Pit bulls, Rottweilers and Presa Canarios were responsible for 65% of canine homicides between 1982 and 2006.

Other breeds that were vicious enough to kill people include:

dog ready to attack or bite
A dog who is getting ready to attack or bite someone, usually gives warnings through his body language.
  • German shepherds
  • Huskies
  • Alaskan malamutes
  • Doberman pinschers
  • Chows
  • Great Danes
  • St. Bernards
  • Akitas.

Fortunately Bichon Frises are not included in this “most aggressive” group.  However, we still need to work with our dogs to keep them from being aggressive.

Given the right circumstances, any breed, including small breeds, can attack and bite.

Although they were pretty far down on the list, Bichon Frises were listed as dogs who have become aggressive and attacked.  We need to socialize and keep our dogs in check.

What can you do to prevent your dog from biting?

Of course, if you already have a dog, some of the following suggestions are not going to help you.  However, if you are like most dog owners, you will have more than one dog in your lifetime.

Going forward, here are a few ways that pet owners can prevent their own dog from biting:

Choice of a Breed

When choosing a dog or puppy, pick a breed that is known to be more relaxed and not aggressive.  This is especially important if you have children or grandchildren in your home.

Choose a Good Breeder

A good breeder will be aware of the puppies’ blood line and any problems with dogs in the line.

If you are getting a new Bichon Frise puppy, ask to see the puppy’s parents.  This is a good time to observe how they interact with you, a stranger.

Socialization

This is critical to having your dog behave appropriately with family members, friends and with strangers.  Start socializing your new puppy as soon as he comes into your home.

Training

When you walk your dog, maintain control of him and practice appropriate behavior when approaching other dogs or people.

Never let your dog run loose at a dog park or the beach until she has been trained properly.

If you are unsure that your dog has been trained properly to avoid aggression, you should check out the Doggie Dan system of training dogs.  It’s very effective and has videos that demonstrate how to work with dog aggression.

Remember that, for most dogs, there is hope.  With proper training, most dogs can become rehabilitated and less aggressive.

Children and Your Dog

Supervise any interaction with children and your dog, especially if your dog does not know the children.  Do not leave an infant or young child in a room alone with any dog.  Big or small, whether the dog has a history of aggression, or not.

Know your dog.  If you see a situation developing where your dog may defend his territory, protect his toy, or fight for his dinner, you need to intervene before someone gets hurt.

Teach children how to approach your dog, and educate them on what they should or should not do, around your  dog.

If your dog is not good with children, make sure that no child approaches your dog unless you are with them, making sure your dog behaves well.

As you can see, there are many reasons why dog bite.

Do You have an Aggressive Dog?

You may be wondering if your dog could be aggressive.  I’ve developed a downloadable checklist that you can use to see if you might have an issue with your Bichon Frise.

If you say yes to any of the questions on the checklist you might have an aggressive dog.  Keep in mind that any breed can be aggressive, and dogs all have different personalities.

You can download my FREE  aggressive dog checklist here.

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Do Bichon Frises get Canine Hypothyroidism?

The simple definition of canine hypothyroidism is that your dog’s body has lower levels of thyroid hormones than she needs, in order to thrive.   When a dog has hypothyroidism, his whole body just slows down.

A Bichon Frise with canine hypothyroidism may gain weight like a pig, but will have a poor appetite.
A Bichon Frise with canine hypothyroidism may gain weight like a pig, but will have a poor appetite.

What Causes Hypothyroidism in Dogs?

Your dog’s thyroid is a little butterfly-shaped gland that is found at the base of her neck.  The thyroid is right beside your dog’s windpipe, near her voice box.

When a dog has hypothyroidism, his thyroid is the guilty party causing the trouble.  Its job is to regulate your dog’s thyroid hormones.  These hormones, in turn, affect your dog’s energy levels, hair growth and health, body temperature and weight.  When the thyroid is not producing enough hormones, your dog suffers from hypothyroidism.

About 90-95% of dogs with hypothyroidism have an autoimmune condition that has actually destroyed their thyroids.  Others have a tumor on the pituitary gland.

While those are the main causes, there are a few more:

  • Unknown etiology – this is medicalese for “nobody knows why”.
  • Congenital disease – A dog can be born with hypothyroidism.  Dogs born with thyroid deficiency or who develop a deficiency as puppies, end up with dwarfism and they are mentally slow.
  • Iodine deficiency
  • Cancer

Breeds of Dogs Most Likely to Get Hypothyroidism

Canine hypothyroidism usually affects mid to large size dogs, and we see it less often in small toy and miniature breeds.

Although hypothyroidism can be found in any breed, we find canine hypothyroidism most commonly in these breeds:

  • Airedale Terrier
  • Golden Retriever
  • Doberman Pinscher
  • Irish Setter
  • Miniature Schnauzer
  • Dachshund
  • Cocker Spaniel

Usually a dog is diagnosed when she is middle aged, between 4 and 10 years old.  The disease is found in both males and females equally.

Interestingly, females who are neutered, are more likely to have hypothyroidism than those that are not.

Hypothyroidism Symptoms in Dogs

Like any other dog hormone diseases, hypothyroidism has quite a few symptoms.  However, the most common ones, seen in most dogs with this condition, are weight gain, lethargy or slowing down and sensitivity to cold.

Behavior

Your dog’s behavior can give you clues to his health.  Look for these signs of hypothyroidism:

  • Aggression – Dogs who are already prone to aggression, can be more irritable
  • Weight gain – The most common medical cause for weight gain is hypothyroidism.  Even though your dog has gained weight, he has a poor appetite.
  • Inactivity – Your dog is not enthusiastic about playing or going for walks.  Blood tests may show that your pet is anemic.
  • Sensitivity to cold – Your dog may shiver when exposed to colder temperatures or he may seek to be where it is warm.
  • Mental dullness – Your dog seems to have trouble understanding what you want her to do.
  • Females (not spayed) – skipped heat cycles, infertility, poor survival of pups in a litter
  • Males – lack of sexual interest, small testicles, low sperm count, infertility

Skin Changes

  • Thinning of hair – You may notice that your dog is shedding more hair.
  • Delayed regrowth of hair after grooming is another sign.
  • Skin – gets thicker, especially on the forehead and face.
  • You may see minor skin infections.
  • Dry, dull coat
  • Dry skin with dandruff or scaling
  • Hyperpigmentation – dark spots that you didn’t notice before

Untreated or Advanced Cases of Hypothyroidism

Of course, if your dog’s illness is not discovered, things could get a lot worse!

  • Vision loss or blindness
  • Nerve disorders
  • Joint inflammation

If your dog has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you will be interested in reading The Canine Thyroid Epidemic:  Answers You Need for Your Dog, by W. Jean Dodds, DVM and Diana R. Laverdure.

What is the Treatment for Canine Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism in dogs is one of the most under or over diagnosed diseases in dogs, based on your view point.  This is mostly because it has symptoms that are common to other hormonal imbalance disorders like Cushing’s, Addison’s, or diabetes mellitus.

If your dog is diagnosed with hypothyroidism, the vet will prescribe hormone therapy.  Your dog will take a synthetic hormone, L-T4.  This synthetic hormone replaces the thyroid hormones your dog lacks.

In most cases, you will see positive changes in your dog’s coat, weight and energy levels after 1-2 months of hormone replacement.

Whenever I can offer a natural treatment solution for your dog, I will do so.  In this case, however, I have not found any natural treatments or herbs that will help correct canine hypothyroidism.

What if Your Dog doesn’t Improve?

If your dog still has all the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, even after 1-2 months of therapy, your vet will consider these possibilities:

  • The dosage is not right yet. – Blood tests will help determine if this is the reason.
  • You are not giving the meds, as instructed (missing doses, forgetting to give them).
  • Your dog is excreting too much of the medicine or his body is not absorbing it well enough.
  • Wrong diagnosis  – So many hormone imbalance disorders look alike, it’s easy for a vet to think your dog has the wrong disease.  Dog disorders caused by hormone imbalance tend to affect every system of your dog’s body.  Thyroid problems in dogs are the most over-diagnosed condition in dogs.

Prognosis for Dogs with Dog Thyroid Disease

Fortunately hypothyroidism in dogs is a disease that we can control easily.  When your dog takes replacement hormones, after a month or two, you will think you have a new dog.

Your dog’s symptoms will disappear, and, if you continue to monitor her progress and give her the meds, she will live a normal life with no residual problems.

Hyperthyroidism in Dogs is Rare

What is Hyperthyroidism in dogs?

The exact opposite of hypothyroidism in dogs is hyperthyroidism.  If your dog has this, his metabolism speeds up and goes crazy.

This is really quite unusual in dogs, so your dog probably does not have it.  However, a few dogs do end up with this condition.

There are really only two causes for hyperthyroidism.  Your dog’s medication for hypothyroidism could be too strong or your dog has carcinoma or thyroid cancer.  The most common cause is cancer.

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms in Dogs

A dog’s faster metabolism drives the symptoms for this disease.

Signs You May See

  • Weight loss
  • Hyper-excitability
  • Huge increase in appetite
  • Extra thirsty
  • Pees more often and larger amount
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • More poop than usual

Symptoms Your Vet May Find

  • Congestive heart failure
  • Faster heart rate
  • Shortness of breath
  • Enlarged heart
  • Heart murmur

How is Canine Hyperthyroidism  Treated?

If a dog is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism caused by cancer, your vet may suggest surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

Even though these treatments are available, the prognosis for dogs with this condition is poor to grave.

 

Bichon Frise puppy lying on his back

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Is Dog Neutering Right for Your Bichon Frise Dog?

If you are a new dog owner, you will eventually need to consider dog neutering or spaying your Bichon Frise dog.

Of course there are pros and cons to neutering, but, when you understand the issues, your decision will become easy.

Male and female dogs are very different when it comes to neutering.

Dog neutering on male and female dogs
Many wonder if male dog neutering will change the masculinity of their puppy.

And your decision about whether to have your male dog castrated or your female dog spayed, will also depend on whether you want to breed your dog or show her.

As you read this article, I will discuss:

  • What is dog neutering?
  • Why do  you need to neuter your dog?
  • Can you get an older dog neutered?
  • Myths about dog neutering
  • Taking care of your dog after neutering
  • Signs of infection or complications

What is Dog Neutering?

When the vet neuters your male or female dog, she removes the possibility of mating and having puppies.  Dog owners decide to have this done for several reasons.

If your dog is a male and he is neutered or castrated, his testicles would be surgically removed.  The scrotum is left intact.

However, there is now a non-surgical way to sterilize male dogs.  There is a chemical, Neutersol, that is injected into the dog’s scrotum, with a small needle.  This is considered to be pain-free.

While surgery reduces testosterone, the injection does not do this.  This means that Neutersol may not eliminate or reduce male dog behaviors like urine marking, roaming or aggressive behavior.

If your dog is female, she could be sterilized by having her fallopian tubes tied off.   Or she might be spayed or altered, which is the most common way of dog neutering for females.  Spaying can be compared to a woman’s hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Why do you need to neuter your dog?

A good question to ask is why have your dog go through this?  If you are not planning to breed or show your Bichon Frise puppy, there are some very good reasons to consider neutering.

The reasons differ for male and female dogs.

Male Dogs

Male dogs who have not been altered have a strong instinct to mark their territories, and that may include the inside of your home.  Urinating on your furniture is not out of bounds.

Male dogs also have a strong desire to find female dogs in heat.  In fact, they have a tremendous ability to find a female in heat, who is quite a distance away.

To get to her, your male dog may dig holes under the fence, become more unmanageable and wander off to find the target of his affection.

And male dogs who have not been neutered do tend to be more aggressive and difficult to manage.  Neutering may help calm down an aggressive male, but it is not a magical cure for aggression.

Medically, a male dog who has been castrated cannot get testicular cancer, and he will be less likely to get prostate diseases like an enlarged prostate.

Female Dogs

If your dog is female, your reasons for neutering will be different.  Female Bichon Frises have two estrus cycles each year.  When in estrus, your dog will have a bloody discharge, which can soil everything from carpeting to furniture.  There are dog diapers available to take care of this issue, so it’s not the only thing to consider.

Female dogs get pregnant.  Unless you are planning to breed your female, you probably don’t want to deal with a litter of puppies routinely.

Sometimes a female manages to breed with another dog, without your knowing it, and dogs are not particularly fussy about their sexual partners.

Aside from the obvious reasons above, there are medical reasons to neuter your female dog.  When you remove the female reproductive organs, your dog cannot get cancers of the reproductive system.  She will also avoid uterine infections like pyometra, which can be life threatening.

In addition, if your dog is spayed before her first birthday, she will be far less likely to get mammary or breast cancer.

Can you get an Older Dog Neutered?

Some vets recommend neutering a dog as early as eight weeks of age.  However, many vets are just not comfortable with performing surgery on such a young dog.

But what if your male dog was not neutered when still young?  Or you got him from a rescue shelter?  It’s still OK to have it done.

No matter how old your male dog is when castrated, his behavior will improve.  And research done on dogs up to 12 years old, shows that you can still do it safely.

For female dogs, the story is a bit different.  If you get your dog spayed before her first estrus, it reduces her chances of getting mammary or breast cancer to zero.  Taking her reproductive organs removes the possibility of cancer in those organs, as well.

One very good reason to neuter your female is that the incidence of mammary tumors in unspayed females is very high.

You can still get protection from mammary cancer if you neuter your dog before her second, third or fourth heat.  After that, though, the protection goes way down.

Myths about Dog Neutering

Because this is an important decision for you, we should talk about some of the myths or false information that circulates about neutering dogs.

These things are NOT true:

  • Sexual experience is important for dogs because they will be more emotionally stable – Sex does not affect your dog’s temperament or mental health.
  • Neutered dogs won’t hunt well anymore – The truth is that your hunting dog will hunt the same as always. His instincts remain the same.
  • If your dog is neutered, she will no longer be a watchdog – Your dog will still alert you to strangers and intruders.
  • Your dog will now get fat – It is true that a neutered dog can gain weight more easily than one who is not. But, you can easily keep weight gain in check by feeding your dog a good diet and making sure she gets exercise every day.  A neutered male dog will require 10% less food than before his surgery.
  • Your female dog will be happier if she has one litter – This is a people thought. Dogs really don’t care.  The sexual instinct in dogs is not emotional.  It is an instinct, just like hunger for food or thirst for water.

How will it Change Your Dog?

Of course it is true that your dog will see some changes if he or she is neutered.  These changes are different for male and female dogs.

If your dog is aggressive and having behavioral problems, it is time to consider neutering.

Changes in Male Dogs

There is some controversy over when to alter a male dog.  Some vets think that castrating a male dog before puberty will prevent him from fully developing his male characteristics, while others just recommend doing it around 6 months old.

If you have your male dog neutered, you can expect to see these changes:

  • Your dog will be less aggressive toward other males and less territorial.
  • At the same time, other dogs will find your dog less competitive and will be less aggressive toward your dog. This is because your dog will not give off the same male hormones and scents.
  • Fewer episodes of mounting your guests
  • Urine marking in the house should stop or be less frequent.
  • Your dog will be less dominant and easier to train
  • He may not run away or roam

Changes in Female Dogs

The thinking on timing a female dog’s spaying has changed.  We used to think that you needed to wait until after the first estrus cycle.  But that is no longer the case.  In fact, neutering a female dog before her first estrus is actually safer.

Female dogs also see changes after spaying.

  • Personality changes – more mellow and settled
  • Your dog may be more hungry, and she may gain weight
  • If you have an alpha female, she may become even more aggressive than before. This is because she no longer has progesterone in her system.
  • Your female dog may be easier to train. She may obey your commands better.

Taking Care of Your Dog after Neutering

The Surgery

When a dog is neutered, he or she undergoes major surgery.  They receive anesthesia and they are unconscious during the surgery.

Just like surgery for you, your dog will be quite groggy for awhile, and she will need some TLC while she recovers during the next few days.

Tips for bringing your dog home after surgery

When you first bring your dog home, she will be sleepy and perhaps off balance.  This will last about 18-24 hours.

There are some things that you can do to keep her safe.

  • At least for the first night, confine your dog to her crate or to a small room.
  • Don’t let your dog have access to steps, even if she normally negotiates them well. She may have balance issues for a few hours.
  • Help your dog in and out of the car. You will need to pick your Bichon Frise up so she doesn’t jump and pop her stitches.  Lift your dog by wrapping your arms around your dog’s chest and front legs and rear and back legs, to support both ends but not hurt the surgical incision.
  • Your dog will be sleepy for the next day. This is normal, and it’s OK to just let her sleep.
  • For your safety and the safety of any children, do give your dog a wide berth. He may be a little grumpy or aggressive, and if handled, your dog may scratch or bite someone.  It’s best to just leave him alone.

Care of the Incision

MIDOG Collar, used to prevent licking and biting after dog neutering
The MIDOG collar is used to prevent licking and biting after an operation like dog neutering.

You will not have to clean or put anything on the surgical incision.  Your dog’s stitches are probably inside, where you cannot see them.

The outside most likely will be glued together.

  • To protect the incision, prevent your dog from jumping and keep his general activity to a minimum. Walking on a leash is a good exercise activity.
  • Don’t let your dog lick or bite his incision. Licking or biting can re-open the incision and cause infection.  There are two ways that you can do this.  The first is a collar that stops your dog from being able to reach his incision.
  • For example the MIDOG collar (picture to the right–also available in rose color) is soft and inflatable.  I like this design better than the older Elizabethan collars that were large and bumped into everything when you dog moved around.
  • You can also use a product like Lick Guard or a Bitter Apple Spray.  Dogs don’t like the taste or smell of these products, and they will not lick or bite the skin area where the spray or gel is applied.

Other Post-Surgical Care for Your Dog

After a neutering operation, your dog will take 7-10 days to heal.  Here are some things you can do to make sure his healing progresses well:

  • Keep your dog’s activity level low. No playing with other dogs or romping around the yard.  During the healing time, keep your dog on a leash.
  • Unless your dog is outside to potty, keep her indoors. Make sure your dog’s bed areas are clean, dry and warm.
  • No swimming and no baths.
  • No grooming. Don’t have your dog groomed until he has completely healed.

Signs of Infection or Complications

Neutering is normally a very safe surgical procedure.  However, with any operation, there is always the possibility of complications or infection.  Knowing what to look for will help you decide if things are normal or you need to call your vet.

When you bring your dog home, look at his incision.  You’ll probably see a small amount of redness and swelling, but no drainage.  This is normal after surgery and this is how the incision should look, as it heals.

Within a few days, the slight swelling and redness will disappear.

If you see these symptoms, you should consider taking your dog to your vet:

  • Discharge from the surgical incision
  • Blood coming from the incision or you can see that the incision has broken open
  • Increased swelling and redness
  • Refusal to eat or to drink water
  • Fever of 102 degrees F
  • Lethargy or lack of energy for more than 24 hours
  • Labored breathing
  • Painful urination or trouble urinating
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting

The overall benefits of neutering a dog who will not be shown or bred, far outweigh the negatives.

In general, if you neuter your dog, she will be healthier and nicer to have around.

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Dog Barking Training that Works

We all love those cute little barks that welcome us when we come home. But, if your dog does not learn when to bark or not to bark, you may find yourself initiating dog barking training.

All dogs bark.  This is the way that they communicate with you and with each other.  And, just as we don’t want our children to be totally quiet all the time, we want our dogs to be able to “talk” sometimes, too.

Dogs bark for many different reasons, and if you listen carefully, you will notice that your dog’s tone changes when she is trying to tell you something.

Your Bichon Frise may have a playful tone, a tone for needing to go outside and a tone to warn you about strangers.

Bichon Frise in red jacket, barking and very much in need of dog barking training.
Cute little Bichon Frises can quickly develop a barking problem that requires a bit of dog barking training.

Of course your dog’s barking needs to be kept under control, and we do need some rules for appropriate barking.

In this article, you will find:

  • Why is My Dog Barking?
  • When Barking is a Good Thing
  • Importance of Being the Pack Leader
  • Types of Barking
  • Do Bark Control Devices Work?

Why is My Dog Barking?

There are tons of reasons that dogs bark.  As you have probably learned, some barking is manipulative, designed to get your attention or to get you to do something.

Other barks are trying to communicate something to you.  Here are some common reasons that dogs bark:

  • Needs to go out
  • Hears a noise, something that seems unusual or threatening. This can be a person or a thing (like a garbage can being moved)
  • Someone is outside (walking or in a car) – Your dog barks because of fear or to protect the other pack members.
  • Boredom or loneliness – Dogs who have separation anxiety may bark. This can be for a short time after you leave, or for the entire time that you are gone.
  • Begging for a treat
  • Reminder that it is time for a meal
  • Your dog was playing with a toy and it went under a chair, where she cannot reach it.
  • Excited about going for a walk or a ride in the car
  • Your dog wants you or another dog to play with her.
  • Confusion – this happens with senior dogs that have dementia or Canine Cognitive Dysfunction.

When Barking is a Good Thing

All dog barking is not bad.  In fact, there are times when you do want your dog to bark:

  • Intruder on your property or in the house – Of course this is really remote for most neighborhoods, but if it does happen, you want to know. However, depending on where you live, your dog may mistakenly bark at a non-intruder:  neighbors down the hall in an apartment, people walking in front of your house, dogs barking down the street.
  • Your dog needs to potty outside – When you dog needs to go, you need to take him out. The consequences of ignoring his request are not fun!
  • Play barking – When you or other dogs are playing with your dog, barking is just your dog’s way of talking to you and having fun.

Sometimes people create a problem for themselves when they want their dog to serve as a watchdog.  Instead of just barking at strangers or intruders, your dog now barks at anything and everything.  This can be corrected if it has become a problem.

Importance of Being the Pack Leader

I’ll talk about this even before I discuss the different types of barking that dogs do.  If you don’t get this right, you will never be able to correct your dog’s behavior problems.

When training a dog, there is nothing more important than your becoming the pack leader.  This is the foundation for all obedience training and for a healthy interaction with your dog.

Dogs are social animals with a very defined social structure or hierarchy.  In a dog’s world, the alpha male and female are leaders.  The others are followers and have a position lower than the alphas.

Someone needs to take the leadership position in your pack or family, and that needs to be you.  That is, if you expect your dog to obey your commands.

If you do not assume the alpha role, your dog will.  And that is when your behavioral issues will start!  If you don’t become the pack leader, your dog will move in and take over.  Someone needs to be in charge!

However, this is not difficult to do.  Follow trainer Doggy Dan’s 5 Golden Rules and you will start to see changes in how your dog interacts with you in no time.

Types of Barking

While some dogs do communicate by making some “talking noises”, all dogs communicate with you and each other by barking.  Your dog is trying to tell you something, using the only language that she knows.

Some dog training “experts” talk about stopping all barking, but that is really not a good idea.

Let’s look at the different types of dog barking:

Territorial Barking

  • Barking at the door – When someone rings the doorbell or parks in your driveway, your dog may bark to alert you to the fact that you have company. To your dog, this is a potential intruder and the situation needs to be assessed.  Is this person OK or not?  If you don’t take charge and make the decision, your dog will assume the responsibility.
  • Barking in the yard – This is often the same kind of situation. Your dog may feel that he has to protect the other pack or family members.  This kind of barking can be a little more complicated though, because your dog could be talking to another dog, trying to get someone to come over to see him or even telling you that the neighbors have a new wheel barrow in their yard (possibly a threat to you).

Take a look at this video where Doggy Dan demonstrates how to get this little Bichon Frise to stop barking when its owner leaves the house.  Notice that putting on shoes is a signal that someone will be leaving soon.  The “going to leave” signal could be getting your pocketbook or putting on a jacket or sweater.

While this video was an actual consulting call and it makes the training seem quite easy.  But, in order to make this work, you still need to show your dog that you are in charge.  To do that, you have to follow the 5 Golden Rules.

You can access all of Dan’s 129 training videos for just $1 now.

Barking on  a Walk

If your dog walks while on a walk, there are a number of possible reasons for the barking.  Certainly there are lots of distractions on a walk.

If your dog is aggressive toward other dogs, you might want to see the article on aggressive behavior.  However, barking is not always being aggressive.  Your dog can simply be excited and over stimulated!

The basic idea is to treat your dog as if there is not danger.  You just walk right past the threat without making a fuss or getting excited.

Another way to calm a dog is to gently take hold of the front of your dog’s collar.  Stoop and turn your back to the other dog, the person upsetting your dog, or whatever the perceived danger is.

This signals to your dog that there is nothing to be concerned about.  You are in charge and you are not worried.  You will be surprised how quickly your dog will calm down.

The video below shows you how to get an aggressive dog to spend time near another dog calmly.  If you have trouble taking your dog on walks or to the park, watch how this is done!

Access the Doggy Dan videos here for just $1 for 3 full days.

Barking Because of Boredom or Loneliness

Most dogs don’t like to be left alone.  Remember that they are social creatures who like being with their other pack members.

Dogs who are lonely or bored can get into trouble, including barking.

Consider getting a couple of toys that challenge your dog’s mental abilities or a Kong toy stuffed with a couple of treats or peanut butter to entertain your dog.

Play Barking

Just like children and sometimes adults, dogs get excited when they play.  As long as they don’t become a nuisance or a danger because of rough housing, this is fun and OK.

When your dog barks during play, she is expressing happiness.  And she is talking to you or the other dogs.

You’ll see your dog do this when she is chasing balls in the yard, swimming for an object that was thrown into the water or running and playing with another dog.

Barking for Attention

Barking for attention is common and it is very easy for a dog owner to reinforce this behavior and make it worse.

If you do any of these things when you dog barks, you are causing a problem:

  • Give your dog a treat when she is barking – You think that a distraction will stop the barking. But, you just gave your dog another reason to bark.  Here’s how your dog sees it.  She just got a treat because she did something that you liked—bark!
  • Speak to your dog – She is speaking to you when barking and when you respond, she thinks you are answering her. And you are!  She just got you to speak to her, and she will do it again.
  • Touch your dog – When you touch a barking dog, you are giving positive reinforcement. Your dog likes to be touched and so will bark again to get patted.
  • Give your dog what she wants – If you just give in and give your dog what she wants, you can be sure that your dog will bark again to get what she wants.

I think you get the idea.  The point is that you, as the head of the household (pack) are in charge and you make the decisions.  Your dog should not be telling you what to do and when to do it!

When your dog makes demands, the best thing to do is ignore him.  It may take him a little while to get the message, but he will get the idea.

Make sure you do reinforce positive behavior so your dog learns what you expect and how to get what she wants by appropriate behavior instead of barking.

Do Bark Control Devices Work?

People do use different approaches when working with their dogs.  There are some devices on the market that many people like.

  • Ultrasonic Anti-barking Device – This device is shaped like a little house. You can place it inside or outside and it will work for a radius of 50 feet.  When your dog starts barking, it emits a sound that your dog can hear, but you can’t hear it.  It works for barking in the yard and for people at the door, two very common barking problems.
  • Anti-Bark Vibrating Collar – The collar has 5 sensitivity levels, so you can use it on puppies or small dogs. The collar does give off a stronger vibration as you increase the level, but it does not shock your dog.
  • Citronella Anti-barking Collar – When your dog barks, the collar sprays some citronella into the air. Dogs don’t like it.  If you prefer, you can also get an odorless spray for the collar.

Still frustrated with your dog?  Why not give the Doggy Dan dog training videos a shot?  You can watch them for 3 days for just $1.  If you decide not to continue, just email Doggy Dan to tell him.  It’s easy to stop the program, and it really is hassle-free!

There may be links in this post that are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission, which does not affect the price you pay for the product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I use personally or believe to be the best value for my readers.

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