Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Interdog aggression in 38 dog pairs and treatment results
By Wrubel, Kathryn M et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2011·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Interdog household aggression: 38 cases (2006-2007).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 38 pairs of dogs that were fighting in the same household, often due to issues like food, excitement, or owner attention. Most of the aggressive dogs were younger or new to the home, and many had backgrounds that included multiple households or shelter adoptions. To help reduce fighting, veterinarians recommended a structured program where one dog had priority access to resources and, in some cases, prescribed medication. After treatment, owners reported a 69% improvement in the frequency and severity of fights between their dogs.
People also search for: why is my dog aggressive to another dog · dog fighting in household treatment · interdog aggression solutions
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors associated with interdog household aggression and determine treatment outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective case series and survey. Animals-38 pairs of dogs with interdog household aggression. Each pair of dogs was considered 1 case. PROCEDURES: Records of dogs with interdog household aggression that were examined during initial or follow-up consultations at a veterinary teaching hospital from December 5, 2006, to December 5, 2007, were analyzed for clinical features. Data regarding outcome, owner compliance, and efficacy of recommended treatments obtained by use of a follow-up survey were evaluated. RESULTS: Most cases (30/38 [79%]) of interdog household aggression involved same-sex pairs; 26 of 38 (68%) cases involved 1 female or a pair of females. Instigators and recipients of aggression were clearly identified in 27 of 38 (71%) cases; most instigators were the younger of the pair (20/27 [74%]) or were newer additions to the household (19/27 [70%]). Fight-eliciting triggers included owner attention, food, excitement, and found items. Some dogs had risk factors for behavior problems such as a history of living in multiple households (21/51 [41%]), adoption after 12 weeks of age (20/51 [39%]), or being acquired from a shelter (17/51 [33%]). Effective treatment recommendations included implementing a so-called nothing-in-life-is-free program, giving 1 dog priority access to resources, and administering psychotropic medication. Frequency and severity of fighting were significantly reduced after consultation. Owners reported a 69% overall improvement following treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Most treatment strategies were considered effective. Consistency and predictability of social interactions are essential in resolving interdog household aggression.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21401430/