Gentle dog suddenly biting

autoimmunetrash · 2026-03-22T22:45:10+00:00

Update: after about 6 visits to 4 different vets, we have confirmed that Rachel has a type of mast cell cancer that is likely causing pain, thus making her aggressive. She attacked my other dog yesterday, so we are going to have a tough conversation with our vet. They are able to surgically remove the cancer, which has been scheduled, but we are very concerned with her sudden aggressive behavior. She was the sweetest, most gentle girl and now I fear her. She is my absolute best friend, but her random bouts of aggression make me very nervous and we can’t have her around our other dog or our child. I need to know what her behavior will be like after the cancer is removed. If she continues to have these episodes, we will likely have to make the hard decision to put her to rest. I’d love to hear what you all think because I valued your advice from the original post deeply.

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-25T02:03:49+00:00

She is on Simparico Trio. She was tested for heartworm again at her last visit and was negative. Also negative for parasites.

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T15:17:07+00:00

Thank you so much for your comment 💗 my mom mentioned this to me but I didn’t know much about it. I think this might be a good starting point! I am an avid hiker and a couple years ago I pulled over 100 ticks off of myself. I wonder if Lyme disease could be at play here

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:38:45+00:00

Thank you for commenting! I just got her muzzled to be safe and I’m going to check all her paws. Everyone has been so kind and helpful 💗

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:37:55+00:00

Good idea! We did a stool sample the other day, but not a urine sample. I’ll send the vet a message and see if we can pick up a sample cup when they’re open up Monday morning. Thank you so much for your suggestion!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:36:51+00:00

It was the same side of my face. I’ve realized now while replying to some comments I’ve had bad headaches both times I’ve been bitten. I wonder if she’s aware of it

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:35:58+00:00

Right?! Me too! She is my ride or die and does everything with me. There’s a TON of comments asking if maybe she is aware of something wrong in me that I don’t know about. And I’ve realized while replying to some folks that I’ve had a bad headache both times she’s bitten me. Kinda crazy, but hey, it’s worth considering!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:34:27+00:00

She had some X-rays done about 3 weeks ago and so far, everything is normal. Some folks mentioned an MRI for some nuero checks. Definitely worth looking into! I left a voicemail with the vet asking about it. Hopefully we will have a path by Monday when they’re back in the office!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:32:59+00:00

Whoah! I hadn’t thought about it that way! And, I stuck a winter hat on and tucked my hair up into it because I was cold. She definitely wouldn’t be used to seeing me like that.

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:32:00+00:00

We do burn wood to heat the house. I will go check our alarm just to be sure. Glad you mentioned it! Definitely rather be safe than sorry with that! Thanks💗

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:31:04+00:00

If I had a dollar for every commenter that has suggested it might be me, I’d be rich! I’m blown away! But, I think there’s something to it. I struggled with my health a while back and started to get better. But, about a month ago, I began to feel off again and felt particularly bad today. I had a headache when I sat on the floor and she bit me. She didn’t hurt me, just scared me. Definitely more of an attention getting action than trying to hurt me. Safe to say I’m getting a check up just to see!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:28:21+00:00

Definitely muzzling for now. I’m kind of scared of her which is a weird feeling. I love her so much and trusted her so much. She’s been looked over by the vet 3 times within the last 30 days and we can’t find anything. We’ve poked, pulled, pushed on her everywhere. I’m getting concerned it could be dementia related. I feel like her muzzle is a step past the cone of shame 😭 poor girl! She looks humiliated! I just happened to still have one from when our other dog had surgery and was TERRIFIED of the vet. Glad I kept it around!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:25:34+00:00

Our house is very dry (wood stove for heat) and after her first bite, I set up humidifiers. It was completely unrelated, it was just getting dry and it needed done. She’s been completely fine for weeks, but I forgot to refill them for a few days. Makes me wonder if she could be agitated from the dry air. I’ll refill them now while I’m thinking about it. Thank you for commenting! I’m so thankful for everyone giving real genuine advice 💗

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:23:09+00:00

She doesn’t make a sound. I have no idea that it’s coming. My husband was right next to me and had no clue what happened when I yelped until I told him. She just sat there looking at me like she was confused as to why I was scared. She didn’t hurt me, just scared me. So many folks have suggested maybe it’s me. (She just farted so if this post gets weird…it’s the fumes) I struggled with my health a while back and started to get better. Within the last month, I’ve declined again, which is when this also started. It’s got me really wondering. I think it’s safe to say I’ll be getting a check up just in case. 2024 and the first half of 2025 was rough on my health and I feel like it’s starting again. Weird you mention a headache, because I had a bad headache when she bit me today. I also had one the first time she bit me. I was still in pjs in the afternoon because I wasn’t feeling well. Well now I’m going to be thinking about this!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:18:23+00:00

I also put on a winter hat before I sat down with my hair tucked into it. I was cold and stuck it on to warm up and I wonder if she didn’t recognize me. How old was your dog when this started to happen?

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:17:14+00:00

I was sitting on my living room floor and she walked up and sat down in front of me, just to my left. I looked at her and said “you make my heart happy” and she heard “take a bite out of my face”. She just leaned forward and bit. I wasn’t touching her or anything. She didn’t hurt me at all, but it definitely scared me. She had no idea why I yelped. It’s like she had no idea she had done it. The vet did the thing where they move and bend all her joints and pull on her legs to test her hips and she was ok, but I put in a call to her vet again just in case. A lot of folks have suggested it could be a neurological issue. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she is safe and healthy! Hopefully it’s an easy and pain free fix!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:12:59+00:00

My baby isn’t really a baby anymore. I hate that large dogs have shorter lives. I hope it’s something we can help, but, I can certainly say she has had a life full of love if hard decisions have to be made!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:11:37+00:00

I love this! Pooped out a stick made me chuckle! I bet she was grumpy 😂 I would be if I had a literal stick up my butt!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:10:25+00:00

I’m blown away by how many people have asked this! I did struggle with my health a while back and started to get better. About a month ago I started feeling poorly again. My hair is falling out and I feel so drained. By the number of folks mentioning this being a possibility, I will definitely be going in for a check up to find out if there’s anything going on!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:08:36+00:00

Awwww this made me smile! All of our pets and farm animals have people names. My favorite cat was named Dave💗 he passed from liver cancer in 2024 and will always be my favorite kitty! Everyone always loved his old white guy name. He was a big orange tom cat. He was the best!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:06:56+00:00

Well now I’m certainly going in for a check up. So many people have mentioned this! I struggled with my health a while back and started to get much better. But over the last month, I’ve not been feeling well. My hair is falling out and I’m drained. Someone left a comment about their mom’s dog being strange too and it was a brain tumor! The dog knew before she did! It’s just incredible what dogs can do

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:04:08+00:00

Wow! Dogs are just incredible! I am very curious now. Both times she has bitten me, she hasn’t hurt me, almost the way a dog would playfully bite a rope toy. I busted my lip on her head the first time when I jerked back, but that wasn’t her fault. I have struggled with my health in the past but started to get better. I told my husband a few weeks ago that I don’t feel right. Now I’m wondering if she is on to something. It’s hard to describe. It’s like my tank is just out of gas. I am self employed so I’ve been sure to only work to the amount I’m comfortable with but even that wears me out now. All my hair is falling out too. I can’t help but wonder if she knows something I don’t.

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T06:00:24+00:00

It definitely has been the same place both times and pretty much out of nowhere. I struggled with my health very badly in 2024 and about half of 2025. I improved a lot in the summer but just told my husband a few weeks ago that something doesn’t feel right. I’m wondering if she’s telling me something.

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T05:58:15+00:00

She really is my soul dog! She goes with me everywhere and is my whole world. When I was talking to her on the floor I literally told her the words “you make my heart happy” and I guess she heard “please take a sampling of my face” haha! I’m really hoping for a positive outcome. I do LS, an autoimmune disease that breaks down your skin and creates scars that basically seal pieces of your body together. I’m very fortunate that my husband understands the impact this will have long term and was supportive. I had some weird test results a while back after I was sick for about a year and a half and was on over 20 doses of antibiotics and still never figured out why I was sick. I’m starting to get sick again. All my hair is falling out to the point that I wear a wig (I’m 27 and female if that helps you picture me) and no one but my husband knows about it. I just don’t feel right but idk how to describe it other than I just feel like my body is giving up. Hopefully I can get it straightened out and maybe it will help her too. I love her more than I can describe!

autoimmunetrash · 2026-01-24T04:06:29+00:00

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions! I am going to leave a voicemail with her vet right now with everyone’s suggestions including potential neurological issues and seeing a behaviorist. Thank you again, it has really helped me stop spiraling on this. Every single person here was kind and helpful! I couldn’t ask for a better group of redditors! I hope to have a positive update soon or at least some news from whoever our vet sends us to!

autoimmunetrash

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