What Makes Older Dogs More Prone To Biting And Causing A New Haven Dog Bite Injury?

It might be one day out of the blue that your older dog starts to seem a little bit out of sorts.  When he wanted to be pet and loved on before, maybe now he wants to be alone and away from people.  It may be a sudden change in energy or activity, but it is not uncommon.  As dogs age, their mood and mentality changes and this can lead to people being put in precarious situations where a New Haven dog bite injury may occur.

Mood changes don’t just occur by accident there are a number of reasons why dogs become more aggressive and may be more prone to behavior that they otherwise would not have been prone to in the past.  According to the American Veterinary Medical Association one thing that occurs in dogs that makes them more prone to these types of behavior as they age is pain.  Pain will often leave dogs feeling out of sorts and acting in ways that you might not otherwise expect them to behave.  It is important, if you’re the owner of an older dog, to keep an eye out for some of the following behavioral changes that could cause your dog to be more likely to bite someone.

1.) Struggling with stairs.  If your dog cannot easily go up and down a set of stairs, this may be a sign that he is in pain.

2.) When your dog begins to lick or bite a particular spot on his body, this is a sign of pain, if it is a new behavior.

3.) If you’ve always been able to play with your pup and now he doesn’t want to be touched as much and petting him is not welcome anymore, he may be in pain.

4.) Dogs like to sleep, that is no surprise, but if your dog is feeling sluggish, it may mean that he is in pain.

While pain in an older dog does not always lead him to be more aggressive, it can create reactions that lead to a New Haven dog bite injury.  If you know your dog is getting older, it is important to keep an eye out for changes in behavior and ability of the dog to move around freely.   Seeking attention from a vet if your dog is showing any of these signs may be the best thing you can do for the dog and for any interactions he may have with other people around him.

At our firm, we have quite a lot of experience working on cases that involve dog bites.  If you experience an injury you may wish to speak with an attorney who can review your case and work with you to protect your long-term interests.