r/Boxer • u/StrawberryMilkCowMOO • 2d ago
Random aggressiveness
My 10 year old boxer snapped at me and my brother today and I am absolutely devastated we've had him since he was 4 years old and he has never done anything like this before. Its hard not to take it personally but im more worried that this may be the start of some sort of cognitive decline for him. I'm going to schedule are vet appointment right away. If you've experienced anything similar or have any advice I would appreciate it greatly
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u/1Boxer1 2d ago
The only time my boxer did this to me was when he started having seizures and as the seizures went on and he was on medication, he would basically black out, but be conscious, and not know what is going on, so he would lash out at anyone that would come close to him. He was diagnosed with a fast growing brain tumor and I had to make the toughest decision ever and have him put to sleep shortly after. He also took my bedroom door of its hinges during one of these episodes and I thought he had broken his neck because he collapsed but his legs continued to run while he was down. That was one of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced with him and I cried while holding him in my arms.
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u/StrawberryMilkCowMOO 2d ago
That's so awful im so sorry, at least he's at peace now but I know that must of been a terrible decision to make.
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u/Sea_Part_1581 2d ago
I feel ya! My sweet girl started getting “petite mal” seizures. We started medication but it was too little too late. Had a “Grand mal” and never stopped till we got her to the emergency vet. Absolutely horrifying experience. Not the way I wanted her to go out for sure. I’m sure she will have a few choice words for me when I see her on the other side of the rainbow bridge. 😢
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u/Custom_Craft_Guy2 2d ago
Was it pretty dark in the room when this happened, or was it brightly lit? Sometimes as they get older, they start to lose their visual acuity, particularly in low light. And if they’re startled or surprised, they just don’t recognize you, and hence the snap. None of this may apply to your situation, but it is something that happens with older dogs, so I thought I’d throw it out there for you.
All my hopes are with you all.
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u/StrawberryMilkCowMOO 2d ago
Thank you so much, I will keep this in mind because the vet has mentioned his vision loss previously
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u/TheGratitudeBot 2d ago
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u/PlatypusSafe5189 2d ago
If he's not feeling well or a a new tender area, could make him guarded and that could be the cause. Glad you made an appointment to get him checked
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u/StrawberryMilkCowMOO 2d ago
UPDATE: He just threw up so I think he was just feeling sick but ill still be bringing him to the vets. Thank you for everyone's replys
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u/Octopus_wrangler1986 2d ago
Vision loss can also play a part with unexpected aggression. Be calm and just work through the process. Always announce your presence and be gentle with him. Don't take it personally but keep him away from other folks right now. I wish you a quick answer and resolution.
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u/attractiveblonde 2d ago
My guess is he’s not feeling well or in pain as others have noted. IMO - I would go and do a set of random abdominal x-rays and see if there is anything sus going on. That’s how my veterinarian found out my dog was sick when another vet clinic kept sending me in circles and shoving pills my way.
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u/StrawberryMilkCowMOO 2d ago
You were very correct about the not feeling well bit, im still taking him to the vet and the xrays are a good idea
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u/Hour-Marketing8609 2d ago
Pain. My 5 yr old snapped me pretty good in the nose a few months ago. He had hurt his leg running in the backyard. This Dog worships me and I love him more than life so it crushed me. Only incident I've had and I'm 99% certain it was the leg injury
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u/StrawberryMilkCowMOO 2d ago
I very much feel that I think I cried for 2 hours and it didn't even break skin
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u/Distinct_Memory_7411 1d ago
My boxer started getting snappy at 10 she had bad sore hips. I had to make sure my kids and her were separated,( she was still very loved on ) she live to 13 . Definitely keep an eye on this and if snappy avoid small kids please .
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u/surfaceofthesun1 1d ago
Vet. Arthritis. Pancreatitis. Ear infection. Glaucoma. Have him checked for glaucoma —- I missed this on my senior boxer and it was devastating. It’s very painful and they act out because it hurts and their vision goes.
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u/cheeseforthesoul 1d ago
My first boxer, Max, developed a brain tumor and started becoming aggressive, but only toward guests. He stayed completely gentle and sweet with my parents, my siblings, and me. We were only 4 or 5 at the time. I find it interesting that your boy snapped at family members he knows so well. That can happen with both pain and neurological issues.
Pain is a very common cause of sudden aggression in older dogs (arthritis, dental pain, spine issues, etc.) and it’s often treatable, so I’m glad you’re getting him to the vet right away. Boxers also have a higher risk of brain tumors than a lot of other breeds, and those can cause personality changes and aggression that come and go.
In the meantime, try not to take it personally. He’s not choosing this. Give him extra space, avoid forcing interactions, and keep an eye out for other signs like circling, head pressing, vision changes, restlessness at night, or seeming confused in familiar places. Those can help the vet narrow things down.
Hoping you get answers soon and that it’s something manageable. ❤️
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u/Dangerous_Shop_6559 3h ago
The vet is definitely the first place to start. New onset of pain or further vision changes can cause behavior changes. My Boxer is 9 and a half years old and he's always been really laid back and tolerant but about 8 months ago he started seeming like he was on edge and not quite himself so I took him in to the vet and during his exam everything looked good except the vet was starting to notice some muscle deterioration of his hips which is really common in Boxers as they get older so we started him on an antiinflammatory and before I knew it he was back to his old self so I hope things work out well with your visit.
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u/meanoldmrgravity 2d ago
A reactive snap could be related to pain. Your vet should have recommendations, but I'd try a general painkiller and narrow it from there.