Max is normally a cuddlebug. He's goofy and loves to play play play all the time. He has always been well mannered and has never begged for food or been snappy, etc. He never has accidents in his crate.
He has been on prednisone for about a week to treat a pretty bad skin allergy flairup and an infection between his toes on one foot and an ear infection in one ear (This is what I get for leaving in the care of "grandma" while I am out of town.) He takes one pill per day, but I don't have the bottle with me, so I'm not sure of the dosage. He's also on an anti-fungal medication that I had to get at a people pharmacy.
Several times in the last few days, he's peed in his crate while I am gone at work. I know this is a side effect of the steroids. He also has increased panting (steriods, too, I know.) He's been fine with me, but has been begging from my son and tried to steal food (string cheese) from my daughter yesterday. I have never seen him do this before. I know the steroids can make him hungry, but I've never seen him show any sort of "dominant" behavior like this toward my kids.
This weekend was beautiful outside. I took him to my BF's mother farm. She has a whole pack of dogs, 3 American Bulldogs, 2 boxers, 1 pit, and a jack russel. Max always gets along with ALL of them very well. One of the Americans is his special best friend. She tried to initiate play with him a few times, but he seemed uninterested. A bit later, he came over and started playing with her (he initiated, and they were playing the way the ALWAYS play). After about...a minute of playing, he bristled and snarled at her. My boyfriend says "Roid Rage" lol -- funny, but not funny. Then, I took him to the vet for a recheck on his skin/ears and he went bananas, pulling on the leash and snarling and barking at a German Shepherd that was minding her own business. This is so uncharacteristic of him.
I have been wanted to add another bully to our family (hopefully a rescue) but now I am apprehensive about him even meeting new dogs. And I know he can likely feel that I am anxious. Have any of you experienced aggression increase during prednisone use? I don't want his behavior to become a learned pattern while he is on the meds. What can I do? Should I just try to keep him separated from other dogs? Help!
He has been on prednisone for about a week to treat a pretty bad skin allergy flairup and an infection between his toes on one foot and an ear infection in one ear (This is what I get for leaving in the care of "grandma" while I am out of town.) He takes one pill per day, but I don't have the bottle with me, so I'm not sure of the dosage. He's also on an anti-fungal medication that I had to get at a people pharmacy.
Several times in the last few days, he's peed in his crate while I am gone at work. I know this is a side effect of the steroids. He also has increased panting (steriods, too, I know.) He's been fine with me, but has been begging from my son and tried to steal food (string cheese) from my daughter yesterday. I have never seen him do this before. I know the steroids can make him hungry, but I've never seen him show any sort of "dominant" behavior like this toward my kids.
This weekend was beautiful outside. I took him to my BF's mother farm. She has a whole pack of dogs, 3 American Bulldogs, 2 boxers, 1 pit, and a jack russel. Max always gets along with ALL of them very well. One of the Americans is his special best friend. She tried to initiate play with him a few times, but he seemed uninterested. A bit later, he came over and started playing with her (he initiated, and they were playing the way the ALWAYS play). After about...a minute of playing, he bristled and snarled at her. My boyfriend says "Roid Rage" lol -- funny, but not funny. Then, I took him to the vet for a recheck on his skin/ears and he went bananas, pulling on the leash and snarling and barking at a German Shepherd that was minding her own business. This is so uncharacteristic of him.
I have been wanted to add another bully to our family (hopefully a rescue) but now I am apprehensive about him even meeting new dogs. And I know he can likely feel that I am anxious. Have any of you experienced aggression increase during prednisone use? I don't want his behavior to become a learned pattern while he is on the meds. What can I do? Should I just try to keep him separated from other dogs? Help!