I have a 4 year old female GSP that has become increasingly aggressive. Two years ago she was put on phenobarbital because she had a couple of seizures. Today she attacked a little boy at the soccer field. She was on a leash and she was unprovoked. Could you tell me if you are aware of phenobarbital making a dog aggressive? We love this dog so much and the thought of putting her down is breaking our heart. I've decided to take her off the medicine - what do I have to lose? She has also developed separation anxiety over the past two years. We've been able to correct this problem pretty much, but it sometimes rears it's ugly head. She's an awesome hunter and a wonderful pet. Please help if you have any information or could direct me to another source. Thank you.

A:  Thank you for writing. I'm sorry to hear about the problems you're having with your dog. . . Please don't take this the wrong way, but the questions you have posed to me are best-suited for your veterinarian rather than a breeder and/or trainer such as myself.

That being said, however, I would NEVER attempt to alter the amount given or take a dog off of phenobarbitol completely without veterinary consultation, recommendation and oversight, and I would never encourage anyone else to do so, either. As you probably realize, phenobarbitol works largely through the effective maintenance of therapeutic levels in the bloodstream. It is my understanding that quitting such a medication cold turkey can result in many bad results, not the least of which is a spate of increased seizure activity. I would urge you to talk this over completely with your vet before attempting such a course of action on your own. . .

While it's possible that a medication such as phenobarbitol can contribute to aggression, it is also possible that the increased aggression could be related to the underlying seizure problem. My experience has been that seizures can cause aggression, and sometimes are the only sign of them. The aggression may often be misdiagnosed. It is possible that your dog's level of phenobarbitol is no longer sufficient to control all the seizure activity, and may need to be adjusted by your veterinarian. If that is the case, you can imagine that taking your dog off the medication entirely might exacerbate the problem, rather than alleviate it.

The separation anxiety is another issue which should be talked over with your vet. Although sometimes it can be alleviated or reduced through behavior modification or a change in environment, often times it can only be alleviated through medication. Several meds and homeopathic treatments are now being utilized quite effectively for this disorder. . .

Lastly, let me make two recommendations. . . first, I hope that you have notified your dog's breeder of the difficulties that she is going through. The breeder should be alerted that seizure activity and separation anxiety are present in his/her bloodlines, so that he/she can make an informed decision about the possibility of genetic or heritable traits contributing to these disorders. If they are unaware, they may be unknowingly breeding the same dogs and producing other dogs with these problems. Second, if you haven't already done so, I hope that you will consider spaying your pet. You would never want to willingly breed a dog with a seizure disorder, nor would you want to risk an accidental pregnancy. In addition to the obvious benefits of preventing pregnancy, your dog could realize other health benefits from spaying as well. . .

I hope this information is helpful to you. Let me know what your vet says. . . Good Luck.

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