This Rescue Pup Sleeps by the Door Hoping to Play—But Rage Syndrome in Dogs Keeps Him Isolated
On the outside, Chance — a rescue puppy with the most jovial personality ever — seems like a healthy dog overall with no issues. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Chance has a dark side to him that’s completely beyond his control; one that hinders him from living life like other normal dogs.
Chance suffers from rage syndrome in dogs, an incurable condition that makes him have sudden, unprovoked violent outbursts toward people and other dogs.
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As shared by his owner on TikTok (@chance.and.co), Chance is an incredible pup, but his struggle with rage syndrome makes him unsafe to be around other dogs and people. Since it’s a neurological condition, he can’t be trained out of it. Thankfully, Chance has been on medication ever since his diagnosis, and his rage episodes aren’t as frequent as they were before.
“With a new med regimen and changes to his environment, we have seen remarkable progress. But the vet has been clear that there is simply no cure for this… we have made the commitment to ensure his quality of life and care so that he has an environment that he can be safe in,” Chance’s owner captioned in a TikTok video. “Every rage syndrome situation is unique, and while BE [Behavioral Euthanasia| is typically the end result, we are going to do everything we can to help him continue to live a happy life.”
Due to his condition, Chance isn’t allowed to spend time with other dogs or meet new people for safety’s sake. To compensate for these restrictions, his owners ensure he gets unlimited playtime in the yard and show him extra attention so that he constantly feels loved.
“We want to make sure he has lots of attention and activity to keep him relaxed and happy,” Chance’s owner wrote in a separate video.
Rage Syndrome in Dogs: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Rage syndrome is a rare, complex behavioral condition characterized by random, unprovoked episodes of aggression in a dog with an otherwise friendly personality.
In most cases, the exact cause of this form of aggression isn’t known, hence why rage syndrome is often classified as idiopathic aggression. Experts, however, widely agree that rage syndrome has an underlying genetic or neurological component.
Some breeds have a genetic predisposition to rage syndrome. Findings published in the Veterinary Information Network show that while any dog can develop rage syndrome, English Cocker Spaniels and Welsh Springer Spaniels are among the top breeds prone to this rare condition. On the other hand, brain abnormalities and neurological issues such as psychomotor seizures can also be potential causes of canine rage syndrome.
Rage Syndrome vs. Normal Dog Aggression: What’s the Difference?
Unlike other types of aggressive behavior, dogs with rage syndrome:
- Attack when not triggered
- Don’t show warning signs before they attack
In normal cases of aggression, the aggressive dog is usually reacting to an identifiable trigger in their environment that’s making them feel uneasy or distressed. Plus, the dog will display subtle or obvious warning signs of aggression before attacking, such as yawning, tucked tail, intense staring, stiff body language, growling, lip-licking, or teeth-baring.
With rage syndrome, though, these aggressive incidents happen without warning and without anything triggering the dog.
“My boy has slowly been showing aggression over the last year. It came out of nowhere…this aggression wasn’t making any sense. It was not resource-guarding, not food aggression, and definitely not fear-based. I took him to 3 dog trainers, had multiple sessions. I took him to the vet, full workup up done. No issues health-wise. Then one by one each of the trainers and the vet told me what they strongly believe it is: rage syndrome or idiopathic aggression,” wrote user @brit1109 in a Reddit post on sudden rage syndrome in dogs.
“I was in a similar position with a female GSD I rescued. She would just randomly, with no warning, attack…Most times she was great, but a ticking time bomb. For her sake as well as the people, especially children and dogs around her, we had to let her go,” another user commented.
Common Signs of Rage Syndrome in Dogs
According to certified dog behaviorist Sean Martin of Madra Training, the most common sign of rage syndrome in dogs is unpredictable aggressive behavior in the absence of a trigger. And since these rage episodes occur without warning, additional symptoms are often observed during and after the attack.
“Symptoms of rage syndrome include abrupt aggressive outbursts where a dog may attack without warning, often directed at familiar people or other animals. During an episode, the dog’s eyes may appear glassy or vacant, and the dog may not seem to recognize familiar individuals during an attack. After an episode, dogs often appear confused or disoriented, sometimes exhibiting signs of distress or guilt. Understanding these symptoms is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention,” Martin explains.
Usually, a dog having a rage episode won’t respond when you attempt to stop the attack. They’ll then return to their normal friendly self shortly after the aggressive episode.
Diagnosis & Treatment for Rage Syndrome in Dogs
Due to its complex nature, rage syndrome diagnosis often involves a series of tests, among them:
- A complete physical and medical examination to rule out any health issue that could be behind the aggressive behavior.
- Neurological examination and tests such as Electroencephalogram (EEG) and MRI to establish any neurological abnormalities
- A comprehensive behavioral assessment to determine if the dog indeed has rage syndrome or is suffering from another form of aggression.
Since rage syndrome has no known cure, dogs diagnosed with this condition have to be on lifelong medication to manage their aggressive episodes. The most common type of medications prescribed for dogs with rage syndrome include anticonvulsants and anxiolytic drugs. A combination of medications may also be issued.
In addition to medication, working on a behavior modification plan with the help of a veterinary behaviorist can also help improve the affected dog’s quality of life. Dogs with rage syndrome may also benefit from a specialized diet aimed at supporting brain health
In cases where the dog’s aggressive outbursts persist even with medication, some dog owners ultimately opt for behavioral euthanasia.
Idiopathic Rage Syndrome in Dogs FAQs
What is rage syndrome in dogs?
Rage syndrome is a rare, complex behavioral condition whereby an otherwise friendly dog exhibits sudden outbursts of aggression in the absence of identifiable triggers.
What causes rage syndrome in dogs?
In most cases of rage syndrome, the exact cause is not known (hence why it’s referred to as idiopathic aggression). Experts, however, say that there’s usually a genetic or neurological component behind this condition.
How common is rage syndrome in dogs?
Rage syndrome isn’t common in dogs; it’s a rare condition.
What medication for rage syndrome in dogs works?
The most common types of medications prescribed for dogs with rage syndrome include anticonvulsants and anxiolytic drugs.
Is rage syndrome in dogs curable?
Unfortunately, rage syndrome has no cure. It can only be managed through medication.
