Why is my dog suddenly aggressive when picked up after being calm?

Question

We have a dog that we got from a rescue about two months ago. He came from a horrible neglect situation. He's normally a very chill dog. He's my daughter's best friend. He can be picked up 100 times a day without any issues, spends all day getting picked up, played with, etc. However today (just today) he is really really aggressive. My daughter picked him up and he tried to attack her face. So then I tried to pick him up and he did the same thing. Any ideas on what to do? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | neutered | 1 year old | 7 lbs

Sara Farmer, DVM · Accepted Answer

Since this sounds like a sudden change I would recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem first. It is possible that he is painful somewhere and is reacting this way due to pain. I would try not to pick him up until you can see a vet, or wrap him in a thick towel before picking him up. If he seems healthy, you can then discuss what could be causing this behavior with your vet or your vet could refer you to a local animal behaviorist.

Why is my dog suddenly aggressive when picked up after being calm?

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