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My old husky attacks over food. Can medication help her aggression?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Siberian Husky | Female | spayed | 90 lbs

Our 14 year old female Alaskan Husky sometimes attacks our other 14 year old females mutt over food. We feed them in separate locations, but it's not helping. It happens about once every two weeks or so. We are seriously considering finding other living arrangements for the Husky, but a friend said maybe there is a medication that would mellow her out. Is there such a thing that would really work? The last time she attacked, the poor mutt had to get 4 stitches and it cost over $600.00...

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 14th, 2018

Medication can be used in cases of dogs who have food aggression, but it needs to be combined with behavioral therapy. If all you do is give Shelby medication, it still does not change the underlying cause of the behavior. I would take her into the vet to discuss using medication for her as well as a referral to a professional behavioral expert. I never recommend owners try to train a dog with aggression on their own due to safety issues. Give you vet a call today to set up an appointment for her. In the meantime, I would feed your dogs in completely separate rooms as far away from each other as possible. Keep Shelby in her own room, and do not let her out until your other dog has eaten all her food and the bowl has been put away. Best of luck!

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