My youngest boy last night and tonight has attacked my old 14 year old girl, not badly but I haven't a clue why.  He seems happy in himself and Lydia has been in brilliant health since her bad time earlier this year.  Just hoping that the same thing isn't going to happen again with her health because just before the episode her daughter who no longer lives with us was doing the same thing.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Hi there

Im sorry to hear about this problem.  Is there normally any upset in the house?  If not, I would tend to get her checked out by the vet.  If this is a new behaviour it could be to do with the fact that she can;t be bothered and the younger dog is teasing.  What started the attacks?

Kind regards
Spettadog

Is the breed prone to epilepsy, or something similar? Dogs will detect a change in the brain waves (no idea how....) and he could be picking up on it.

I'd get her down to the vets for a check up. She could be ill and he is not liking it. :(

Sorry, I read this wrong.  I thought the older dog was attacking the younger one.  Completely agree with Lindylou.  My young cocker gets upset when Baz, my older dog has one of his episodes.  The vet thinks he is epileptic but only has the episodes rarely so is not on medication.  It is horrible when this happens as I feel Jack is ganging up on Baz but its just the way dogs are.  I would definitely get her to the vet for a check up.

Good luck
Kind regards
Annie

I'd get both dogs to the vet for a checkup - I agree that he might be picking up on something wrong with her, but equally, he might be reacting to an issue of his own.

For him the first thing I'd want checked after physical discomfort is his thyroid - sudden aggression can be a symptom of hypothyroidism.  Full panel though, none of this 2 or 3 factor rubbish!

I've had the full panel done on him twice now as his dad has hypothyroidism and everythings been fine.  He is a bit possessive of toys now and again but they were not around on the two occasions.  I am a bit worried about Lydia because if you remember her daughter was doing the same to her before she had her funny episode at the start of this year.  At the moment she seems fit and extremely active and doesn't look ill at all.  My vets though I was mental at the start of the year as they couldn't find anything wrong with her as such. 

Has she had blood tests and the like?  Remember, dogs can detect things you might not think of - infections, possible cancers, the aforementioned epilepsy, all sorts.

How are things going now, have they settled down?