Anxiety

[Margaret Curry]

I have a Labradoodle, Sadie who is 4 and a Goldendoodle, Sara who is 3.

Sadie is very frightened of loud noises.  She was ok until she was about a year old.

She has developed a fear of gun shots, fireworks, riding lawnmower and sneezes.

 

Sadie has become increasingly more disturbed by loud sounds.  Sara our other dog is not affected by noise. 

If one of us is on the riding lawnmower she paws at the other person, pants and shakes. We have about 2 acres in lawn so this happens every week.

 

Both of my dogs are about 75 lbs.  Does anyone know of anything which will calm a dog down without affecting her health.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Rescue Remedy--but it doesn't last very long. Both my neighbor and I were discussing it the other night and we both feel it lasts about a 1/2 hour. I've used it on cats and dogs especially when I brought a foster into the home. It is safe for humans also.

You can purchase this at most Health Food Pharmacies over the counter for about $10.99.

Starlit has high anxiety also. I'll be watching to see what everyone else says. It is so hard to get them over the FEAR Hurdles :(

[shelly]

I'll be watching as well - as I have been trying to find some way to get Tori over her anxiety while going in the car...even just 15 minutes - she goes very willingly, but gets so worked up on the ride that she gets the "poops" IN the car as we drive - I will look for Rescue Remedy...

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Shelly,
I have been very successful getting Starlit over the anxiety of riding in the car. I wrote about it when I first started trying and since then this really works.

Even though I wrote below about what happened tonight--we were in a car she rarely travels in and she was without her Spud ( her leader and adviser ) otherwise she is great. This time I left her alone for 4 whole minutes. Different story. But she does ride very well now.

Here is a link http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/car-sickness-another

Short rides--one to three miles. Lots of rewards. It is all in the blog. Starlit is extreme and now she wiggles if we say car ride.

My dash board is covered in dog cookies :)

[shelly]

Thanks Joanne! Now that I'm home from vacation and off for the summer, I have more time to work with her. She does walk around in the back of my van with a plastic tablecloth (cheapo ones) across the back for whenever she decides to "go". I'm going to start taking her a bit around the neighborhood, then come home and go straight in the back yard to play. I did this once before and stopped in a school yard near our house to play, but as soon as she got out - she pooped! Maybe it was too unfamiliar to her. Also, maybe the anticipation of only going in the car to go to the vet and groomer gets her anxious... she's one smart dood ya' know! LOL As far as TREATS for the car? Tori must be part Italian, 'cause she LOVES her bread (and bagels too) I'll have to use that for a while -lol

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

I have read that melatonin can help dogs with thunderstorms, perhaps it can help in your situation.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think it would be best to see if you can address this issue behaviorally. If that doesn't work, here is what one vet has to say about tranquilizers. I would have reservations about phenothiazine derivatives.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Which one contain phenothiazine derivatives? Melatonin?

[F, Calla & Luca]

No, one in the article. Whoops, forgot to out in the reference as usual. Actually, not sure where the one I meant went to but here's another one. I personally, now that I've thought about it think a Prozac like drug, which you and I have discussed before would be a better alternative.
http://www.vetinfo.com/dogace.html

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Just got back from taking ONLY STARLIT for a ride to the Ice Cream stand. While she was still in site--about 20 feet away, I could not see her. I found her curled up in a ball on the floor of my tiny tiny Saturn.

She has been to the ice cream stand. It is a big treat for her. But sometimes--she just freaks. Poor Baby.

The Vet said next visit we will talk again he wanted to see how she was after spaying. Yeah, right. He wanted to see if I brought it up again. I will.

I'm all for Prozac in dogs. If I broke my foot--I would take a pain pill. If my head heart--I would take something for that too. No reason to live with so much anxiety.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Poor girl!

[shelly]

What about Dramamine??? Someone had mentioned that in the past?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I think Dramamine would be good for those dogs who suffer from motion sickness but in this case our focus was anxiety. Also, for short trips you would have to medicate, wait, then travel.

We used the Postive Reinforcement Method--only take the dog on a very short trip--for you it would be down the street to the bagel store twice a day for a month :) then return home.

I would use Dramamine if I left Ohio and traveled to Smith Town Beach ( I wish ) but not everyday short trips.