Medicating anxious dogs

[Shamas mom]

Many of you know the story of Shamas. The rescue who was afraid to walk...who has so many phobias that it's hard to function...who ultimately almost got put down after multiple dog attacks

Well, for those of you who are not familiar with the benefits of medicine for anxiety, I'm starting a thread to log his behavior on the medication Trazadone.

The vet has started him on 200mg every 12 hours

After his second dose, we went for our morning walk.

It's damp....which normally triggers a refusal to walk due to noise levels- machines, traffic, dogs, trees, etc. This morning after some coaxing and treats, he came with.

Hw sat at the corner....please, not that way....I can't do that today. So we went the easy way, down side streets.

A dog appeared behind us, walking towards us...he should have fallen apart, but today he just looked back a lot and kept moving. Granted, the puppies attempts to play helped there....but he kept walking.

Normally a a dog behind us, approaching and straining at its leash to get to us is enough to trigger a full meltdown....barking, lunging, pulling in the direction of the dog.

He walked away, only a little whale eyed. .


On the way home, where he normally drags and strains the whole way.....he trotted beside me relaxed.


Even when Angel decided to jump on him and bite his ears to invite play, he just stopped and waited while I got her off and under control.

Angel's jumping during walks will be addressed starting next Monday with the behavioral therapist. Shamas starts in private sessions on the 15th

 

[SwampDonkey]

It sounds very promising, he does sound happier.
If you can I would leave the puppy at home you don't want her seeing Shamas behaviours and copying them. I don't walk my adults and puppies together until the pups are older and have established behaviours.

 

[Candy]

It does sound hopeful. It would be wonderful for Shamas to feel less fearful and to enjoy his walks and life in general more. All the best with this.

 

[Jacqui-S]

Fingers crossed for you all.

 

[Cath]

Fingers crossed that it works out ok for you all

 

[Shamas mom]

It sounds very promising, he does sound happier.
If you can I would leave the puppy at home you don't want her seeing Shamas behaviours and copying them. I don't walk my adults and puppies together until the pups are older and have established behaviours.

I try not to walk them together. This morning, angel was causing trouble at home and needed walking. Amanda couldn't and I only had time for one walk. So I took them both.

Usually Amanda takes her and I take him out separately

 

[SwampDonkey]

Good but the more alone time you have with her the better. Pups need very little exercise so a run in the garden and some games can substitute a walk. At her age a walk is not that important but exposure to things which might be detrimental to her socialisation and development are something to avoid.

 

[Shamas mom]

Good but the more alone time you have with her the better. Pups need very little exercise so a run in the garden and some games can substitute a walk. At her age a walk is not that important but exposure to things which might be detrimental to her socialisation and development are something to avoid.

Right now, she's only joining us on walks about twice a week. Mostly she goes with her owner out back to play, or with me out front to meet people.


I've noticed that shamas is not inclined to get out of bed in the morning. I'm thinking the trazadone makes him groggy as he wakes up. Must mention this to the vet

 

[JES72]

Homer has been on Sertraline for quite a long time now. it took a good few weeks to begin to show a difference. Over lockdown I tried out reducing his dose and then stopped it for a while but he went back to his anxious behaviour so I've gone back to giving it to him. He also has Xanax prescribed which we use for specific events.

 

[Emily]

I've noticed that shamas is not inclined to get out of bed in the morning. I'm thinking the trazadone makes him groggy as he wakes up. Must mention this to the vet

We give Ella trazadone before going to the vet as she gets very anxious. I find she's a bit doped out for a few hours.

 

[Shamas mom]

We give Ella trazadone before going to the vet as she gets very anxious. I find she's a bit doped out for a few hours.

The vet says this reaction is normal for just starting on it. He needs to adjust to being on it.

Trazadone was chosen because of its use pre surgery and during fireworks.....because it can start working faster than say....flouoxatine.

We want him able to handle the stress of life, and learn the coping skills taught in therapy.

Last time he was so strung out he couldn't even learn "go to place"

If it doesn't involve me specifically asking him something, he can't do it when stressed out. He can only cope if he focuses on me and I feed him instructions.

 

[Emily]

The vet says this reaction is normal for just starting on it. He needs to adjust to being on it.

Trazadone was chosen because of its use pre surgery and during fireworks.....because it can start working faster than say....flouoxatine.

We want him able to handle the stress of life, and learn the coping skills taught in therapy.

Last time he was so strung out he couldn't even learn "go to place"

If it doesn't involve me specifically asking him something, he can't do it when stressed out. He can only cope if he focuses on me and I feed him instructions.

That makes sense. Ella only has it when going to the vet so it's usage is very different I guess. And it's not such a bad thing that Ella is a bit slow and sleepy when she has it.

Hopefully it settles down for you.

 

[Beanwood]

Right now, she's only joining us on walks about twice a week. Mostly she goes with her owner out back to play, or with me out front to meet people.


I've noticed that shamas is not inclined to get out of bed in the morning. I'm thinking the trazadone makes him groggy as he wakes up. Must mention this to the vet

One of the helpful side effects of Trazodone is the fact it makes dogs feel sleepy. Now, with dogs living with anxiety, this helps with rest, which Shamas probably needs. This side effect does wear off roughly 4 hours after you give the tablet.

So, give tablet... drowsiness is induced after an hour or so ( takes longer if there is food in the dogs stomach ) Then this gradually wears off at around 6 hours.

If Shamas is tired in the mornings, then I would accommodate this and leave him resting if possible. It could be his body and mind are adjusting to the medication.

 

[Shamas mom]

One of the helpful side effects of Trazodone is the fact it makes dogs feel sleepy. Now, with dogs living with anxiety, this helps with rest, which Shamas probably needs. This side effect does wear off roughly 4 hours after you give the tablet.

So, give tablet... drowsiness is induced after an hour or so ( takes longer if there is food in the dogs stomach ) Then this gradually wears off at around 6 hours.

If Shamas is tired in the mornings, then I would accommodate this and leave him resting if possible. It could be his body and mind are adjusting to the medication.

Thanks for that information

So far, our schedules mostly allow for him to stay in bed. We just leave him until he asks to go out, and give his pills right there in bed hubby will drop me to work and come back to let him out.

If we both work the morning, we coax him out to pee then tuck him back in with the livingroom gate shut to keep the puppy away.

It's easiest to take them one at a time anyway due to the cramping of the back hall
...two dogs and a person get bottlenecked trying to get out. And the whole time we're trapped, angel is trying to lick his face. Annoying for all involved.

Whenever possible I use the front for shamas, as I can shut angel behind gates and get out in peace. ...well as peaceful as it gets with her howling mournfully that I took him out without her lol!

We have installed gates in the front gall, livingroom/dining room, dining room /kitchen, and sons (helen cat's) room. Angel's room is equipped with a half door and I intend to gate the back hall to keep her out of the toilet, garbage and the back bedroom.

It's a hassle for potty training and we have occasional accidents.....but it beats having shamas lose his temper at her for not leaving his face alone. She only heads his corrections for the 3.5 seconds it takes him to make them and calm down. Then she gets back off her belly and is at him again. I'm planning to chat with her trainer on Monday about this

 

[Stacia]

@Shamas mom, I walked with a group of dogs yesterday and one of them was a 5 month Labrador puppy (my god, the energy, put me off even thinking about puppies) she is the fourth Lab of the owner, his other Labs are so peaceful, all including the pup are direct relations, but this puppy was pushing her face into all the adult dogs and even Connor the Greyhound who I have never heard emit a growl, told her off and Gem another Labrador, she takes no notice! It is a natural behaviour and up to the adult dogs to keep her in her place. If we had stayed together even longer I guess one of the adult dogs would have really told her off in no uncertain manner which would have looked alarming to us humans.

 

[edzbird]

If we had stayed together even longer I guess one of the adult dogs would have really told her off in no uncertain manner which would have looked alarming to us humans.

This is how the puppy learns..pushing and being pushed back.

 

[Shamas mom]

Angel has "I'm sorry, I love you!" Down to an art form lol

But it's not fair to shamas. I'm hoping that her socialization classes help....

 

[snowbunny]

This is how the puppy learns..pushing and being pushed back.

Depends on the puppy, depends on the adult. Squidge was the perfect puppy in terms of the other dogs (total arsehat in other ways ) and never, ever pushed them. The twins were twats nonetheless. Squidge didn’t need them to learn her dog manners: she was born with them.

Despite knowing I could, if needs be, integrate Dex with the twins, it was just going to be a total shit-show and not fair on any of them because of the amount of management that would be necessary to do so, because Dex is a normal arsehole puppy who gets in other dogs’ faces. Bella and Talia would tell him off as they weren’t interested, but he would keep going. They needed protecting from him. Squidge never once told him off, despite him hanging off her ears, throat, lips…. A few times we separated them because it looked so painful, but she would end up barrelling back in to go again.

I don’t think it’s right or fair to expect all am- or most - adult dogs to communicate properly with the puppies. Some will have too little tolerance, some too much. Same way as humans with small humans
It’s up to us to manage our dogs’ interactions to make sure no-one is being put upon or having too much expected of them. Probably not a popular viewpoint, but there you go

 

[Sophiedoodle]

Some will have too little tolerance, some too much.

This is Lilly & Oreo.
Lilly will growl at the puppies if one of them even LOOKS in her direction. Oreo on the other hand will let them hang off her ears, neck, tail, and climb over her face She will eventually use her paws to try and pin the puppy to the ground, but it takes quite a lot before she does that!

 

[Shamas mom]

Shamas growls, complains, and tries to lift his head. But she's to his shoulder now. Next step is teeth bared in her face. Usually thats enough to cause submissions. If she pushes too far and we didn't interfere in time, he has twice closed his jaws on her head and put her on the floor for a few seconds. He doesn't hurt her.....just tells her.

she screams "I've been shot! Did you SEE that?! He KILLED me!" Followed quickly by "I'm sorry, I love you" as he looks to us to remove the miscreant who is once again licking his face.

Wherever possible he will just push past her so we can close a gate behind him. He's learned the purpose of gates and laughs at her as it closes behind him.