Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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It's only been 3.5 weeks and things have gotten worse. She ripped down the screen door to the glass doors, which is now coming out of my pet deposit. Apparently when ever my roommates are home and she is outside, she just howls and whines the whole time. This is not so when I first leave the house.
I do take her on long walks, 45 min, to the beach in the mornings on days I have class. This doesn't seem to "tire her out" so I guess she isn't just "sleeping" all day.. I did give her some herbal calming meds today, but that didn't seem to help. I am starting Separation Anxiety techniques like desensitizing her to "cues", but I know that the full process will take weeks. If even then.
Options: some have been previously discussed but I am unsure which direction to take.
1. Crating her:
- Pro: no destruction to anything
- Cons: she will just whine to no end, and I know my roommates would be so totally annoyed when they came home for lunch. She would have to be in the crate for 10 hours.
2. Doggie daycare:
- Pro: no destruction to anything. Free to run around and she is not my problem.
- Cons: $$$. I will have to get back to you on how many I can afford per month before I start starving.
3. Prescription drugs:
- Pro: maybe no destruction to anything. Maybe effective in calming.
- Cons: $$$ for vet visit and for prescription. She is an older dog and would have to be on this at least 2 times a week.
4. Leaving her in my car:
- Pro: No destruction to house.
- Cons: She may get restless even if I visit her every couple hours and therefore do harm to inside of car. She may still whine in car and I might get AC called on me for animal cruelty. Some days it can get warm (will change in coming months).
Plan for now (unless a miracle is suggested):
1. Continue working on desensitization for separation anxiety. Make a plan for how I want to execute this realistically.
2. On days I have class, take her to doggie day care until I can no longer afford it.
3. Hope that the combo of 1 + 2 over next few months will allow me to put her outside again (practice for short intervals while I am home with plan #1 above).
Last Resort:
1. She no longer lives here with me and just goes back home with parents.
I know that with rescue dogs like Chloe SA problems are the most common and that most people give up on dogs before trying to actually do something about it. Not only am I fighting her history, but her age. Older dogs are more prone to SA, so I am screwed. Next semester I hope to TA a class, so I guess any money I make will just go toward keeping Chloe in doggie day cares. Oh why is my life so complicated with a dog!
-Nicole
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Nicole,
While I am extremely sorry to hear of Chloe's separation anxiety issues, I really needed this posting for my Chloe. I am being very honest when I say that considering that she has been with us for just two weeks today she is doing well except for the separation anxiety which is driving me crazy and probably the single biggest factor that she was a rescue.
Being retired and knowing her history of neglect, I have been very giving of my time to her. However, from the very first day, she would start to pace, whine, and ultimately bark if I even stepped outside to pick-up the paper. She gets plenty of exercise with approximately 4.5 mile walk every day (at a 4.1MPH pace), has plenty of toys (but has only reciently started to play with any), does not like the crate (but we are making positive progress on that), but cannot stand if I am out of sight. Our first attempt was a one hour run to Costco and when we returned we found that she had barked the entire time and the droul was everywhere. I have twice tried a five minute step outside the house as Emily leaves for class, only to have her thrash around the crate or x-pen and constant barking. While she has shown to be a chow hound, she even ignored the food stuffed in the Kong. There even were munchies on the floor before her. Her total attention was to raising a fuss about our leaving.
I have been doing a great deal of research on potential fixes to this problem, but nothing has worked to date. It is really not reasonable to have someone babysit her 24/7. Like Karen, this is the very first time I have had this problem, but it is also the oldest that I have ever brought into the house. My Sandy had a very mild version of this problem, but I could always leave her in her crate. In fact, she was never a problem within the crate, but did not like the out-of-sight sits and downs in the AKC obedience trials.
Pray that I do not loose my sanity before we get this one fixed!
Spirit Cherry's Dad
She gets plenty of exercise with approximately 4.5 mile walk every day...but cannot stand if I am out of sight...While she has shown to be a chow hound, she even ignored the food stuffed in the Kong...Her total attention was to raising a fuss about our leaving.
My Chloe too will not eat if I am not around. Probably due to the anxiety. Therefore the suggestions I have read about filling kongs is useless, she will not eat them. I am pretty sure that if I left a bone outside she would not even eat it. I too cannot afford 24/7 babysitting, so when I have to leave the house for an hour, she just will have to stay out side. I don't think that SA is an easy "fix" and I anticipate it will take at minimum, 3 months and that's working with her every day. It will probably take more like 6 months would be my guess with Chloe's moderate to severe SA. I will be sure to post my SA desensitizing techniques if they work. But that won't be for quite some time.
I hope to integrate the Thundershirt into her training (just got it today), which is something that is supposed to help naturally calm them. I looked online (like they suggested) for how to do that, but it was useless because it said things that I have read every where else and none of that has helped (leaving something with my scent, leave kongs filled with stuff, go on long walks to "tire them out", be calm when leaving...).
Good luck to you and your Chloe!
-Nicole
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Unfortunately, I don't have too much help to offer. Kobe really hasn't had too big of an issue with SA, but last year while we were waiting to close on our new house we stayed with my Mom. She is retired so Kobe got used to having someone around almost all the time and we did have some adjustments to make once we moved into our new house. He too won't eat treats when we aren't home so Kongs or similar treats never worked for us either. We were lucky because I could come home for lunch and that helped to break up his day a bit. Good luck -we're sending good thoughts your way and some comforting thoughts to Chloe to hopefully ease some of her anxiety!!
Bethany and Kobe
OH Chloe's mom -
I'm so sorry that Chloe isn't being an angel like we thought she would be. Take a deep breath. All hope is not lost!
First off, go to Home Depot and buy the screen mesh to replace the torn screen. It's pretty cheap (I'd guess $10) Ask some clerk to show you how to fix it. You'll cut it to size and there is a rubber thingy that holds it into place. You won't need to replace the door and it is common for the screen to get muck. Next, leave the screen off and don't put it back up until you know she won't scratch it. You just push the bottom rollers on them and pop them back in their tracks. I've done this more times than I can count and currently my screen door is laying flat on my balcony in my upstairs. So, don't worry, you still have your deposit.
Second, why won't your roommate let Chloe in during her lunch break? Wouldn't that solve the problem?
I'm leaning, from your explanation, that her behavoir is normal for a dog. If someone is home, dogs expect to greet them. My dogs have a full blown fit jumping and carrying on with the back door if I put them outside when someone comes over. They are so confused! Mommy never puts us outside! I do it rarely. I typicall crate Comet and pick up Rocket. No one usually visits me, but that's another subject.
Last, I'm not big on medicine and this is coming from someone that has tried doggie prozac and has a full bottle minus two tablets in the cupboard! Plus, it's pricey in dog form even tho it's prozac. (I think around $60 or maybe $90 a month)
If you are incredibly worried, do the crate. I still would put odds on that she cries for 10 minutes and stops. I will edit the video I took of Rocket having his fit and then calming down after I left. I was a wreck with him because he'd cry, tear up his bed and was a horrible little guy in a crate when I'd leave. I was so worried he was doing it the whole time BUT NO – he'd have his fit, shred his bed, ignore his treat and finally lay down.
Bob – you may think about videotapping Avvy – while you are gone.
I think Rocket was horrible about the crate for about 3 months before he finally calmed himself down. He is so funny even now. When he knows we are leaving he runs to a soft sided crate and hides! (He'd tear it up so we won't leave him in it) We have to pull and drag him out. But once we get him out he walks like a little soldier to the wire crate without reservation. He just sits in his wire crate until I lock him up.
So, that's my advice. I really think there is a lot of hope for Chloe! I have faith in her!
My post was almost a book!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
I feel like I am now more confused than ever. Do I buy a crate, hope she doesn't cry loud enough for the neighbors to hear and call the AC on me again, and do I leave it in my room where I really don't have space for it or do I put it in the living room where it is in everyone's space? Would my roommates be annoyed at a whining/howling dog if they didn't let her out? Would they be willing to try to put her back inside before leaving if they did let her out? Isn't putting her outside similar to "crating" her? She throws fits then calms down? She was mostly an outside dog at my parent's house, but it took weeks to months for her to be outside all day without crying or howling…guess I have to go through that all over again.
Do I call vets tomorrow getting estimates on doggie downers? Do I call her vet first to confirm it is OK to do until I get her SA under control?
Should I spend more money with doggie day care 2 times a week? Should I do a combo of meds and doggie day care if that option is cheaper than doggie day care 2 times a week ($36/week with package discount, therefore $144/month)? (ie meds 1x doggie day care 1x to split the cost?)
AHHHHH!!!! I think this will give ME separation anxiety and require her as a service dog to calm ME! Then she would be with me ALL the time.
-Nicole
P.S. Cometdog: how many pills are in a full bottle? Actually I can ask the vet tomorrow to figure out price per pill and how long it would last me. And thanks for the tip on the screen, the only problem is that she bent the frame too....I bent it back into place, but you can see there was damage...
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
It's called "Reconcile" but it's just prozac.
Mine is 32mg and there are 30 in a bottle (now 28) - I just checked and the price is around $70 per month. It's around $2. 50 per pill.
(if you do it, DO NOT give her tramadol - not many vets/doctors are aware of the possibility of serotonin syndrome )
Reports continue to appear describing serotonin syndrome following combined use of tramadol (Ultram) with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Because serotonin syndrome can be serious and is often difficult to detect, it is important for health professionals to be alert for this reaction. A recent study from Australia found that many patients are exposed to drug interactions that can result in serotonin syndrome.
Just buy a sturdy crate.
Don't your roommates like Chloe? What's the harm in asking your roommates for help? The worst they can say is no. And why not trade something for some help? Buy a pizza once a month, or offer to wash their car in return?
When I was young I had a dog and a roommate and even friends that came over and they all didn't mind chipping in a bit to take care of her.
Those screen doors are cheap - under $50 to replace the whole door. (Just looked it up at Lowes) But take a rubber mallot and hammer it out and take some spray paint and you are done! (replace the screen last) Even it you can't match the paint exactly, just make it look nice. The landlord is only going to care about the door being there and looking nice when you leave. I've been a landlord!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Chloes mom said:
1. Crating her:
- Pro: no destruction to anything
- Cons: she will just whine to no end, and I know my roommates would be so totally annoyed when they came home for lunch. She would have to be in the crate for 10 hours.
I'm not trying to over simplify this but, why can't your roommate let her out when home for lunch? When lunch is done, she's back in the crate. That gives her a potty break and a short break from being in the crate during those 10 hours.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
When I first had the discussion with them about having a dog, I told them that she is not their responsibility. If they don't want to let her in, then that's their choice. I don't expect them to take care of her, but it is up to them as to how much of a relationship they want with her. The more time they spend with her, the more she will like them. They don't seem to understand why she doesn't always want to greet them. I think it is because she has limited contact with them, but that's just my opinion. I have offered to have them come on a walk or to the beach with us, but they are either too busy or not interested. Don't get me wrong, they do like her, but I don't think they are willing to do a whole lot to care for her.
At this point, I am not sure a crate would help since I don't have the time to crate train her before I have to leave for classes all day. This would just create negative experiences for her and with her past, I am fairly certain she would severely hurt herself. When she was left outside at my parent's and something spooked her, she would tear at the gate and try to climb over the 4 foot thing until her paws bled. Or until she hurt one of her legs. I will definitely look into crating as a "safe" place for her in the future, but I don't think that with my current roommate situation and inability to crate train her properly right now would be a wise decision. I think that the crate would help when I have to take her to my parent's house with me for school breaks, so it is less stressful for her to be moved from place to place. Mabye I will get one for her as an early Christmas present. Just have to make sure it will fit in my car so I can transport it places.
I am planning on having her placed at doggie day care for the next 2 months and just working with her every day to desensitize her being outside and being left alone. Eventually, I will get a crate and work with her to like it, so that no matter where we are, she has a safe place to be. We will see how that goes!
-Nicole
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
You will get past this hurdle. You are trying so hard and being such a good (and responsible) mom. I just wish it were a little easier for someone who is obviously trying so hard. I do understand your concern over the crate and proper crate training. It does make a difference, and the last thing anyone wants is for her to hurt herself trying to get out. The doggie daycare may be a great solution for you. She will have interaction with humans and dogs, and maybe you won't worry so much. Many good thoughts coming your way.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Thanks for your encouraging words!! I have worked with her for the last 2 hours on an off and I already got her to like her dog "house" again! I am working on pairing actions, like when I say "House" she goes into her doggie house. Eventually I will get to the point (weeks to months away) where she is not allowed inside nor will she get any attention until she goes to her house first. Its the "nothing is for free" training or something like that. The first few times I put food in, she just ran in the other direction since I used to put treats in there before I left. I had to make sure she knew that me putting food in there wasn't associated with me leaving. Within a few trials, she WANTED to go in her house.
Also for short trips when she will eventually be allowed to stay inside (2 hours or less), I am working on a similar thing with her favorite rug. It will be the place for her to sit when people are in the kitchen and where she must go to when people come home. Again, she has to go to her "rug" before she gets attention.
Also been working on having her down stay in my room while I step out of her sight for 10-45 sec. I even managed to gradually go down stairs and made it to the bottom!
Anyway, I will be doing things like this with her on a daily basis, instilling good habits for desired behaviors. And yes, I am only giving her attention when she is doing something I want. Like laying on her bed if I go to the bathroom and not moving. I ignore her if she brings a toy, and I only offer a toy when I want to play. I AM THE ALPHA!
-Nicole
P.S. We will be doing this EVERYDAY for the next few months. I feel fortunate that I only have class 2 times a week, so it is likely I can help her with her SA faster than people with full time jobs. Well, I hope that is the case anyway....
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
Boy oh boy can I relate to how she feels. I do the exact same thing...howl when left alone, claw at windows if someone is in the house and I'm not, and just go nuts if I'm left alone.
I love my people that much! We are a pack, and I want us together, always.
And that's what it is; Chloe loves you so much that she can't contain herself if you're gone. Your roommates, while they're nice and all that, just don't have the depth of relationship or enlightenment that you do when it comes to dogs and especially Chloe. They don't get it and you're right, she's not their responsiblity so it wouldn't be fair to expect them to let her in. Still, how anyone could ignore Chloe's pleas is beyond me, she's just so beautiful, but that's another story...
Chloe is a lucky girl that she has you home so much to help her. I think that you're doing GREAT just by making Plan A, B, C and so on. You CAN do this. You two haven't come this far for nothing. Some day you'll look back and wonder why you were so worried.
As for older dogs being more prone to SA....really? Gee, I'm only 19 months and I've got it BAD!
One thing that has helped me tremendously though is my crate. I busted out of my first one (fabric...duh, Mom and Dad!) but this new wire one I have is durable enough to withstand my abuse whenever I yell at Mom and Dad for leaving me in it. Yeah, crates kinda suck but you know I get into much, much less trouble in that thing than when I'm home alone in the house (which has never, ever happened!). Being in the backyard is fun, but when I'm home alone, chilling in my crib is the best thing for me. I can't hurt myself on torn screen doors or whatever, you know?
Try the crate, I'm pretty sure you'll see that it makes a HUGE difference.
As for where you put it...your room, while crowded, might be the best place I think. Becuase if I was in my crate and people were around me at lunch and not letting me out, I'd probably go battier than if I was snuggling someplace a little quieter.
Oh Nicole, I KNOW you and Chloe can tackle this. Keep it up!
Wyatt Ray Dawg . . . The Tripawds Leg-A-Cy Continues!
Read all about my adventures at my Tripawds Blog
I don't want to come off sounding like your mom.
So, I want to add - Nicole you are loving and wonderful dog mom and I know that my dog, Cubbie would have loved to have had me as devoted when I had her at your age. Instead, I had my own thing going on and she was just there with not nearly as much attention as she deserved.
Just so you know, I think you are very special and very responsible for what you are doing for Chloe. And if I had a daughter, I would want her to be just like you!
You'll get through this!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Aww, thanks so much for all of your encouragement!!! Makes me feel like I maybe actually can work through this...I know that if I told my parent's what I was doing (like $$ I am spending on her instead of saving) to help her, they would probably tell me I'm better off taking her home. That won't solve the problem because she will just do it at home especially if she is moving place to place (stressful!). I was worried all last night about the "what ifs" (very bad to do by the way) like what if I do all this work and it doesn't help etc... but after today, we have made many little baby steps!! And that was just for about an hour and a half worth of training! We will be sure to do a bit more this afternoon (when she is hungry again) so that she keeps it fresh in her mind.
Wyatt Ray - yes I will look into crating, but I am juggling my finances and I will have $$ for it by December. Glad you are doing well with it and I hope Chloe does too!
Cometdog's mom- You are very kind to say that, I really appreciate it 
I just keep thinking that if I don't do anything, nobody else will. I can't just give her away because I know she would miss me like crazy, which is what she did at my parent's house. Even though I have school and what not, I know that this is just a temporary bump in the road. Also, I feel bad for not having done something sooner when I was still growing up at my parent's house. I guess you could blame me for being young, but I still knew I should have done something then. I too was just doing "other things" when I was in high school.
Will keep you updated on her progress!!!! And thank you all for your encouraging words, they really have helped me feel empowered instead of hopeless!!!!!!
-Nicole
Chloe became a rear amp tripawd on 7-29-10. Another tumor was removed on front leg 2-20-14. Found 3rd tumor on neck 2-2015, but she's still kicking cancer's butt at age 14. Chloe's blog
To Nicole,
We all know that "little baby steps" begin a journey. It is the direction that is important in this journey and please give yourself and your Chloe the credit you two deserve. You will always be able to look back and know that you did everything possible to help.
To all those following this topic,
My little perfect Miss Charites also exhibited some signs of minor separation anxiety after her amputation and chemotherapy. This should not really be surprising. We were extremely close before, but she slept with me in the guest bed for more than a month after surgery, I carried her out for toilet until she got her balance, I encouraged her to eat her Cheerios after her soy milk in the morning, I offered her hard cooked eggs, crackers, peanut butter, cheese, and any other potential food when she totally lost her appetite, I developed the ability to place food sufficiently beyond her taste buds but not chocking her when she would not take any of these, I carried her to the truck for our spirit lifting rides. Well by now you get the picture. Is is any wonder why she followed me everywhere. Luckily, she never lost the feeling that her crate was her quiet den and her ultimate refuge.
Please do not underestimate the stress that they feel or how bad its effects can be. Miss Charites had been boarded in a particular kennel more than a dozen times without incident. She attended obedience training there with the staff and they also did her grooming. Never a problem. However, when I had to place her there a month after she finished chemotherapy, I was worried. Calling daily, she appeared to be handling it rather well until they bathed her the day before we got back in town. To her, that bath with her normal groomer meant that Dad and Mom were going to pick her up. When I did the next day she had bloated and her waist was the size of a soccer ball. Luckily, she did not torsion, but it really was bad. It took us six weeks to get back to the condition that we were in before that incident. It was totally due to stress and even this separation anxiety amplified that stress. This is why Nicole and I are taking this so very seriously. We are working on a plan of attack, appreciate all the input, and will keep you posted.
Thanks again for all those who are providing advice and support. It does help.
Spirit Cherry's Dad
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