Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Everyone,
So Chloe and I are moved into the house that is right next to the lab, which in effect solves her separation anxiety problem permanently since I can run down (in less than 30 seconds) to see and play with her between class etc... However I am very very stupid and forgot to get heavy duty meds for 4th of July. Plus there is a train that now toots its loud obnoxious horn almost every 2 hours of the day here (2 miles away). And you are wondering what these two things have in common. Chloe went ballistic during 4th of July and the horn tooting preceeded the 4th of July fireworks. Can you guess what Chloe is MORTIFIED of now? That stupid train horn and its all my fault.
I have been crying, full of anxiety, trying to figure out how to solve this new problem. I swear that as soon as I get one problem fixed another one crops up. I first try counter conditiong on my own; when we hear train whistle we put on her harness and go sit in the car or drive around. However, by the end of the day she is shut down, full of anxiety (since she really doesn't have time to recover between traumatic sessions and goes into full shuddering, pupils dilated, ears back, face worried). I cry some more not knowing how to stop the problem immediately. I imagine an "accident" to the train tracks that permanently put them out of order. My power of imagination is not strong enough. I hope that Chloe goes deaf suddenly, but alas she has keen ears even at 10 years of age.
So after 2 days of anxiety for me and Chloe I take her to the vet and decide she needs some drug therapy in addition to training. I am balling at the vets office once again beating myself up for having forgotten to get meds before 4th of July so I wouldn't be in this predicament. The vet prescribes her some type of benzodiazepines which would be a short term solution (from what I have read about them). They are fast acting (30-45min), but have some sedative effects depending on the dose.
Yesterday was the first day I gave her a pill. She seemed alert enough that she was like her normal "self" not doped out. And she didn't really respond to the train noises (luckily only happened 2-3 times not 5-6 times). No full blown shuddering, no ears back etc... So this drug and at this dosage seems like it will be a good short term solution to help with the counter conditioning. However I am still unsure about this whole thing and whether or not I can do this by myself.
I tried calling an animal behavioralist place associated with the Monterey SPCA (lower cost and more affordable), but nobody has returned my call. Going to call back Monday, but in the meantime I have been looking at other options. Not all dog training places claim to deal with behavioral problems like anxiety/noise phobias so my options are limited. Generally I have found that they like in home consultations from 90-120 min and run at minimum $90/hour (and follow up sessions). I am at my wits end crying all over the place, full of anxiety when the train whistles (yes me too now) and I am going to call a couple places Monday if I can't get a hold of the more affordable one. I am expecting to pay at least $300 on this from the not-so-affordable ones. There goes anything I have saved as a student, but I need to solve this problem NOW before I start school at the end of August. That or I have to consider other options like putting her on long term meds (NOT what I want to do at her age), always having loud background noise to cancel out train, buying $55 Mutt Muffs (dog ear muffs for aviator dogs) and hope that it can block out the train whistle, beg and plead and beg some more for the landlords to put in better windows since the current ones do not block out sound, do not insulate (let cold in and are not well insulated) and do not open/shut well since they are aluminum and corroded or hope that Chloe goes deaf enough not to care (don't want this because I like that she has good hearing). Moving is not an option since I need to be close to school and I JUST signed a year long lease. These other options I feel are a cop out but if I can't get this managed I will have to consider some of the first ones.
Really I just need you guys to tell me that I CAN do this because I am pretty much all alone in this house right now, don't have friends to go to and just take Chloe there to spend all day with. I feel like I can't leave the house because I am terrified for my dog so I haven't been able to work out to relieve stress and here I go crying again.... I just hope that someone can come here to help me soon because I only have 6.5 weeks till school starts and my goal is to have this managed by then. From what I have read I can't totally reverse this permanently, so the counter conditioning is something I am going to have to continue as long as she is living near this train (probably another 1.5-2 years). Which if I get her to the point where I feel she is OK to be at home with the noise (both with me and alone) then it would just be "maintenance". I am OK with that. That is all for now.
Thank you.
-Nicole aka. Chloe's mom
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 CAN do this, Nicole. You are already on the right track. The medication is helping and a few sessions with a behaviorist will have you good to go in no time. Sending calming thoughts your way.
I jokingly told a friend the other day who was dealing with a dog with anxiety issues and had just been given prozac for the dog - give him a pill and take one yourself, you both need to calm down.
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.
Nicole,
B R E A T H E. Promise us OK?
This IS something you can fix and make better, but you need to be strong and BELIEVE in yourself that you and Chloe can get through this. We believe you can so you should too OK?
First, look at how far you've come since you moved north! You now have a GREAT housing situation, much improved, and it's leaps and bounds ahead of where you were last year.
Next, stop beating yourself up about the fireworks. This would have happened anyways and maybe have been even worse because for a lot of dogs, tranquillizers tend to make them MORE stressed out (it does for our Wyatt). So it could have been a good thing that you didn't dope her up on the 4th.
You don't need to pay someone something you cannot afford, plus, you need to tackle this yourself with guidance, not rely on someone else to fix it (that's what being broke does to you, it makes you rely on your own smarts!). Now, have you contacted my training friends at My Smart Puppy? They are GREAT about responding for pleas to help. Try their facebook page too. Please tell them Tripawds sent you.
There is TONS of information about noise phobias on the web and in the My Smart Puppy forums. With your research skills I know you can do this.
Finally, be thankful that this happened when it did. You now have 6.5 weeks to dedicate your time to working on this and by the time school starts you'll wonder why you were even upset to begin with.
School is stressful enough without a challenge like this, but Nicole, you CAN deal with this successfully. You didn't get to the point in your life where you are now by being a dummyhead. You are a SMART gal who can make GREAT decisions and tackle problems. But you need to start by breathing
Let us know what you find out OK?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hi Nichole
We have several noise freaks, but Bucky (da hound) is by far the worst. Seems to get worse with age too. We are having some luck with a Thundershirt and crate combo. You might look into that. No meds involved.
Oh Nicole, don't cry. You aren't giving yourself enough credit and you're getting way ahead of yourself. One step at a time. The drug is working, that buys you some time to do your research and make a plan. And we all know you know how to do that, and you're even good at it.
Now dry those tears and give Chloe a big hug from me!
http://tate.tripawds.com/
August 16, 2006 to November 28, 2011
TATE ~ Forever in our hearts.
This just popped up on Facebook and it might help even tho it's related to thunder:
http://www.pedi.....r-Dog.aspx
Not only is the loud noise of thunder scary, dogs can hear it at a much greater distance than humans can. The smell of the air also changes when a storm approaches, and the keen nose of a dog detects this early. The air pressure changes, too, and a dog's ears are more sensitive to pressure changes than most people. In some cases, it might hurt.
5 tips to help your dog weather the storm:
- Stay calm. Adopt a neutral, matter-of-fact attitude. Your dog can quickly pick up on any unease or fear on your part.
- Don't comfort your dog when he acts afraid. Giving him hugs or special attention can actually reinforce his fearful behavior. Speak to him in a happy, playful voice to give him confidence. Never punish him for his fearful behavior. If you can get your dog to play with you during a storm, all the better.
- Provide your dog with a safe indoor place during storms. It can be his crate, a bathroom or closet-anyplace as long as he feels comfortable there. Many dogs have been lost when they ran from their fenced yards in terror during storms. If you have a designated "safe indoor space" for your dog, be sure to leave the door open to it so he doesn't feel trapped.
- Buy a CD of thunderstorm sounds. Start a thunderstorm "conditioning program" by first playing the CD on extremely low volume while you go about your day-to-day activities. If your dog acts afraid again, don't attend to the fearful behavior. Redirect him to a pleasant activity, such as playing ball. Gradually increase the volume until your pooch can handle a more realistic sounding storm. This process may take several days to a few weeks.
- Give your dog medication. If your dog is extremely agitated during thunderstorms, you may want to consider medication or a natural remedy for pets. Your veterinarian can help with this. Ask him or her for medications that may help.
Above all, be kind and patient with your dog throughout the thunderstorm. Do whatever you can to calm your dog without adding to his panic. If he needs a dark room, let him have it. If he wants to lean against your leg, let him. If he follows you from room to room, just go with it. You'll be providing the comfort he needs to ride out the storm.
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.
UPDATE
Hi All,
So that "train" noise we have been hearing is actually from the nearby natural gas plant when they run a test. I don't know if last week they were running boat loads of tests or what but for the last 5 days (fri, sat, sun, mon, and today) I have only ever heard it go off 1 time per day if even at all. THANK GOODNESS. 1x per day is manageable. 5-6x per day is worrisome. Between meds and positive reinforcement with natural, organic, no filler hot dogs Chloe now only perks her ears at the noise rather than full blown trembling etc...
Like I said before she is used to being at the adjacent house for the last year almost and I had never heard this sound before. Hopefully they run most of their tests in the summer or only a few times a week (if they do it year round) because that would be the least stress on Chloe and myself.
Good news is that we have had 5 good days. I consider a good day of no trembling/sever anxiety attacks. Plus I am doing more mental stimulation with her like inventing new games (on top of her already 2 walks a day) so that she is both mentally and physically exhausted by the end of the day. Some games include hide and seek (I hide and she seeks me, I give her a hint if she is close like squeak a toy) and "Find Meercat". I bought a meercat squeaker stuffed toy she now loves and we play this outside. Right now I am still baiting the toy with tiny hot dog pieces so she understands what "find meercat" means. Hopefully some day she will find it on her own without the hot dog and maybe we can graduate to "Get Meercat". She already knows what "Where's your ball?" means. It means go find your Bad Cuz squeaker toy with feet and devil ears.
Other things I am doing: I have dog nursing pheromones now in a diffuser which is supposed to have a calming effect on dogs. Kind of expensive, but worth trying for a few months. Can't hurt the situation. Also, playing harp music a lot. Apparently the resonated sound a harp makes when a cord is struck is supposed to have a calming effect on animals like dogs (and others I can't remember). I make sure to play the music NOT when that train sound is going because I don't want her to be afraid of the music... And finally, still working with the calming vest. Not sure if any one homeopathic thing will the the "make it or break it", but it doesn't matter because I am confident that it will work out.
-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
P.S. THANKS for all your votes of confidence!!! And for all of your suggestions. I feel much better now and feel like I can get back to a semblance of "normal" life. I will be taking a fun class starting next tuesday called "Marine Science Illustration" which is basically like a technical drawing class (doing lifelike/realistic drawings of things). This is only a couple days a week for a few hours, (main classes start in 6 weeks where I am in lab ALL DAY LONG) and I feel like I don't have to be worried while I am gone.
Hoppy summer to all! We look forward to celebrating her 1 year in a few short weeks!!!
-Nicole and Chloe
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
Hoppy summer to you and Choe too! 🙂
You sound much more positive now and looks like you have great plans in place! You go girl! When my Aussie goes into her noise phobia's during thunderstorms, I try to put her thundershirt on her way before the storm(I've read if you do it during the storm they relate bad things to it), I open shower curtain and put mat down in tub cause she often resorts to going into tub. But other things that have helped is go in bedroom, turn up TV volume and run fan in window...drowns out most of the storm noises....
Tracy, Maggie's Mom
Maggie was amputated for soft tissue sarcoma 10-20-09
Maggie lost her battle with kidney disease on 8-24-13
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