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09-16-2011, 05:30 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: North America
Posts: 42
| Anxiety Issues I have a 16 month old yorkie who has major anxiety issues that started in the car. Elevated heart rate, panting, screaming and general unhappiness being the issues we're currently dealing with. He has the misfortune in the fact that my family lives 7 hours away, so he HAS to deal with cars. I have been medicating with Gravol for long journeys, which I have no issue doing, and do seem to help. For short rides, we've tried many things as I have a rule that he must be secured in the car. We've tried to booster seat, crating, the backseat hammock, the harness that clicks into the seat belt. The booster seat and crating are about on par for alleviating his symptoms, and that simply means he's not as loud with the whining. The other methods made him horribly upset. He will NOT take any sort of treats, no matter how awesome he thinks they are in the vicinity of his own home, nor any water if he is he experiencing any sort of anxiety. As of lately, we had an incident following a visit home (7 hours away) in which he was very, very sick in the days following our return. He was then diagnosed with acute colitis and I've become terribly concerned about travelling with him as it is most likely caused by the stress and anxiety of the car ride. The stress in the car has moved (or maybe has always existed) to anxiety in new places and on the leash. While going for walks are awesome and we are all very excited to hear the word 'walk', if we were to try and stop at a park bench and sit during our walk, all of the anxiety issues reappear as well as racing back and forth on the leash. He also cannot handle pet stores, nor people stores that allow dogs. We do MANY fun things, he sees lots of friends on his walks and due to his car rides, we did agility for 6 months..all of these are FUN and AWESOME things and he should love cars. Alas, he does not. Our most recent issue was the vets. Mind you, the vet is never a fun place to go, but he has never been this wild there before. The vet could not even hear a heart beat over his screaming and panting. He recommended a natural remedy capsule for him to take daily. While I'm sure it might help calm him, the $2 a day cost leaves me feeling a little unsure. If that were to not work, he would want to look at alternate ways of medicating him. We have a Thundershirt, which is OK, and we've tried Rescue Remedy, which is also OK. Nothing makes a significat difference with his anxiety. I'm concerned due to his health now. I just have run out of ideas and am looking for any tips or suggestions or even personal experiences that can help me help him. Thank you! |
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09-17-2011, 12:03 PM | #2 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Evansville Indiana USA
Posts: 196
| I've never had anxiety problems with my yorkie, but my german shepherd was just as bad about anxiety. She would get so upset about car rides that she would have sudden uncontrollable diarrhea and sometimes vomiting. Unfortunately, the best thing to do would be medication. Try something herbal. I always prefer to go with organic herbal remedies over medication any time. I never managed to get my Shep, Presley, over her anxiety, and always hoped it would go away. But instead it just grew, to where she didn't want to go for walks, or meet new people. Hopefully you can find a treatment that will cure it so you're baby doesn't end up reclusive like mine did. Good luck! |
09-18-2011, 02:07 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Chessington, Surrey, UK
Posts: 5,062
| Good morning! We have a similar problem, but to a far less degree as it's only in the car, and I really, really feel for you and your family - especially as your family are a long way away and you have no option. Harry's only real 'hate' in this world are long car rides. I have tried everything you have (actually, apart from medication) and the only thing that helps a little bit is being in his crate. Not wonderfully - but better than the others. We even resorted to a quick squirt with the water bottle - it worked twice then he opened his mouth, thought we were giving him an unusual drink, then that never worked again. We tried the 'pennies in the can' - he tried to scream over that. We tried the 'no, Harry' in a sharp voice - that worked for 2 seconds. We even tried a sharp whistle - again, nothing. The inside of my car was sounding like a one-man band and it was ridiculous and dangerous. We are now thinking of maybe the 'bark repeller' that people have mixed opinions and reactions about. Not the collar, but the hand-held sonic thingy? I don't know. I realise that none if this is a real solution, but I think they work themselves up into this frenzy, which creates the increased heartrate and all the other dreadful effects - so I'm trying to find a 'nip it in the bud' way of going about it. Sorry not to have been of more help! Sally + Harry x |
09-18-2011, 07:20 AM | #4 |
Therapy Yorkies Work Donating Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Central, Florida
Posts: 3,863
| Hello Trydare. Please do not be offended by this, but this escalating anxiety may be a brain problem. Has the Vet you are working with been made aware of how the problem is growing ? I might ask for a second opinion if I felt my Vet was not an expert in this type of issue. Ideally it would be better if you could have a professional Trainer/Behavior specialist in your home where they could see what triggers these episodes. They could teach you how to deal with and modify the panic attacks your dog has. I am a trainer but this problem needs to be addressed in person, not with general off the cuff advice. With out seeing the lip licking, body posture, tail position ect.. I can not be sure what is happening. Please rule out physical problems first, then find a good trainer.
__________________ Teresa & Rubin, Gracie, Abba, Ginny Joy and Julia Rose Act like a dog, be kind, forgiving, and loyal. |
09-18-2011, 11:41 AM | #5 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 2,234
| We have the same problem with Kayla. She has CT, so we have to really be careful about getting her upset. My vet told me to give her Benedryl about an hr. before she has to go to the vet. Thank goodness we are only about 3 or 4 min. from their office. She starts out getting so excited, like she really wants to go and then it goes from there. Scary!! She only wants to be home. Breaks my heart we can't ever take her anywhere. We have no problems with the rest. I always dread having to take her in. Bought the thunder shirt and I really hope this works for her. I really feel for you because it is really hard seeing them actually get physically sick over something that they should enjoy. I have never had a dog that didn't love going in the car. |
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