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Originally Posted by yorkiemini  Three years ago Cali was attacked by a huge hawk (she is only 4 pounds). She famous for her life and won, it was very traumatized. Could not ride in the car on the highway because she thought hose tall semi trucks might be coming to get her. Before the attack she loved to go in the car.
It took a out a year of lots of patients and xanax, ever so slowly we gave her back her confidence. I would medicate her before we went out (always with the lowest dose possible) and as the year progressed I found I could lower the dose some. We also started agility which gives dogs lots of confidence!
A year and a half later we were off the drugs and today she is strong and confident again.
The key for us was the medication for her anxiety and the slow, slow, slow, slow progression. The agility was like a miracle - it was indoors and loud and rowdy with clapping and hoots and hollers for encouragement and she soaked it all in. We started as pre-agility class and are now in masters classes.
Don't be afraid of the anti-anxiety medications and find a vet who is comfortable prescribing it. Takes a while to get the dose correct. I managed to get the liquid xanax and it acts fast.
Wishing you the best - let us know how it goes. |
Couldn't agree more - get your baby to the vet, explain what happened to him and get some anti-anxiety medications to use for the present and together with behavior modification techniques to re-associate/replace scary things with something he highly desires, you can over time bring him through and past the trauma. I've read that the quicker you can get adrenaline-rush reactions tamped down with a benzodiazepine type medication, the quicker the brain and body stops the 'fight or flight' response to stress triggers and prolonged reactions that tend to replaying/relive the traumatic event.
I've also noticed that dogs with occult or undiagnosed medical problems tend to over-react to traumatic events and develope PTSD type symptoms. So be sure your vet fully examines your dogs, checks his blood, urine, feces, anal glands and be sure nothing medical is adding to his stress. Since he cannot tell us verbally, sometimes the way he reacts is the only voice he has to tell us all is not right with his world.
If this were my dog, this is what I would do:
With a medically-checked, hungry dog(I'd want him at least 6 hours from last meal so that he'll be highly open to my food bait), I'd medicate and wait for its effect and then take the dog toward an area of known stress and just as he alerts to something he reacts adversely to, I quickly shove a piece of warm, juicy boiled chicken or turkey hotdog piece from my hip treatpack before his hungry nose, saying "Circles! Circles!" in an upbeat but calm voice(in other words not a military command type voice), walking him in a tight, superfast circle so that he has to focus hard on the wonderful smell while also intently trying to keeping his footing, not whatever is causing his stress.
After 3 or 4 fast/tight circle-walks with that bait just before his nose, I then calmly walk away from the stressor with the great-smelling bait in place and bring him home where he feels safe again. As we go and as soon as he'll take it, I allow him to swallow the bait and now praise the calm reaction, as stressed dogs usually have to calm down before they'll take treats or food. Should he regress during the walk home, I bring out the ever-ready bait and walk him very fast in a few "Circles, circles" or even fast-run him and treat when he can take it.
I repeat this type treatment at least once or twice a day until my dog no longer adversely alerts to sights or sounds or smells, reducing the medication as tolerated and has
replaced his worry of loud or sudden sounds, flashes, etc.,
with the anticipation of great scents,
great baits and getting to walk fast and play circles and get a yummy treat, all things most dogs really love.
Deprogramming a dog from the type of trauma you've described can take some time or be rather quick and easy, depending upon a variety of circumstances and the dog handler. Good luck with helping your baby!