Mac is on Prozac

[Hezz]

Poor dog's anxiety issues have gotten so bad that we decided everyone, he and us, needed him to calm down. Poor dog must not have been getting any enjoyment out of life, being so anxious all the time. So, it has now been a week, and we can see some change for the better, but he is not in any way a happy relaxed dog, yet. Worst thing - he has very little appetite, although I have been assured that that will return as his medication stabilises.

Last night was the first night he didn't need to sleep in his crate for about two months. That is a positive.

[jellybean]

Poor Mac. Will the medication be a long term thing Hezz? A distressing time for you and the poor boy.
What age is Mac?

[ffiscool]

Poor boy. So hard when you can’t explain to animals

[Marianne Marlow]

Poor Mac, I hope the prozac helps him. I was on it for 8 years and it didn't help me much!

[suesbird]

Hope he picks up quickly and is able to be a happy little guy.

[Deleted]

I hope he settles ok and the medication helps.

[Shirls]

Aw poor little chap. Why is he so anxious Hezz? I must apologise if you have explained before and I missed it. Would one of those 'plug in' things help that vets sell? Not sure if you can get them in Oz, but they sell them here, for anxious dogs and cats.

[samwiseg]

Awww bless Mac the mutt x

Hope the meds work for him, is it also because he's getting older?

I think what Shirls is referring to is this:

www.petprescription.co.uk/products/2973/adaptil-calm-diffuser/

Hope Mac feels better really soon xx

[clt80]

Oh dear - I hope this helps settle his anxiety somewhat for all your sakes. Fingers crossed for you.

[Shirls]

Yes samwiseg, that is very similar to what I am referring to. A bit different to the one I bought for my cat years ago, but it may have changed since then, and it's not only for puppies.

[Hezz]

Why is he anxious? If only Mac could talk, he might be able to answer that question, but I seriously doubt it. He's eight years old, a rescue (lab mix) and always been frightened of storms, but never just anxious over nothing. It is not even separation; in fact he has someone home more now in this past year than he ever did before. jellybean, I think it will be long-term. Apparently not uncommon in rescues, and particularly as they get older. While we haven't ruled out a neurological issue, vet assured us that brain tumours/growths are uncommon and all his signs and symptoms were classic anxiety. We took a short video of him to show, and it wasn't him at his worst.

Anyway, so far, so good. Night 2 of sleeping in his kennel, not needing the crate, and last night actually ate about 2/3 of a normal meal.

The pheromone diffuser was suggested, but a bit hard for an outside dog. There is also a collar version, apparently, but he has an electronic containment collar, plus walking collar which holds his registration tag. How many collars can one dog wear?? We didn't think that very practical.

[clt80]

What about advice from a dog behaviourist? There use to be a programme - Cesar Milan the dog whisperer i think it was called. He was able to help dogs who had ptsd and anxiety issues. Maybe there are people who do this as a job that you can pay to come and have sessions with. Just a thought as another option to throw in the ring to help poor Mac.

[samwiseg]

How's Mac doing now Hezz? x

[skysmum]

Ohhh poor boy . Can i ask Hezz, how does an electronic containment collar work? . I'm just wondering, does it omit any high frequency sounds?

[Hezz]

Oct 19, 2018 18:58:02 GMT skysmum said:

Ohhh poor boy . Can i ask Hezz, how does an electronic containment collar work? . I'm just wondering, does it omit any high frequency sounds?

Not as such, skysmum. There is a wire around the perimeter of our block which plugs into a transmitter. the collar is a receiver, and beeps first if he gets within a certain distance of the wire, and gives a small electric shock if he goes over it. The beeping is the warning signal to back off, but it doesn't beep all the time, only when activated. It has been great, up until now. Unfortunately, a couple of times when there has been no one home, he has busted through it - something has triggered his anxiety levels to go through the roof.

So, a few times lately when no one home we have tied him up on a long lead. Yesterday he completely destroyed his kennel, somehow has dragged the whole thing up into my bromelia garden, destroying hundreds of $ worth of plants, and I am still finding bits of the kennel in the garden - it is in bits. I'm trying hard not to look at it all and remind myself that something is making him do this, that it is not what he wants to do. This last week, the days seem to be worse than the nights!