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Post by Jane on Jan 9, 2020 13:41:44 GMT
My female dog Shannon is 14 and has recently been displaying anxiety and agitation overnight. It started about 2 months ago with pacing at night, staring into space and reluctance to go to bed. The vet suggested CCD and prescribed Vivitonin medication which has helped take the edge off; reduced the pacing and staring but she’s still agitated at night. She’ll whine, scratch at the door and scrabble at her bedding causing her blankets to shred in places. Sometimes a short time and sometimes all night long.
There is another medication that the vet can prescribe called Selgian but at twice the cost (nearly £60 pm) and with it taking a while to take affect not only would I find it difficult to fund (although I will if that’s the only avenue) it will not help us immediately. I’m finding it difficult to sleep properly. I was up at 2.30 this morning seeing to her and feel so tired from it.
My question is has anyone got experience of this and any advice as to any strategies that worked or whether their dog was on Selgian and what it was like for their dog.
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Post by clt80 on Jan 9, 2020 14:19:04 GMT
Sorry to hear this, I can imagine the upset and distress. I have no experience with cognitive dysfunction but I have two dogs with issues (one has severe allergies, the other has cushings and diabetes). I found forums specific to these conditions for dogs online through fb (sorry Marianne Marlow am I OK to mention other sites??) so maybe there are ones for CCD. I hope there is as it's a similar set up to here in that members have a wealth of experience and knowledge. With regards to meds, we now buy a prescription for what we need from our vets which is £11, and we purchase the meds online as they are so much cheaper. Our insurance only covered so much so we have to pay for everything, and meds through a vet are expensive.
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jan 9, 2020 14:24:08 GMT
clt80 perfectly okay to mention other pet forums, as long as you're not promoting another budgie one
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Post by jellybean on Jan 9, 2020 15:27:39 GMT
I'm sorry to read that Jane, must be so distressing for you and Shannon. Wish I had some advice to give you.
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Post by Jane on Jan 9, 2020 18:38:28 GMT
I'm sorry to read that Jane, must be so distressing for you and Shannon. Wish I had some advice to give you. Thanks Jellybean. And my other dog must be feeling it too as he’s got to put up with it. At least I can shut my bedroom door but he sleeps next to Shannon
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Post by Jane on Jan 9, 2020 18:40:12 GMT
Thanks clt80. Your post made me relook at the Selgian and I can save £20 a month buying online so I’ve requested a prescription
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Post by jellybean on Jan 9, 2020 18:42:07 GMT
Would it be any comfort, or pacify her somehow, if she slept in the same room as you Jane, would her just feeling the closeness of you help any?
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Post by Jane on Jan 9, 2020 18:47:31 GMT
Would it be any comfort, or pacify her somehow, if she slept in the same room as you Jane, would her just feeling the closeness of you help any? I thought of that but then the other one will want to sleep with us and I can’t see that being any better. Plus there’s stairs outside the bedroom door so I’d need a stair gate and as her condition progresses we may be looking at continence issues so I’d rather leave her downstairs where there’s plenty of room and hard floors and she also has access to water (as she has kidney disease too).
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Post by Jane on Jan 9, 2020 18:51:44 GMT
And she has IBD with the occasional flare up resulting in diarrhoea and vomiting. Poor girl but generally she’s ok. On a plain diet and Yudigest.
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Post by skysmum on Jan 10, 2020 15:39:28 GMT
Ahhh bless Shannon , have you looked into natural remedy's Jane ?
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Post by jellybean on Jan 10, 2020 16:11:10 GMT
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Post by Jane on Jan 10, 2020 19:03:40 GMT
Ahhh bless Shannon , have you looked into natural remedy's Jane ? I have thought of that but after a chance conversation with someone who’s dog had dementia I’ve decided to try the Selgian as she said that was the only thing that worked for hers.
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Post by Jane on Jan 10, 2020 19:04:07 GMT
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Post by skysmum on Jan 12, 2020 22:04:14 GMT
Ahhh bless Shannon , have you looked into natural remedy's Jane ? I have thought of that but after a chance conversation with someone who’s dog had dementia I’ve decided to try the Selgian as she said that was the only thing that worked for hers. You just don't think of a dog getting dementia do you , as with us humans, modern medicine is extending lives which is fantastic but also means we are seeing more of this cruel disease Let us know how she gets on Jane
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Post by Jane on Jan 13, 2020 11:51:03 GMT
Thanks skysmum. Shannon’s mobility is fantastic and like you I never even thought of cognitive problems in a dog. She’s been settled the last couple of nights and still on the Vivitonin. She’s still in the early stages of the CCD so only time will tell how things pan out. She has kidney disease too but that’s at an early stage. My poor girl but at least I’m home more these days to be with her.
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