Friday, November 7, 2014

Fretful Fearful Friday


We are going through another phase of high anxiety with sweet Ciara.


She just isn't herself.



She doesn't want to be "home alone".



If Mom goes out to do some errands, she cries until Dad comes down from his office and lets her outside.



And than all she does is sit on the deck. Before long she is crying to come inside.  She looks everywhere for Mom.



AND when both Mom and Dad are gone out at the same time, she becomes frantic.  She has gnawed on all the gates that keep her in the kitchen.  AND she has broken the gate to the family room, not once, but twice.



 It is now beyond repair.  Mom has been tying it to keep it closed until the carpenter comes to fix the wall where the gate is attached, and Ciara chews through whatever Mom uses to tie the gate:(




Overnight, she paces through the first floor and cries and barks and wants to get outside ASAP, and then no, she really wants to be inside, and repeat over and over.

All of this anxiety started when she started having seizures about a year ago.  She hasn't had one (knock on wood) in a few months now, but the anxiety levels are high.  She is back to wearing her bandana that has been sprayed with Adaptil.  Guess we will back in conversation with the vet about trying some anti-anxiety meds.  The vet and the neurologist haven't been too eager to do either, but we have to find something to help her.  It is so sad to see her like this.



Her BFF "C" is back today - no school.  But even she hasn't been able to perk up her spirits. 




"Maybe she would like a cookie, Grandma?"



My turn now - I don't know why, but I just don't want Mom to leave me:(

Anyone with any thoughts on anti-anxiety meds, please feel free to give your opinion.

Woos - The OP Pack Mom

41 comments:

  1. No advice, but I sure hope she feels like her old self soon. Poor girl!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Clomicalm is what we use for Denny - it really helps calm him down without making sleepy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I hope u will/can find some good meds for her.

    ReplyDelete
  4. We hope you find something soon that will give her some peace when you are gone from home...please whisper in her ear from us that we are thinking of her.
    stella rose

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hugs to you sweet Ciara. When Dad was at the Purnia Bette rwith Pets Summit some nice people gave a presentation on music to calm anxiety in dogs, perhaps nice soft classical piano. Might be worth a try.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sweet Ciara, have you tried essential oils?? Lavendar has calming properties, DoTerra has a blend called Serenity.
    Sending hugs
    Mr Bailey & Hazel

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sent you email. We are thinking and praying for you all.
    Best wishes Molly

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh poor Ciara! We don't have any ideas but we hope someone comes up with something. How heartbreaking it is for her to be going through something that can't be figured out yet. Give her lots of snooter kisses and cookies for us! Hugs to you too mom!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Poor Ciara, no need to fret sweetie, we all luffs you there's no need to be frightened
    Take care and lots of loves and licky kisses to Ciara
    Princess Leah xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Is is possible that she is having PETITE Mal Seizures??? THOSE can't always be detected..Visually, yet cause the same sort of confusion and anxiety...

    ReplyDelete
  11. It's no fun being freaked out and not able to tell the reason. :( I hope you feel calmer soon!

    ReplyDelete
  12. How stressful for everyone. We sure hope that Ciara gets on a med that can help her soon!

    Love ya lots♥
    Mitch and Molly

    ReplyDelete
  13. Morgan went thru a period about six years ago when she was out of control , pacing, climbing and being destructive. I found her on top of the washing machine one day and she would jump on the counters in kitchen and bathrooms and turn the water on full blast. I had to keep her tied to me and I could hardly hold her. She was diagnosed with a severe anxiety disorder and was on both valium and clomacalm daily for several years. We weaned her off clomacalm a couple years ago and off the valium a couple months ago. She still has some anxiety and starts to pace if stressed but it's controllable.

    ReplyDelete
  14. We wish we had some advice, looks like you have had some great ones tho...We are sending POTP times 4 that Ciara settles down soon...

    Lhasa Hugs and Shih Tzu Snuggles!
    Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo

    ReplyDelete
  15. We are so sorry to hear about your anxious doggie. We have never had that kind of problem, so we can only say we hope she feels better soon. Joey dog and I always whine and then howl when the humans go away. (They can hear us from the driveway!) Then we get over it and take a nap. We do the happy dance when they come back, even if they were only gone for five minutes!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gosh,Ciara, you poor thing and poor Mom. We sure hope you can find something to help her. Sounds like some good ideas here. We really don't have any idea. Wish we could help. Sending lots of purrs and some Hee Haws too.

    ReplyDelete
  17. We're sorry to hear Ciara isn't doing well. We will keep our paws crossed tight for her.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Gretchen has her own anxiety issues, but FIGHTS any medication. We've had very mild success (but a win is a win!) with Adaptil too, but more so with the diffuser than the collar. Gretchen will cross paws and Sissy will sling drool, and if we run across something awesome, we'll share.

    ReplyDelete
  19. We are so sorry. This is all so stressful for everyone.
    We always keep Ciara in our thoughts and prayers- always.
    We had a friends whos Parrot became very anxious when the human became sick. The vet put the Parrot on Prozac, and it helped.
    love
    tweedles

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am so so sorry that Ciara is anxious and scared. It sure sounds like a brain chemistry thing since it's such a change from her normal self. I hope that your vet has some good ideas about meds, because I bet that they could help a lot. But, I don't have direct experience with anti-anxiety meds to share. I hope that things look up soon!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I dont know much about the meds for this but I know I will cross paws and Mommy will pray. I have always been very anxious when mommy
    leaves but I do settle down. I have been sending magic bubbles all over Blogville and I know some will reach Ciara. Mommy and I love the Woo's with all our hearts. I hope Ciara feels better soon.

    Love Sasha

    ReplyDelete
  22. I don't have any advice.
    We are thinking of you all.


    xo Cinnamon

    ReplyDelete
  23. I once read about a dog with anxiety and the owner found out it was from the burglar alarm. It was omitting a high frequency that only the dog could hear. The owner stopped setting the security alarm and the dog was fine. Also, I have a friend whose dog has severe anxiety when it rains, even just a drizzle. She gives her dog anti-anxiety medication and it has worked wonders for the dog.
    Ciara is so beautiful, hope she feels better soon.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Awwwww, sweet pup! So sorry to hear about the anxiety. Paws crossed for a solution soon!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh no, bless her heart! (and yours)
    We're purraying that she settles soon or you find an easy fix.
    XOXO

    ReplyDelete
  26. So sorry about this, that's so stressful for you, not to mention poor Ciara. Could this be some dementia manifesting itself? Best of luck...

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh Ciara I'm so sorry that this happens to you, I wish I could chase all the fears and the anxiety away. Our Chipy had a similar phase once, where she stared on the ceiling for hours and cried without a reason. She also started to damage the doors. It happened as she was 11 years old, so our vet thought it could be a kind of dementia... and you are much much younger, so I think it must be another reason that you act that way.
    I hope one of the blogvillers has an idea how to help you. I send you a big hug and I hope there is a way to help you to beat this anxiety.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh beautiful Ciara....I kind of understand how you're feeling. I'm not myself lately either - I hate my meds, I need to be glued to my Mom and I can't decide if I want to be in or out or out or in....next week I visit my vet to have more blood work. I hope that you and I can BOTH get to feeling better and more comfortable and at ease. Sigh.

    Hugs, Sammy

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sweet Ciara. We never experienced this with our Sibes. We just want you to get some relief. We know there are calming collars for cats, do they have them for dogs? Purrs for you precious girl

    ReplyDelete
  30. Sorry we don't have any advice on anti-anxiety meds. Sweet Ciara certainly seems to be scared to be without your Mom. We wishes she could speak human (or your parents could speak dog) so they could ask her.

    We are sending comforting purrs to Ciara and we hopes a solution can be found. Paws crossed Ciara is back to her sweet self soon.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh Ciara you poor baby. How about if mom leaves classical music on or the TV
    Snorts,
    Lily & Edward

    ReplyDelete
  32. Your on our minds right now... we are hoping everything is okay. Ciara,,, we love you and were so sorry you feel anxious...
    We keep hoping you get better.
    And love to your family.
    love
    tweedles

    ReplyDelete
  33. hello ciara its dennis the vizsla dog hay i am sorry to heer that yoo ar feeling so aynkshus!!! i of korse am on varyus anksietee meds inklooding alprazolam and fluoxetine and buspirone but sumthing noo mama has ben giving me wot kan be tried withowt a preeskripshun is sumthing kalld zylkene it is hydrolyzed casein and wen mama givs it to me wen i am verry aynkshus or restless i settel down within a half hour or so maybe it wood help yoo relaks a bit!!! i hope yoo feel better soon!!! ok bye

    ReplyDelete
  34. We hope the dreaded seizure monster isn't making her behave like that!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I really have no experience with this but... I do know Mabel hated me leaving her in the months before she passed. I seriously think it is just that they don't feel good and they don't know how to express it and they want the human that soothes them the most. Hoping your beautiful girl feels good again soon!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Just wondering whether essential oils might help her at all? Have you ever tried any? There is a company called Young Living (they have a big percheron horse hitch!), that might be worth looking at. They have a page dedicated to using oils on dogs. It's here: http://www.gooddoghealth.com/youngliving.html

    ReplyDelete
  37. Poor Ciara! And poor you, too. This is a very difficult thing to deal with. I have this problem with my girls...both of them. I have tried every single thing under the sun...with the exception of prescription meds. I have a couple of natural type remedies that we have tried. I will have to do some research and send you an email when I have the names. As it stands...most of the time, one of us stays home. If we both go out together, it is usually for less than four hours. It really is very troubling. Yours, I think is a worse situation because of the seizures. Maybe she is afraid?? I sure hope everyone finds a way to deal with this. It is very upsetting to all! xo Jeanne, Chloe and LadyBug

    ReplyDelete
  38. Aw, bless. Lots and lots of love
    Freya Rose Blossom. X

    ReplyDelete
  39. Oh poor sweet pup <3 <3 <3 <3
    I am so so so sorry your not well. I wish I had some advice for you :(
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I was going to say, you just can't go anywhere right now, Mom. Or Ciara would go berserk. You just have to tie her to your side and have her with you at all times.

    But that is not reasonable, I know. I think the seizures scare her so much, she is afraid of the next one and doesn't know where she SHOULD be, to avoid it or to be in a safe place when it happens. How horrible that must feel.

    Anti-Anxiety meds, well, You could try the stuff they have in the Dr Foster and Smith catalog. A treat that promotes relaxation. Something that you plug into the wall and it sends out these pheromones that calm a dog down. But we have used anti anxiety on Freddy and it does work. We gave him some one July for the 4th of July, and it did wonders. He just sat there, calm as can be. Or laid on the couch droooling. No reaction to the booms and bangs from outside, except for a twitch of the ears. So it does work... but it also makes them so groggy so really, talk to your vet about it.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Oh, if she is on seizure meds, it is most likely to make her feel HOT. So that may be why she thinks she wants to be outside?? I used to be on seizure meds myself and the pills were horrible. It would just make me flush up and bloom into a fireball. I couldn't stand ANY light. I was just so hot and sweaty and I would not calm down until you turned off the light. But that was me. 30 years ago :) I just remember the hot feeling.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for wooing at us. We love your comments!