Potential problems with Arden Grange food?

Fire_Fox

Can you see a behaviourist on your pet insurance policy?

krlyr

I think behavioural and physical issues are quite entwined in animals - well, in humans too, just think how much of a physical effect stress or anxiety can have on a human. That can certainly reduce appetites, cause physical sickness and so on.
It may be worth trying something to take the edge off any anxiety, e.g. a DAP/Adaptil plugin or collar to see if that helps.

On a related note, you may want to do some regular training to help her deal with being left on her own, even if you're off work for the foreseeable future, you don't know when an emergency may result in her being left home alone, and now is a good opportunity to build up her training slowly. The book "Please don't leave me!" by Nicole Wilde is a fab resource for separation anxiety

bikelesschick

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Can you see a behaviourist on your pet insurance policy?

I'm not sure. I'll have to check.

Thanks krlyr - I'm not sure about any chemicals to treat anxiety - simply because I'm not sure if it 'cures' anxiety or just helps the dog to cope and as soon as that thing is removed, the anxiety returns. Training is much more our street and she loves it anyway. I'll look for the book next time I'm at the library. Thanks.

krlyr

DAP is a pheremone that mimics what a mother dog would release to calm down puppies. If you want to go more natural, look at the Pet Remedy plugins that use essential oils in a diffuser.
Sometimes they can mask a problem, but a stressed dog doesn't learn as well as a calm dog, so sometimes it can help just to use something to take the edge off the anxiety so that the training can be more effective. These kinds of products should always be used in conjunction with training to get a more permanent effect but I think the combination can be more effective than just training itself.

bikelesschick

Thanks for that. I'll look into it...

skipsmum

Our dog isn't eating much at the moment, I think its because its so hot and muggy here. I don't feel much like eating either!
She suffers terrible separation anxiety, but as I am off uni she has got me 24/7 and is quite happy. She is miserable in the heat though, she can't settle and shes itchy.
Glad you rescued a staffie, bikelesschick, where I live there are so many in the rescue centres.

bikelesschick

skipsmum wrote: »

Our dog isn't eating much at the moment, I think its because its so hot and muggy here. I don't feel much like eating either!
She suffers terrible separation anxiety, but as I am off uni she has got me 24/7 and is quite happy. She is miserable in the heat though, she can't settle and shes itchy.
Glad you rescued a staffie, bikelesschick, where I live there are so many in the rescue centres.

Interesting you mentioned the itchiness, my dog is very itchy too! I thought it was because of fleas even though she has her frontline regularly and I've never seen any fleas but maybe is just the heat. Saying that, the eating has been going on for weeks now and the weather wasn't that warm then. Oh, I just don't know!

As for rescuing a staffie, I know what you mean, there are so many out there and they're so lovely. I can't understand why people get rid of them! Erm, we weren't looking for a dog and DH didn't want one. We know the mum's owner who had the puppy returned to them after some lousy excuse from the previous owner, if that makes sense. They were struggling to rehome her and I couldn't let her go to a dog's home so I convinced DH to take her in 'temporarily'. Thankfully he fell in love with her after a couple of weeks:o

Her food is due to be delivered next week but she's also due to be spayed so that will be a fun week

Fire_Fox

Bikelesschick there is resistance to Frontline in the flea population now, might be worth switching next time.

bikelesschick

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Bikelesschick there is resistance to Frontline in the flea population now, might be worth switching next time.

Thanks for that. I've been reading around and someone on here was saying about the different stages of fleas, etc. We've never seen a flea on her or in the house but I don't think this means anything. I'm getting the house treated and getting a flea comb as well (I know this won't help much but I just feel sorry for the poor soul!). She's being spayed next week so will speak to vet about getting some advocate soon as well.

skipsmum

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Bikelesschick there is resistance to Frontline in the flea population now, might be worth switching next time.

Yes, we had trouble with frontline last year and switched to advantage. The vet says Skip has a grass allergy, which is quite likely as shes low to the ground! She has an injection every four weeks which only helps for about 2 weeks. We give her half a piriton tablet when shes really bad.