Housebound due to dog's separation/isolation anxiety

gettingready

Thanks everyone for all the helpful pointers and advise, taking everything on board xx

Will try to refer, can not multi quote but

Hydrotherapy - because of her spine issues I was advised against it by Zara's vet

Changing her meds from Onsior to Opokan (Metacam) seems to made her much more mobile and eager to move

Can not afford Zykelene at the moment as spoke to Animed and Zara would need 2 tablets of 450mg per day, not within my budget now to be honest

Zara had the thyroid panels done when I read about it long time ago in one of Krlyr's posts about Kiki, all was fine then.

Just asked to join Reactive Dogs UK

Will ave a look at Johnsons calm-eze or Vets Best

Got some books delivered today from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1607744147/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1842862774/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1844039099/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0007488548/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

All paperbacks as those I do not like on Kindle - works better with paperbacks

Looking at

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Treating-Separation-Anxiety-Malena-Demartini-Price/dp/1617811432/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486068013&sr=8-1&keywords=Malena+DeMartini+Price

Pricey on paperback but will see if I can stretch to that or just get this one on Kindle

(posting now before i loose all again) tbc

gettingready

Where can I get CBD oil to try Krlyr pls? Looked on Amazon but not sure that is what you meant? Thanks

We played the puzzles today, the Nina Ottoson (spelling??) ones, with treats. Zara likes those but she has not much patience so got a bit agitated at some point and we stopped.

Went for a walk in the park with treats in my pocket and a lot of "look at me=treat" as quite a few dogs around. All fine apart from one puppy running up right at her face at full speed off lead. That never helps....

I think Zara has OCD. She digs get paws in when I try to "take a different route" through the park or on the way to from park. She also has "her" spots where she insists on stopping and lying down. That can be quite weird as there is one place with 4 benches, 3 of them were empty and someone sitting on HER bench yesterday, she dug her paws in and refused to move till I sat next to the person there and she lied down next to THAT bench. Same today but there were 2 people on that bench (3 empty benches) and I was quite challenging to convince her that I am gonna sit on ANOTHER bench and it is ok for her to lie down next t that one.

There is another place in the park with some logs to sit on in the middle of open space. That is where she heads on after the bench. Yesterday there was a woman there with 2 dogs so we sat on/near another log. As soon as the woman left with her dogs - Zara was up and walking fast towards THOSE logs as those are where she wants to lie down next to.

Came back in, first thing she always does is head for the back door and waits to be let out - as if she is checking the garden is still there ....for real.

Kicked a football about in the back garden - that she loves and we came back in , she went to sleep.

She woke up when I put my shoes and coat on and took the rubbish bag. Told her to stay and left. Stayed out for 12 minutes today and she was quiet but as I walked back in (and gave her a treat) she acted as if I have been away for at least a week.

When we are inside - she does not follow me around, does not mind if I am in one room and she is in another or is the doors are open or closed.

She is much more chilled generally in this flat than she was in previous one. Se does not bark with the doorbell (i have a nice musical one now - lat place was like alarm clock and terribly loud, awful), she does not bark when someone goes up and down the stairs etc.

Work in progress then ...

Thanks again to everyone who is posting on this thread

gettingready

tacpot12 wrote: »

I saw an advert for a dog crèche today and.wondered if this might be a solution for you?

Thanks but as I already mentioned several time - this will not be an option any more.

krlyr

http://nurturethemnaturally.co.uk/product/hemp-oil/

gettingready

Thanks Krlyr - I just put "hemp" in translator to see what it is in Polish and funnily enough I have this oil at home. Unrefined, unprocessed, a whole bottle... Can not remember even what I got it for but asked a friend to bring me some over when she was on holiday's last time...

Looks like I am losing it slowly myself...

tesuhoha

How about getting a new kitten to distract her. She could be 'Mum' maybe.

gettingready

I already have 4 cats :eek::eek::eek:

When she was being boarded, Ewa found 2 kittens that were dumped outside her place of work and took them home. Zara was totally obsessed about that. And she still is when she goes there to visit. Not in a healthy way - she so much wants to be friends with them that it puts them off and the more they walk away from her the more she tries so vicious circle to be honest.

With my 4 it is quite weird too as 3 out of 4 can come and go as they please but completely different story with Teddy. All cats are very much attached to Zara indoors but when they go out she is not happy is Teddy goes out and chases him outside, always did. As she chases him he runs so she chases him more. Indoors they sleep/eat together but she does not like Teddy going outside. Even when she lies down in the garden - 3 cats can walk past her with zero reaction but Teddy in view and she gets all "must get him indoors"

gettingready

Right, according to the book on separation anxiety that Krlyr recommended (downloaded last night and read 3/4 so far) I am not supposed to leave Zara alone at all to start with.

Noticed some abscess on one of my boys last night - he came home few days ago with some scratches which I covered with Manuka Honey (medical grade) as usual and did not think too much of it as he was fine eating drinking etc but he has gone a bit quiet and then last night I notices that abscess which was not there before. And it is around his spine so major panic on my side and got a 10:45 appointment for him. Cats are still insured, only cancelled Zara. This is the second cat to need a vet since we moved here. Right after Christmas Fred was unwell and had to stay on a drip at the vets for 2 days. Now George. They have not seen vet for years and now two of them.

Anyway - vet is a bus ride away. 10 min walk to the bus, stops pretty much outside the vets. I am gonna have to take Zara with me. Tough.

Psycho Zara on a bus and a cat in a basket. Wish me luck as need it now.

*Robin*

Hi Gettingready,
I feel for you - but also understand your dilemma because my last beloved companion also suffered from severe SA in her final years. While she was one of four dogs there was no problem, but when the others had all crossed Rainbow Bridge she was only really happy by my side.
Luckily, CD had perfect manners in company, so she accompanied me to weddings, funerals, bank manager interviews, even doctor appointments and hospital visits [wearing her therapy-dog jacket] when no-one else she trusted was available to stay with her.
Health issues increased with age, and following a cancer scare I started giving her CBD oil to prevent a recurrence. It had a wonderful calming side-effect; after a few weeks I realised CD didn't mind being left alone for a few hours (I put the tv or radio on for her while I went out).
I'm afraid I haven't read through the whole thread, just pages one and four - but see you have a bottle of something which might be CBD oil. A word of caution; if your bottle came from a reputable company you can check the ingredients, but if it was home-made by a friend then please be wary, because it might also contain THC which is not only illegal but also poisonous to dogs.
There are several CBD oil suppliers who will send out free samples of safe oil you can try before buying, to see if it helps Zara. The most highly respected in the UK are "CBD Br0thers" - there's a link on their website for requesting samples although they're not allowed to advise which variety might work best for you.
We had the "Blue top" hemp CBD (slightly cheaper than the alternatives). It worked for CD, so I didn't try the others.

paddypaws101

Oh GR I wish I had read this thread earlier as I could have come over and taken you to the vet.
I am so sorry that Zara is having issues and really hope you can get to the bottom of it soon.
A couple of suggestions.......
Green Lipped mussel for her joints. This seems to get great reviews for dogs and also cats.
Instead of Zylkene how about trying L-Tryptophan?
Both of these products are pretty cheap so wont break the bank to give them a try