Thanks for posting this, I feel like this gives us "permission" to try medication! We have been trying EVERYTHING to help our dog, and we've been totally blaming ourselves for not doing enough when he was a puppy.
Hey Rachelle, I hope meds will help. If you can find and use a veterinary behavorist that would be best. Most of them understand behavior, anxiety and the role a medication can play. Do not use Trazadone. It does not stay in the system. It is good for a specific episode, but not long term. Good luck.
@@EverythingDog I use trazadone and it makes my dog sleepy/calm. I can finally leave my house for a couple of hours though she still doesn't like that I'm gone. I work from home, but still need to go to gym, etc daily. The plus side is when we walk after her naps she's sooo much better than without the Trazadone and the walk is actually enjoyable instead of torture. Is there anything else you can recommend that's natural and better for long term? I really don't want to keep using the Trazadone if I don't have to but then both of us are going to go crazy🤣
@@teetee19768 Well, this sounds like a good use for Trazadone! If it helps her be calm while you leave that is what matters. And because she isn't working herself up emotionally she's able to enjoy your walks. I'd keep using it. There is NOTHING wrong with helping our dogs with the right medicine right? If she needed antibiotics you'd give her that without thinking twice. If she was a diabetic you'd give her insulin right? Her brain and body need the extra help from Trazadone I'm happy that you found something and it's working for both of you!!!!
I am really glad I came across this video. I took my dog for an evaluation with a dog trainer and she recommended an anti anxiety medication for my dog to help him get in a better place for training. My Vet actually gave me a difficult time to get the medication telling me, “he’s too old, and it’s just his personality and the medication probably won’t work!”
Hey Dee M, He maybe too old and it may not work, BUT you will not know until you try it AND document on a daily basis. His behavior will change gradually. I usually suggest starting at half the body weight dose so his body can adjust and you can see how he does, but keeping a journal. If not change you can increase by 5 mg. Wait another few weeks, keep a journal etc. Good luck.
Thank you so much for this! We have a four year old rescued mastiff and she was struggling so much. This has been the best thing we could have done for all parties involved.
Yes my dog need anti-anxiety medication when it's raining and thundering when she's going to go get a haircut. Orr to the vet. Now I told Mike rumor that I had to give her her medication since you don't need it she's okay. I beg to differ I don't want to leave my dog shaking and trembling with another person. My groomer traumatized my dog. I myself used to groom her for touch ups. I live six blocks away from the groomer and every time I was on my way there all of a sudden my dog started trembling and shaking and panting uncontrollably. ! Thank you so much for this video!
Thank you. We just put our baby on meds. Thunder, rain, fireworks, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, etc. I so hope we find help for him. I hate seeing him pace and pant so hard. When it's all over, he is so exhausted. 🙏
Sounds like a good decision. I would suggest Labeling and feeding as well. Tell him, What's about to happen. Im going to vacuum, and toss him a handful of chicken etc. Then turn it on and off and be done with it. Also keep him far away to help reduce his reaction. GRADUALLY, you'll get him closer and for longer periods of time. Can he wait outside or in your car while you vacuum, etc?
@Everything Dog thank you for this suggestion. My husband is home, so he washes, etc. Levi actually sees him grab the Hamper, so he immediately takes off to other end of house. But we will telling him what we are doing and giving chicken, etc. Yes, we do send him outside when we vacumn. Normally, we do this when both of us are home, so then one of us is outside, too.
Wow…I have a AKC Yorkshire Terrier @10lb from 9 week old to now age 8yr that is my Service Dog. We spend So many hours all day, everyday. She has Separation Anxiety since a young puppy. We have noticed it only getting worse during pandemic. I am an older women with a few medical issues that she has been task trained to help me with. We used to go out much more, and we have both increased anxiety. I tried behavior modification as there has been times she is left alone. She can’t wear a mask and I am scared to expose her to Air indoors and other people. While we are not separated for long, she does not know when I will return. I just had Dr. give her a medication to start to see if this will help. I have high hopes this will give her a better quality of life, and alleviate the issue. So now we both will be on antidepressant.It is possible she has picked up on my anxiety as well as she is in tune with me.She also checks up on my husband, and places herself between us when in separate area. They know your routine, and understand Key Words you use. Anxiety is so misunderstood.
Sounds like you are on the right path. And yes, our dogs can pick up our anxiety, it's called social learning. WE can use it to our advantage by demonstrating being calm and talking to our dogs. Wish you all the best.
You are welcome. Be sure to keep a journal of your dog's behavior so you can document what he/she is doing. It's easy to forget. Start at a low dosage and increase gradually as needed.
Thanks for this video! I started using medication for my dog today and this makes me more comfortable, thinking that i made a good decision. I always felt guilty for my 1 year old dog whos super sensitive and anxious. He constantly wakes up and wanders around whenever there is a small sound.. he also panicks and start trembling, shaking when he sees a truck or big car while we are walking..just goes out of control to the level we cannot conitnue to walk. I really hope that medication & training will bring some improvement !!
So glad to hear that you are trying anxiety meds with your dog. It's a bit of a long road so don't give up too soon. Just a note, Trazadone is not, in my opinion an effective anti-anxiety med for what you described. Prozac or Zoloft are better choices. Start at a 50% of max amount dosage, wait 6 weeks then adjust up or down accordingly. Changes will happen slowly and in small steps. Be patient and be your dog's advocate. It's a sucky quality of life to be afraid of all those things.
Hi Nicole. So glad the video was helpful to you. I recommend all my clients keep a journal of start date and amount of meds, then document ANY behavior, eating changes. The only way to know if meds help is to watch your dogs behaviors and sometimes the behavior change happens so slowly you may miss it, but if you document it, it can be so helpful! All the best.
My Maltese will be a year old next month and his fears are so bad. We were at the park earlier and he pulled his lead so hard because of a darn water fountain.....yes a water fountain. Same with a bed of flowers, plastic bags or a balloon. I am thinking of giving him something. Also he is fearful of other dogs. He tolerates people but not other dogs
Wow, that is a lot of anxiety. I would go sit with him some where quiet and keep your distance from water fountains etc. Bring, chicken, meatballs etc. As he looks at something label it for him and feed him. "It's just a water fountain, feed, It's a water fountain, feed" Then go home. Wait a day, and go again. DO NOT WALK HIM AROUND. Just find a quiet place, tell him about what he sees, then leave. he needs a context a framework just like babies do when they are looking around their world. We lable EVERYTHING for babies, do the same for your dog. Meds may also help, but it's not the only thing. It's not a magic pill!
Please help . My GSD and mother got attacked by bees and luckily both of them lived, my dog was scared to go outside for a month. Then everything seemed fine until one day thunder became something she is deathly scared of. I have tried everything from crating her playing music medication *anxitane * but she still becomes very destructive and pants and tries to break her crate . Please help what can we do that's best for her? She can go a day being happy because it rains were we live 6 months of the year
Can my dog take trazadone evry day? Is it bad for the liver? I only give him a quarter of the dose they perscribed and it works great when hes in his crate. CBD makes him more anxious and does not work for him.
The dog I have now apparently she was beaten, starved neglected, and she barks for hours and there’s nothing there then I have to drag her outside. Sometimes she have some type of attack. She see a dragon fly and she want to runaway. I’m trying to help her.
Wow, that's a lot of stress your dog is dealing with. Hard to say if meds will help without all the info. Talk to your veterinarain or find a veterinarian behaviorist.
Will this help my German Shepard with her aggressiveness towards other dogs. She use to never be aggressive until 3 years ago when she had a traumatic experience and now it’s just bad.
Christina, I can't say over youtube whether or not medication will help. If her aggression was caused by a traumatic event, I would begin by supporting her, meaning keep her away from other dogs. She does not understand that she is safe unless you keep her safe. A dog's trauma is just as serious as ours.
My Dad passed away recently and so I’ve been staying with my Mom. My dog has been there 1000 times and absolutely loves my Mom. Except now the other day she slammed a door accidentally. It startled him and now he’s barking and growling at her and leaving the room when she comes in. He is definitely sound sensitive. I am feeling terrible that i allowed this to happen and now my grieving Mother is afraid of my dog. Vet recommended doggie Prozac. I am hopeful. Could time “fix” the relationship between my dog and Mom?
Im very sorry to hear about the passing of your father. The age of your dog currently is important to my answer. Even though he's been there many times, this time is different, your dad is missing and you and your mom are grieving, which is not lost on your dog. (People smell different under stress) If your dog is under the age of 2 he is going through a huge developmental stage which means there are a lot of changes happening for your dog. Be calm and lable and feed him for everything he is worried about. Ex: "Oh silly boy, it's just mom. See Mom walking towards you?" Give him lost of treats from you, not from your mom.
@@EverythingDogthanks so much for your advice. He is actually 7 years old. There definitely is a lot of stress in the house. For now I’ve removed him and he’s staying with my partner at our house. However for Xmas I will need to bring him back here overnight. My vet also now prescribed gabapentin for this purpose. Im still very nervous. We have relatives coming over, and there will be a lot of noise. Should I keep him in a separate room or something?
@@zinamussmann4861 Manage him the best you can to keep him safe. 7 yrs marks the beginning of becoming a senior dog. If you feel this is a very sudden change, Id encourage you to have a full work up done, pain? Blood work etc. Sudden changes in behavior can indicate an undiagnosed physical issue. Just a thought.
I'm more concerned that coming off anxiety meds or not having them consistently will cause withdrawals and worse behavior/mental state. I am fostering a traumatized resource guarding puppy. I'm willing to try meds but I'm concerned she will be worse when she doesn't have them. I'm also concerned that her eventual adoption may be more difficult if the new owner has to buy meds to adopt her.
Sepia, anti-anxiety meds will be given daily. They must be weaned if the dog needs to come off of them. How old is your foster puppy? What trauma has she experienced? You may want to look at Jean Donaldsons' book Mine before you try meds. Some behavior work first will help you gauge if the meds are helping or not. Please remember, for some dogs, meds can make things worse, but you won't know until you try. Good luck and thanks for fostering.
Hey Beck, Trazadone is an "event" medication. Meaning give it before a nervous event. It is not for long-term use or for dogs that are generally anxious. I would suggest going back and asking for a doggie prozac or finding a Veterinary Behaviorist. Generally, they are great with meds. Good luck.
Thanks for your video. I am a guilt riddled dog mom of 3 border collies, all with severe sound aversion. Always wondering what I did to cause it. I couldn't have socialized them more but I do baby them alot. Going to try Sileo this 4th of July. Am terrified of giving it to them but I feel it will be more humane than letting them suffer through it. If any, do you have any thoughts on Sileo? Is it safe for my 7 and 11 year old dogs?
Leslie, why are you guilt-ridden? You didn't cause your dog's sound sensitivity? It's most likely genetic. Mom or dad or grandparents are sound sensitive. What could you have possibly done to cause such behavior? Sileo is GREAT! Not sure why you are terrified. It's super easy to use. It saved the life of one of our dogs who had SEVERE thunder phobia. We would also drive our dogs out of town on fireworks night so they couldn't hear them.
Robert meds can be one piece of the pie. Meds will not magically make your dog happy to see guests. Breed matters. If your dog has genetics that tells him to guard his space, then this needs to be addressed with an "off-duty space" so he can chill out with lots of yummy, delicious chewy things while you socially signal to him that everything is ok. Remember, dogs have a personal space bubble of 7-10 feet.
I'm trying the naturvet quiet moments treats, but my dog doesn't want to eat them voluntarily so I need to force it on it. I think it's because of the smell, I tried to mix it with his food, but always failed. Why my dog is like this? He doesn't even want to eat his dry food.
Fino, I suspect your dog doesn't like the taste of the food. Experiment with other foods. Pills can be given in cheese, wet dog or cat food, peanutbutter. Good luck.
Is it reasonable to put a dog on fluoxetine for social anxiety? My dog is well bred, trained from puppyhood, but can be anxious around people and if touched in that state he will growl and snap. I have exhausted the training option.
Hey Coffee384, if your dog is anxious around new people it could be a reason for Prozac, but Id really need to know more. It might be nice to just put your dog "off duty" with something yummy to chew on when novel people are around. Many people can not follow our directions when around our "tricky" dog. Many people will say "Its ok, I like dogs" or "I have dogs" or "dogs like me" and reach to pet a dog who is really just getting information (sniffing) Id speak to your vet. A therapeutic dose is 50% of max dosage, based on weight. Keep a journal and know that meds are not a magic answer. Watch for signs that they are making him worse. It's rare, but can happen.
I have a 10-month old puppy and she exhibits anxiety whenever we bring her out of our house but is quite chil at home. She wails constantly in the car. Can she take anti-anxiety meds on an as-needed basis only?
Hey Gerry, I would give her time to adjust to the car in short intervals as well as just take her someplace, close by, sit with her on a bench and let her observe her world, then go home. GRADUALLY increase the length of time she is out and about. It sounds like she is on sensory overload and she hopefully, won't need meds if you go slowly with her.
We are not even hesitating to put our pup on medication today. She's almost 2 and will TEAR the house apart as soon as we leave. She holds her potty (even though brought outside all day) and will potty as soon as we leave. She will pace outside, smell, act like she's gonna go and then stop. Ugh! We have to get anxiety under control before she goes into formal training in a couple months! I can't be afraid to leave my home because my 2 year old dog is King Kong! Lol.
I have just found your channel and Facebook. Long story short, we adopted a dog right before the Covid lockdown. I am so thankful for her and love her to pieces but we have a codependence that we can’t seem to break. If we go out to dinner and I do not take her, she gets diarrhea and stress colitis the next day. This has happened so many times. Last time she was throwing up blood and pooping blood. My doctor says she needs an anti-anxiety medication and suggested trazodone. What medicine do you suggest? We need help. I am not living my life to the fullest because I am constantly worried about her and staying home and missing out on things.
Ellisa, wow, this is intense. Trazadone is used for individual episodes. It does not stay in her system. There are a couple of ways to treat this. Get a doggie camera, set it up and practice with it so you are confident you can use it when away from the house. You will need to practice going away - and coming back in very short intervals. Tell her you are leaving and you'll be right back. Leave her a very high-value yummy. She may not eat it but leave it anyway. Watch her on the camera, note when her anxiety begins, immediately, 5 minutes after you leave, 10 minutes etc. Return BEFORE she is freaking out. Walk in calmly, no fan fair, do not get all excited to see her. BE CALM The goal of these practice departures is too keep her calm and not trigger a full anxiety attack. Id start with 1 SHORT session every 3 days depending on her response. if she has diarrhea, wait a few days, do it again, but this time returning sooner. Medication can certainly help, but I would look at a prozac, not trazadone. Traz is given for an episode and my gut is that she needs more help with her anxiety than what Trazadone can provide. If you want to get a complete behavior plan you can book here: everythingdog.as.me/VirtualBehavioralConsultation
Hi. My chihuahua is 14 years old and weighs 11lbs. She has always been beyond terrified!!!! of gun shots or any sudden loud!! banging sounds and the worst is fireworks. I read online that vets do prescribe xanax for extreme anxiety for cats and dogs. I have been on xanax for years. I take 1mg tablet twice a day. I don't want to have to go to the vet just to ask how much of one of my tablets can I give her because vets won't give any advice over the phone. Can you give me advice on how much of a 1mg tablet to give my chloe before the 4th of july gets here. Im so frightened for her esp her age. I appreciate any help. Thank you! Kim and Chloe
Hi Kim, sorry, you'll have to reach out to your vet. There are LOTS of new meds that will help dogs in this situation We used Sileo, gel form on our EXTREMELY thunder phobic dog. It made all the difference in his quality of life during a storm. Got to get it from the vet.
Hi my puppy is 10 weeks old french bull dog she is OK to be picked up from me and family members but for other people she yelps really bad I don't no why she is doing this but it's only certain people ie now her breeder she yelped at when she picked her up
Lisa, a 10-week-old puppy doesn't need medication. Just putting that out there since this video is about medication for extreme anxiety. a 10-week-old puppy is still a baby-baby and learning the ways of our human world. Being picked up is a human thing...NOT a dog thing. In the wild, or natural world dogs are not picked up. Does that make sense? I would suggest that only people she likes and KNOWS pick her up. She is communicating that she doesn't like it. Please honor her communication and stop allowing others to pick her up. Have them sit in a chair, and if NEEDED, you pick her up and place her on their laps. The best thing would be for friends and family to sit on the floor and let the puppy decide if she wants to visit. Young puppies like this need a LOT of CHOICE AND CONTROL, so they will feel safe in our human world. Don't do thing to her (Like picking her up) simply because you can. It's not fair to her.
@@EverythingDog thank you so so much I was hoping u said that as I didn't want to give her any kind of medication just yet but I understand about people picking her up she ok with me or my children and a couple of friends she will go to just screams when others pick her up like this morning the breeder came to take her for her 2nd vaccine and she screamed the vet has said its anxity of others and peoples appearances I also have her sister which she is also doing great and like all people
Matt, this is very common. Even veterinarians have a hard time seeing "mental illness" just like human MD's. Im glad you advocated for your dog to get him/her the meds needed. Starting dose is 50% of max dosage based on weight. No need to start at the Max dose. The goal is to find the sweet spot in the meds so that learning/training can be maximized. Some dogs can be weaned in a couple of years and be successful without the meds.
I think this commentary is incomplete. While medication can be appropriate for some anxious dogs. There are also training and behavioral methods that can reduce and sometimes drastically reduce anxiety and fear. I have a 2 1/2 year old rescue with high anxiety the I inherited from a household that never followed through with consistent training. He was placed on trazodone and some other meds to address it. Since he has been with me and had consistent training I have reduced his meds and his anxiety has reduced. Al I am saying is I think this advice is incomplete. Addressing fear and anxiety issues in dogs is a multi-pronged approach and I think advising people to go straight to medication before educating themselves on all the methods they can implement to address the underlying issues is short sighted
@richardc.bailey5168 I couldn't agree with you more. We must look at the WHOLE Dog, the genetics, history, trauma, environment etc to effectively treat the dog. With that being said there are some dogs that medication can give them a boost, but it doesn't have to be for their lifetime and it certainly will not replace providing the dog with consistent routines and support (training) Thanks for the comment.
how is it going? my dog is also scared of walks in ppl and has severe separation anxiety. it’s like i can’t take him anywhere, i can’t go anywhere, and no one can come over,,, very isolating:(
@@jerseymxnette6176It doesn't sound like either of you are having a quality life. Your dog is suffering daily. I would suggest talking with your veterinarian and starting your pup on Anti Anxiety meds. Start at 50% of Max dose. Let his system adjust to it for 6 weeks before making an adjustment. Keep a journal.
I have an 11 month old Japanese spitz who I got to be my autism service dog prospect. I've been training and socializing her since day 1, her parents are excellent confident and docile showdogs. I've done just about everything and she's still struggled with reactivity since she was 6 months old. It;s very selective, she loves meeting people and dogs and is good at pet stores or training facilities. It's outside my home or on walks she struggles. I was kind of shocked when my trainer said i should consider meds because i kept viewing it as a fear period. I mean overall she's not an anxious dog. It's hard to come to terms with it as I deliberately was looking for a confident puppy who could help me with my anxiety and she could be months off starting service dog training, if ever.
Lydia, it can be a bit disappointing, embarrassing, and frustrating to find ourselves with a dog who may not have the personality we were hoping for. For you, it's to be a service dog so the potential loss is even bigger. I don't know enough about your situation to tell you she needs meds or not. Most reactivity is based in fear. It is very possible our dog is worried or afraid of other dogs. She could be this way from "Over" socialization and/or genetics. If you want to discuss in much more detail, please use this link: everythingdog.as.me/ wishing you all the best.
My pomeranian Bailey as alot of separation anxiety and anxiety around strangers and men. So am trying YuCalm. To see if it can help him before we try Vet medication. I want to try something to see if it helps him. I am using a brand that helps my older Scottish terrier JayJay. He has stiff back legs and YuMove helps him be able to run and jump again with no limping.
@@EverythingDog I haven't got any video of what he does when are away but when we are get closer to the house. He can't see or hear us. He is still barking. So I assume he must have been barking quite alot
Thanks for posting this, I feel like this gives us "permission" to try medication! We have been trying EVERYTHING to help our dog, and we've been totally blaming ourselves for not doing enough when he was a puppy.
Hey Rachelle, I hope meds will help. If you can find and use a veterinary behavorist that would be best. Most of them understand behavior, anxiety and the role a medication can play. Do not use Trazadone. It does not stay in the system. It is good for a specific episode, but not long term. Good luck.
@@EverythingDog I use trazadone and it makes my dog sleepy/calm. I can finally leave my house for a couple of hours though she still doesn't like that I'm gone. I work from home, but still need to go to gym, etc daily. The plus side is when we walk after her naps she's sooo much better than without the Trazadone and the walk is actually enjoyable instead of torture. Is there anything else you can recommend that's natural and better for long term? I really don't want to keep using the Trazadone if I don't have to but then both of us are going to go crazy🤣
@@teetee19768 Well, this sounds like a good use for Trazadone! If it helps her be calm while you leave that is what matters. And because she isn't working herself up emotionally she's able to enjoy your walks. I'd keep using it. There is NOTHING wrong with helping our dogs with the right medicine right? If she needed antibiotics you'd give her that without thinking twice. If she was a diabetic you'd give her insulin right? Her brain and body need the extra help from Trazadone I'm happy that you found something and it's working for both of you!!!!
I am really glad I came across this video. I took my dog for an evaluation with a dog trainer and she recommended an anti anxiety medication for my dog to help him get in a better place for training. My Vet actually gave me a difficult time to get the medication telling me, “he’s too old, and it’s just his personality and the medication probably won’t work!”
Hey Dee M, He maybe too old and it may not work, BUT you will not know until you try it AND document on a daily basis. His behavior will change gradually. I usually suggest starting at half the body weight dose so his body can adjust and you can see how he does, but keeping a journal. If not change you can increase by 5 mg. Wait another few weeks, keep a journal etc. Good luck.
Thank you so much for this! We have a four year old rescued mastiff and she was struggling so much. This has been the best thing we could have done for all parties involved.
Haley, great to hear this.
Yes my dog need anti-anxiety medication when it's raining and thundering when she's going to go get a haircut. Orr to the vet. Now I told Mike rumor that I had to give her her medication since you don't need it she's okay. I beg to differ I don't want to leave my dog shaking and trembling with another person. My groomer traumatized my dog. I myself used to groom her for touch ups. I live six blocks away from the groomer and every time I was on my way there all of a sudden my dog started trembling and shaking and panting uncontrollably. ! Thank you so much for this video!
Yvette, so glad the video was helpful! Best, Denise
This is so helpful! My dog is my baby and he developed high anxiety. This is really validating and assures me that I made the right decision for him
Thank you. We just put our baby on meds. Thunder, rain, fireworks, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, etc. I so hope we find help for him. I hate seeing him pace and pant so hard. When it's all over, he is so exhausted. 🙏
Sounds like a good decision. I would suggest Labeling and feeding as well. Tell him, What's about to happen. Im going to vacuum, and toss him a handful of chicken etc. Then turn it on and off and be done with it. Also keep him far away to help reduce his reaction. GRADUALLY, you'll get him closer and for longer periods of time. Can he wait outside or in your car while you vacuum, etc?
@Everything Dog thank you for this suggestion. My husband is home, so he washes, etc. Levi actually sees him grab the Hamper, so he immediately takes off to other end of house. But we will telling him what we are doing and giving chicken, etc.
Yes, we do send him outside when we vacumn. Normally, we do this when both of us are home, so then one of us is outside, too.
Wow…I have a AKC Yorkshire Terrier @10lb from 9 week old to now age 8yr that is my Service Dog. We spend
So many hours all day, everyday. She has Separation Anxiety since a young puppy. We have noticed it only getting
worse during pandemic. I am an older women with a few medical issues that she has been task trained to help me
with. We used to go out much more, and we have both increased anxiety. I tried behavior modification as there has
been times she is left alone. She can’t wear a mask and I am scared to expose her to Air indoors and other
people. While we are not separated for long, she does not know when I will return. I just had Dr.
give her a medication to start to see if this will help. I have high hopes this will give her a better quality of life, and
alleviate the issue. So now we both will be on antidepressant.It is possible she has picked up on my anxiety as well
as she is in tune with me.She also checks up on my husband, and places herself between us when in separate area.
They know your routine, and understand Key Words you use. Anxiety is so misunderstood.
Sounds like you are on the right path. And yes, our dogs can pick up our anxiety, it's called social learning. WE can use it to our advantage by demonstrating being calm and talking to our dogs. Wish you all the best.
How is she doing now? And medication did they prescribe? Our Yorkie has severe separation anxiety and we’ve tried everything at this point😔
This video is very encouraging. Thank you for sharing!
Glad you found it helpful. Good luck with your anxious dog.
Thank you for this video! It really helped me with my decision to treat my baby❤
You are welcome. Be sure to keep a journal of your dog's behavior so you can document what he/she is doing. It's easy to forget. Start at a low dosage and increase gradually as needed.
Thanks for this video! I started using medication for my dog today and this makes me more comfortable, thinking that i made a good decision.
I always felt guilty for my 1 year old dog whos super sensitive and anxious. He constantly wakes up and wanders around whenever there is a small sound.. he also panicks and start trembling, shaking when he sees a truck or big car while we are walking..just goes out of control to the level we cannot conitnue to walk. I really hope that medication & training will bring some improvement !!
So glad to hear that you are trying anxiety meds with your dog. It's a bit of a long road so don't give up too soon. Just a note, Trazadone is not, in my opinion an effective anti-anxiety med for what you described. Prozac or Zoloft are better choices. Start at a 50% of max amount dosage, wait 6 weeks then adjust up or down accordingly. Changes will happen slowly and in small steps. Be patient and be your dog's advocate. It's a sucky quality of life to be afraid of all those things.
Thank you so much i feel as if you are talking about myself & my 88lb American Bully that suffers with CDB "super anxious reactive pup. ✌🏼🐾CT
You are welcome. Glad I could help.
Thank you for this ! I was just recommended meds from our trainer, and this really helps !
Hi Nicole. So glad the video was helpful to you. I recommend all my clients keep a journal of start date and amount of meds, then document ANY behavior, eating changes. The only way to know if meds help is to watch your dogs behaviors and sometimes the behavior change happens so slowly you may miss it, but if you document it, it can be so helpful! All the best.
My Maltese will be a year old next month and his fears are so bad. We were at the park earlier and he pulled his lead so hard because of a darn water fountain.....yes a water fountain. Same with a bed of flowers, plastic bags or a balloon. I am thinking of giving him something. Also he is fearful of other dogs. He tolerates people but not other dogs
Wow, that is a lot of anxiety. I would go sit with him some where quiet and keep your distance from water fountains etc. Bring, chicken, meatballs etc. As he looks at something label it for him and feed him. "It's just a water fountain, feed, It's a water fountain, feed" Then go home. Wait a day, and go again. DO NOT WALK HIM AROUND. Just find a quiet place, tell him about what he sees, then leave. he needs a context a framework just like babies do when they are looking around their world. We lable EVERYTHING for babies, do the same for your dog. Meds may also help, but it's not the only thing. It's not a magic pill!
@@EverythingDog I will give that a try when we go to the park this afternoon, thank you
Please help .
My GSD and mother got attacked by bees and luckily both of them lived, my dog was scared to go outside for a month. Then everything seemed fine until one day thunder became something she is deathly scared of. I have tried everything from crating her playing music medication *anxitane * but she still becomes very destructive and pants and tries to break her crate . Please help what can we do that's best for her? She can go a day being happy because it rains were we live 6 months of the year
Wow, that is a traumatic event. Humans can think and reason but dogs can not. I would get her on a Prozac type medication ASAP.
Can my dog take trazadone evry day? Is it bad for the liver? I only give him a quarter of the dose they perscribed and it works great when hes in his crate. CBD makes him more anxious and does not work for him.
Hey Aqua, These are great question and Id ask your vet about them. If the dosage works, that's great.
The dog I have now apparently she was beaten, starved neglected, and she barks for hours and there’s nothing there then I have to drag her outside. Sometimes she have some type of attack. She see a dragon fly and she want to runaway. I’m trying to help her.
Wow, that's a lot of stress your dog is dealing with. Hard to say if meds will help without all the info. Talk to your veterinarain or find a veterinarian behaviorist.
Will this help my German Shepard with her aggressiveness towards other dogs. She use to never be aggressive until 3 years ago when she had a traumatic experience and now it’s just bad.
Christina, I can't say over youtube whether or not medication will help. If her aggression was caused by a traumatic event, I would begin by supporting her, meaning keep her away from other dogs. She does not understand that she is safe unless you keep her safe. A dog's trauma is just as serious as ours.
My Dad passed away recently and so I’ve been staying with my Mom. My dog has been there 1000 times and absolutely loves my Mom. Except now the other day she slammed a door accidentally. It startled him and now he’s barking and growling at her and leaving the room when she comes in. He is definitely sound sensitive. I am feeling terrible that i allowed this to happen and now my grieving Mother is afraid of my dog. Vet recommended doggie Prozac. I am hopeful. Could time “fix” the relationship between my dog and Mom?
Im very sorry to hear about the passing of your father. The age of your dog currently is important to my answer. Even though he's been there many times, this time is different, your dad is missing and you and your mom are grieving, which is not lost on your dog. (People smell different under stress) If your dog is under the age of 2 he is going through a huge developmental stage which means there are a lot of changes happening for your dog.
Be calm and lable and feed him for everything he is worried about. Ex: "Oh silly boy, it's just mom. See Mom walking towards you?" Give him lost of treats from you, not from your mom.
@@EverythingDogthanks so much for your advice. He is actually 7 years old. There definitely is a lot of stress in the house. For now I’ve removed him and he’s staying with my partner at our house. However for Xmas I will need to bring him back here overnight. My vet also now prescribed gabapentin for this purpose. Im still very nervous. We have relatives coming over, and there will be a lot of noise. Should I keep him in a separate room or something?
@@zinamussmann4861 Manage him the best you can to keep him safe. 7 yrs marks the beginning of becoming a senior dog. If you feel this is a very sudden change, Id encourage you to have a full work up done, pain? Blood work etc. Sudden changes in behavior can indicate an undiagnosed physical issue. Just a thought.
I thought the answer was going to be price. Is it expensive?
Not really. Most anxiety meds are not expensive.
I'm more concerned that coming off anxiety meds or not having them consistently will cause withdrawals and worse behavior/mental state. I am fostering a traumatized resource guarding puppy. I'm willing to try meds but I'm concerned she will be worse when she doesn't have them. I'm also concerned that her eventual adoption may be more difficult if the new owner has to buy meds to adopt her.
Sepia, anti-anxiety meds will be given daily. They must be weaned if the dog needs to come off of them. How old is your foster puppy? What trauma has she experienced? You may want to look at Jean Donaldsons' book Mine before you try meds. Some behavior work first will help you gauge if the meds are helping or not. Please remember, for some dogs, meds can make things worse, but you won't know until you try. Good luck and thanks for fostering.
Thank you, my dog is miserable. It makes me miserable. It’s not fair for any of us. Doctor prescribed trazodone. I’m hoping it helps.
Hey Beck, Trazadone is an "event" medication. Meaning give it before a nervous event. It is not for long-term use or for dogs that are generally anxious. I would suggest going back and asking for a doggie prozac or finding a Veterinary Behaviorist. Generally, they are great with meds. Good luck.
Thank you for your response. I will try calling tomorrow
@@beckp5456 Welcome
Thanks for your video. I am a guilt riddled dog mom of 3 border collies, all with severe sound aversion. Always wondering what I did to cause it. I couldn't have socialized them more but I do baby them alot. Going to try Sileo this 4th of July. Am terrified of giving it to them but I feel it will be more humane than letting them suffer through it. If any, do you have any thoughts on Sileo? Is it safe for my 7 and 11 year old dogs?
Leslie, why are you guilt-ridden? You didn't cause your dog's sound sensitivity? It's most likely genetic. Mom or dad or grandparents are sound sensitive. What could you have possibly done to cause such behavior?
Sileo is GREAT! Not sure why you are terrified. It's super easy to use. It saved the life of one of our dogs who had SEVERE thunder phobia. We would also drive our dogs out of town on fireworks night so they couldn't hear them.
Would this work for a dog who becomes agressive when people come over to visit?
Robert meds can be one piece of the pie. Meds will not magically make your dog happy to see guests. Breed matters. If your dog has genetics that tells him to guard his space, then this needs to be addressed with an "off-duty space" so he can chill out with lots of yummy, delicious chewy things while you socially signal to him that everything is ok. Remember, dogs have a personal space bubble of 7-10 feet.
I'm trying the naturvet quiet moments treats, but my dog doesn't want to eat them voluntarily so I need to force it on it. I think it's because of the smell, I tried to mix it with his food, but always failed.
Why my dog is like this? He doesn't even want to eat his dry food.
Fino, I suspect your dog doesn't like the taste of the food. Experiment with other foods. Pills can be given in cheese, wet dog or cat food, peanutbutter. Good luck.
@@EverythingDog will do. There are so many experiments I haven't done for my dog.
Thanks
Is it reasonable to put a dog on fluoxetine for social anxiety? My dog is well bred, trained from puppyhood, but can be anxious around people and if touched in that state he will growl and snap. I have exhausted the training option.
Hey Coffee384, if your dog is anxious around new people it could be a reason for Prozac, but Id really need to know more. It might be nice to just put your dog "off duty" with something yummy to chew on when novel people are around. Many people can not follow our directions when around our "tricky" dog. Many people will say "Its ok, I like dogs" or "I have dogs" or "dogs like me" and reach to pet a dog who is really just getting information (sniffing)
Id speak to your vet. A therapeutic dose is 50% of max dosage, based on weight. Keep a journal and know that meds are not a magic answer. Watch for signs that they are making him worse. It's rare, but can happen.
@@EverythingDog this is so immensely helpful! Thank you so much
I have a 10-month old puppy and she exhibits anxiety whenever we bring her out of our house but is quite chil at home. She wails constantly in the car. Can she take anti-anxiety meds on an as-needed basis only?
Hey Gerry, I would give her time to adjust to the car in short intervals as well as just take her someplace, close by, sit with her on a bench and let her observe her world, then go home. GRADUALLY increase the length of time she is out and about. It sounds like she is on sensory overload and she hopefully, won't need meds if you go slowly with her.
We are not even hesitating to put our pup on medication today. She's almost 2 and will TEAR the house apart as soon as we leave. She holds her potty (even though brought outside all day) and will potty as soon as we leave. She will pace outside, smell, act like she's gonna go and then stop. Ugh! We have to get anxiety under control before she goes into formal training in a couple months! I can't be afraid to leave my home because my 2 year old dog is King Kong! Lol.
Sounds like a good idea!
I have just found your channel and Facebook. Long story short, we adopted a dog right before the Covid lockdown. I am so thankful for her and love her to pieces but we have a codependence that we can’t seem to break. If we go out to dinner and I do not take her, she gets diarrhea and stress colitis the next day. This has happened so many times. Last time she was throwing up blood and pooping blood. My doctor says she needs an anti-anxiety medication and suggested trazodone. What medicine do you suggest? We need help. I am not living my life to the fullest because I am constantly worried about her and staying home and missing out on things.
Ellisa, wow, this is intense. Trazadone is used for individual episodes. It does not stay in her system. There are a couple of ways to treat this.
Get a doggie camera, set it up and practice with it so you are confident you can use it when away from the house.
You will need to practice going away - and coming back in very short intervals.
Tell her you are leaving and you'll be right back. Leave her a very high-value yummy. She may not eat it but leave it anyway.
Watch her on the camera, note when her anxiety begins, immediately, 5 minutes after you leave, 10 minutes etc.
Return BEFORE she is freaking out.
Walk in calmly, no fan fair, do not get all excited to see her. BE CALM
The goal of these practice departures is too keep her calm and not trigger a full anxiety attack.
Id start with 1 SHORT session every 3 days depending on her response. if she has diarrhea, wait a few days, do it again, but this time returning sooner.
Medication can certainly help, but I would look at a prozac, not trazadone. Traz is given for an episode and my gut is that she needs more help with her anxiety than what Trazadone can provide. If you want to get a complete behavior plan you can book here: everythingdog.as.me/VirtualBehavioralConsultation
Hi. My chihuahua is 14 years old and weighs 11lbs. She has always been beyond terrified!!!! of gun shots or any sudden loud!! banging sounds and the worst is fireworks. I read online that vets do prescribe xanax for extreme anxiety for cats and dogs. I have been on xanax for years. I take 1mg tablet twice a day. I don't want to have to go to the vet just to ask how much of one of my tablets can I give her because vets won't give any advice over the phone. Can you give me advice on how much of a 1mg tablet to give my chloe before the 4th of july gets here. Im so frightened for her esp her age. I appreciate any help. Thank you! Kim and Chloe
Hi Kim, sorry, you'll have to reach out to your vet. There are LOTS of new meds that will help dogs in this situation We used Sileo, gel form on our EXTREMELY thunder phobic dog. It made all the difference in his quality of life during a storm. Got to get it from the vet.
@@EverythingDog thanks
Hi my puppy is 10 weeks old french bull dog she is OK to be picked up from me and family members but for other people she yelps really bad I don't no why she is doing this but it's only certain people ie now her breeder she yelped at when she picked her up
Lisa, a 10-week-old puppy doesn't need medication. Just putting that out there since this video is about medication for extreme anxiety.
a 10-week-old puppy is still a baby-baby and learning the ways of our human world. Being picked up is a human thing...NOT a dog thing. In the wild, or natural world dogs are not picked up. Does that make sense?
I would suggest that only people she likes and KNOWS pick her up. She is communicating that she doesn't like it. Please honor her communication and stop allowing others to pick her up. Have them sit in a chair, and if NEEDED, you pick her up and place her on their laps. The best thing would be for friends and family to sit on the floor and let the puppy decide if she wants to visit. Young puppies like this need a LOT of CHOICE AND CONTROL, so they will feel safe in our human world. Don't do thing to her (Like picking her up) simply because you can. It's not fair to her.
@@EverythingDog thank you so so much I was hoping u said that as I didn't want to give her any kind of medication just yet but I understand about people picking her up she ok with me or my children and a couple of friends she will go to just screams when others pick her up like this morning the breeder came to take her for her 2nd vaccine and she screamed the vet has said its anxity of others and peoples appearances I also have her sister which she is also doing great and like all people
It's funny how I take zoloft and now my dog trainer says my teenage bull terrier needs the same treatment.
😂😂😂😂😂
I had to get another vet to get anxiety medicine for my rescue. “We don’t do that here”
Matt, this is very common. Even veterinarians have a hard time seeing "mental illness" just like human MD's. Im glad you advocated for your dog to get him/her the meds needed. Starting dose is 50% of max dosage based on weight. No need to start at the Max dose. The goal is to find the sweet spot in the meds so that learning/training can be maximized. Some dogs can be weaned in a couple of years and be successful without the meds.
This didn't help at all, I'm on Klonopin, hydroxyzine, and tranazepam. Which one works to put in her food?
Hmmm, you need to ask your veterinarian. I can't Rx. Good luck.
I think this commentary is incomplete. While medication can be appropriate for some anxious dogs. There are also training and behavioral methods that can reduce and sometimes drastically reduce anxiety and fear. I have a 2 1/2 year old rescue with high anxiety the I inherited from a household that never followed through with consistent training. He was placed on trazodone and some other meds to address it. Since he has been with me and had consistent training I have reduced his meds and his anxiety has reduced. Al I am saying is I think this advice is incomplete. Addressing fear and anxiety issues in dogs is a multi-pronged approach and I think advising people to go straight to medication before educating themselves on all the methods they can implement to address the underlying issues is short sighted
@richardc.bailey5168 I couldn't agree with you more. We must look at the WHOLE Dog, the genetics, history, trauma, environment etc to effectively treat the dog. With that being said there are some dogs that medication can give them a boost, but it doesn't have to be for their lifetime and it certainly will not replace providing the dog with consistent routines and support (training) Thanks for the comment.
Well that didn’t answer my question. Can I give my dog lorazepam safely.
Wesley, Im not a veterinarian. I can't answer your question. Call your veterinarian or call have a consultation with a veterinarian behavorist.
can i give human alprazolam
No! Always consult your veterinarian.
I am starting buspiron - she is scared to take walks and of people
Im not as familiar with this drug. Keep a journal and watch for small improvements. Good luck
how is it going? my dog is also scared of walks in ppl and has severe separation anxiety. it’s like i can’t take him anywhere, i can’t go anywhere, and no one can come over,,, very isolating:(
@@jerseymxnette6176It doesn't sound like either of you are having a quality life. Your dog is suffering daily. I would suggest talking with your veterinarian and starting your pup on Anti Anxiety meds. Start at 50% of Max dose. Let his system adjust to it for 6 weeks before making an adjustment. Keep a journal.
I have an 11 month old Japanese spitz who I got to be my autism service dog prospect. I've been training and socializing her since day 1, her parents are excellent confident and docile showdogs. I've done just about everything and she's still struggled with reactivity since she was 6 months old. It;s very selective, she loves meeting people and dogs and is good at pet stores or training facilities. It's outside my home or on walks she struggles.
I was kind of shocked when my trainer said i should consider meds because i kept viewing it as a fear period. I mean overall she's not an anxious dog. It's hard to come to terms with it as I deliberately was looking for a confident puppy who could help me with my anxiety and she could be months off starting service dog training, if ever.
Lydia, it can be a bit disappointing, embarrassing, and frustrating to find ourselves with a dog who may not have the personality we were hoping for. For you, it's to be a service dog so the potential loss is even bigger.
I don't know enough about your situation to tell you she needs meds or not. Most reactivity is based in fear. It is very possible our dog is worried or afraid of other dogs. She could be this way from "Over" socialization and/or genetics.
If you want to discuss in much more detail, please use this link: everythingdog.as.me/
wishing you all the best.
My pomeranian Bailey as alot of separation anxiety and anxiety around strangers and men. So am trying YuCalm. To see if it can help him before we try Vet medication. I want to try something to see if it helps him. I am using a brand that helps my older Scottish terrier JayJay. He has stiff back legs and YuMove helps him be able to run and jump again with no limping.
SimsForever, what makes you believe your Pom has Separation Anxiety?
@@EverythingDog He gets very anxious when we are about to leave and when are leaving he barks the whole time.
@@simsforever791 What does he do while you are away? Have you videoed?
@@EverythingDog I haven't got any video of what he does when are away but when we are get closer to the house. He can't see or hear us. He is still barking. So I assume he must have been barking quite alot
He doesn't like being alone in general