Bella to the vet tomorrow for anxiety.

[pstinard]

Bella is the sweetest little dog, but she has a problem with anxiety. It's mainly manifested by obsessive licking (of my hands and face, not herself), and spells of nonstop barking when it looks like I'm about to leave the house. It's been manageable so far with little damage to anything other than our ear drums, but when we have repairmen over to fix utilities, she REALLY works herself up to the point where she overheats. We have an appointment to take her to the vet tomorrow morning. I've been researching medications such as Prozac, but have no idea what the vet will suggest. I will update after her appointment.

[anakarydas]

.....maybe she needs company....maybe you should adopt another Yorkie...

[yorkiemini]

Some vets also use trazodone for anxiety. Also have heard success with the prozac. Acepromazine has been used also.

For about a year (in taper dosages) after Cali's hawk attack k we used xanax. It worked well and gave us time to work through the issue - took a out 1.5 years, it is now anxiety free!

Hope all goes well!

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

Some vets also use trazodone for anxiety. Also have heard success with the prozac. Acepromazine has been used also.

For about a year (in taper dosages) after Cali's hawk attack k we used xanax. It worked well and gave us time to work through the issue - took a out 1.5 years, it is now anxiety free!

Hope all goes well!

Thanks! I was actually able to talk to the vet about Bella today. She talked about Trazodone for acute anxiety attacks and Prozac for long term anxiety. We decided to start Bella on Prozac to see how she does on that first. We'll start her first thing in the morning, and I'll give updates on her progress. She said it could take several weeks before we notice a difference.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by pstinard

Thanks! I was actually able to talk to the vet about Bella today. She talked about Trazodone for acute anxiety attacks and Prozac for long term anxiety. We decided to start Bella on Prozac to see how she does on that first. We'll start her first thing in the morning, and I'll give updates on her progress. She said it could take several weeks before we notice a difference.

Awww I'm glad you're trying something. It's horrible to see them suffering with anxiety.

I love Trazodone for Jackson. I only give it when he REALLY needs it. Xanax did *nothing* for him. So that's why I need something that works for some stressful events. He doesn't really need it 90% of the time.

Jackson gets really bad anxiety during long travel, thunder, fireworks, etc. He can send himself into a total panic - pacing, panting, shaking. He also does not like vets or groomers. He shakes so bad. It's funny because in 90% of his life, he's a wonderful "bombproof" dog -- he's good on family vacations, he loves exploring new places/towns/etc, meeting new dogs and people, etc etc.

Anyway he is 18lbs and I have found 1/2 of a pill relaxes him for about 4 hours. I have to time it right. If I give it too close to the stressful event, it doesn't help much. I have to give it about 1 hour prior. What I like about it is that it doesn't really "sedate" him. It actually takes his anxiety away where he's able to go lay down and relax. I can almost see the weight come off his shoulders.


Prior we tried Rescue Remedy, calming chews, sprays, Thundershirt, etc, to no avail.

[Wylie's Mom]

AWESOME !!! I so hope it goes really well for her! Sometimes these meds can make miracle changes for these little ones. Just like us, the chemicals in their brains just are a little awry sometimes, and they feel it and can't control it...just like they wouldn't be able to control the chemicals that make diabetes happen. Please keep us updated. All fingers and paws crossed!!!

[Lovetodream88]

Callie was having terrible bad night anxiety a few years ago and they put her on Prozac for about 3 months and then she stopped taking it and was fine.

[yorkiemini]

Originally Posted by Britster

Awww I'm glad you're trying something. It's horrible to see them suffering with anxiety.

I love Trazodone for Jackson. I only give it when he REALLY needs it. Xanax did *nothing* for him. So that's why I need something that works for some stressful events. He doesn't really need it 90% of the time.

Jackson gets really bad anxiety during long travel, thunder, fireworks, etc. He can send himself into a total panic - pacing, panting, shaking. He also does not like vets or groomers. He shakes so bad. It's funny because in 90% of his life, he's a wonderful "bombproof" dog -- he's good on family vacations, he loves exploring new places/towns/etc, meeting new dogs and people, etc etc.

Anyway he is 18lbs and I have found 1/2 of a pill relaxes him for about 4 hours. I have to time it right. If I give it too close to the stressful event, it doesn't help much. I have to give it about 1 hour prior. What I like about it is that it doesn't really "sedate" him. It actually takes his anxiety away where he's able to go lay down and relax. I can almost see the weight come off his shoulders.


Prior we tried Rescue Remedy, calming chews, sprays, Thundershirt, etc, to no avail.

Is that 1/2 of a 50 mg pill?
Thanks. Have thought about trying it for fireworks days!
Xanax works good for Cali, too, and it kicks in fast.

[Silver Lace]

These poor babies!!! How I wish they did not suffer from this. It is so heart breaking to know they have these problems. I hope your baby does much better.

[pstinard]

We picked up the Prozac pills today (a 60 day supply for only $4!). We're supposed to give 5 mg per day for 60 days and then evaluate her behavior. Thanks for the well wishes!

[matese]

Poor Bella, I hope this works for her.

[pstinard]

About an hour after taking her Prozac, Bella appears to be zonked out. She gets tired and lays down and looks at me like "What have you done to me, Daddy?" But maybe that's my own feelings of guilt making me think that. She perks up again after a while. We've been watching her for the dangerous potential side effects such as seizures and so far, so good. I assume that the mild side effects will improve over time, but if they don't, we'll re-evaluate. She's her normal self at the moment.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by pstinard

About an hour after taking her Prozac, Bella appears to be zonked out. She gets tired and lays down and looks at me like "What have you done to me, Daddy?" But maybe that's my own feelings of guilt making me think that. She perks up again after a while. We've been watching her for the dangerous potential side effects such as seizures and so far, so good. I assume that the mild side effects will improve over time, but if they don't, we'll re-evaluate. She's her normal self at the moment.

I have heard with humans that it can do that for the first two weeks so hopefully it will go away. They also told me to take mine at night.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

Is that 1/2 of a 50 mg pill?
Thanks. Have thought about trying it for fireworks days!
Xanax works good for Cali, too, and it kicks in fast.

Jackson is a bigger boy at 18lbs so his are 100mg. Instructions say givr 1/4 to 1/2 tablet, vet said 1/2 was likely better for him.

[ladyjane]

I have a foster on Prozac. He did improve somewhat on it, but I am not totally thrilled with it...he is so high anxiety.
I hope it works well for Bella. So sorry she is so stressed.