Beagle w/many anxieties getting worse

    • Bronze

    Beagle w/many anxieties getting worse

    My 5 year old beagle suffers from anxiety and panic attacks.  She will not go to the bathroom on a leash or in view of anyone.  She has always had 5 acres to roam freely on.  She is a house dog, but spends her days outside.  She never needed any potty training correction, as a puppy she just followed my lab.  In the car she has panic attacks unless she is on my lap, whether I am driving or a passenger.  Attempts to crate her or tie her in the car lead to worse panic and anxiety.  Last year on a road trip, she slipped off her leash, jumped on my lap, almost causing an accident.  Since she had not gone to the bathroom for 3 days she smeared feces on the car seat.  Since then she fixates on something in the car and acts like it is going to attack her.  On that trip she was attacked by a loose pit bull when she was tied to the vehicle.  She fought back until the owner was able to retrieve his dog.  She was also hit by a car when she was two, she had 5 pelvic fractures requiring one metal plate and 7 screws.  When she was a puppy a neighbor stole her from the yard, took her 120 miles away for 2 weeks, then called me when the landlord would not let him keep her and abandoned her at the humane society.  I realize she has had a lot of trauma, but her anxiety keeps getting worse.  She will chase rabbits like all normal beagles would, but if I don't get her in the house by 6:00 pm, she will run around the house in circles until midnight or 2:00 in the morning howling at nothing, in a very anxious, disturbed, out of control way.  She shakes alot, acts fearful frequently with other people.  With me she is extremely loving, sleeps with me and will follow me all around the house.  I am at the point that I can not take her with me on trips, in the car, or anywhere she has to be tied, because she will not go to the bathroom.  If I leave the house and she is outside she will hide from everyone until I come home, that might be for days, then she greets me immediatly and will come in.  And everywhere we go she avoids other dogs, but that just seems to entice them to bite her.  I am seriously considering anxiety medications.  I wonder if she is happy at all or in constant turmoil?

    • Bronze

    It certainly doesn't sound like she's happy at all.

    I recommend you print out what you just wrote and let your vet read it.  There are medications that should help.

    • Gold Top Dog

    http://www.webtrail.com/petbehavior/guide.html

    Your dog sounds like she needs specialized help.  Please do your research and find a behaviorist who will not use punishment or force to overcome her fears.  She may need medication but behavior modification in conjunction with meds is advisable.  The link I posted will hopefully point you in the right direction.  I can't imagine that she's happy living with all this fear and I hope you are able to get some help in dealing with the problem.  Good luck.

    • Gold Top Dog
    She needs help immediately. Anxiety and panic attacks are the worst feeling in the world - trust me, I know. If you've never had anxiety, I can tell you it feels like you are dying and it feels the same for dogs, panic attacks are even worse. My dog Abbie is on Amyltriptaline 10mg daily and is doing well on it. (It's very inexpensive). Sometimes drugs are necessary and, while I'm not a vet, what you are describing may or may not be helped thru training, but in the meantime, I would speak to your vet about getting her immediate relief. You just have to be sure to give the medication religiously to avoid any withdrawals. After all she's been thru, her behavior is not surprising - she deserves to be happy. I hope you're able to get help soon. Good luck!!