Had to resort to drugs...

    • Gold Top Dog

    Had to resort to drugs...

    After trying behavior modification for Jamie's separation anxiety, I had to bring myself to getting her a prescription for Zanax. Her separation anxiety has been escalating (we just moved) and yesterday I walked out the back door to put the trash in one of the cans. I wasn't gone 4 seconds and she tried to come through the back window to get to me. She has to be glued to me every second of every day to be happy and once she gets anxious (by me walking from one room to the other), it spirals out of control. She has all kinds of nervous energy and has taken to spinning again in her crate (she is crated when I am gone). Kongs don't work and after yesterday's incident, I became seriously concerned that she is going to hurt herself. I have been attempting systematic desensitization with her, but I can't even pick up my keys without her going into a frenzy that never ends. So, at the risk of feeling like I have failed her, I got her the prescription and am hoping that will take her stress level down a notch so that the behavior mod will start to work. I'm also hoping it will help take the stress level down in the rest of the house as well...the other animals (2 dogs, 3 cats), me and DH are all frazzled from the constant insanity. I know that society has failed this dog so many times that it is completely logical for her to feel this way, but I'm not sure what else to do to help her through it. Anyone else have experience with Zanax for dogs?
    • Gold Top Dog

     I've used the generic on both my dogs with good result.  I used a very low dose (2.5 mg) and only as a temporary solution to prevent one (Indie) from hurting himself during a t-storm and the other (woobie) from developing severe stress diarrhea while getting used to the daycare facility.  I think if it's not used as a permanent solution, it has its place.  Good luck with the desensitization!

    • Gold Top Dog

    No advice, but I really hope it helps. I have a friend who uses a different drug for her rescue dog, and it's made a tremendous difference. It calms him *just* enough that he can learn, instead of flipping out. She's made HUGE strides, with him.