Any suggestions for bizarre anxiety issue with dog?

[ishouldhavestucktocats]

We have 2 dogs, one a rescued greyhound whippet cross about 6 and the other is a JRT aged 13. We have had the greyhound for over 3 years .Each summer we take our caravan to a site on the coast and it stays there for about 3 months.(We are retired) We live about 50 miles away and treat the van like our holiday home, coming home every few days to do laundry/water plants/have a lovely bath. Sometimes we stay at home for a night to catch up on things.

The dogs really enjoy their time away but this year our greyhound has been getting really distressed for no apparent reason. He's been pacing about the caravan paricularly at night, panting, drooling with his eyes bulging and trembling and refusing to settle. He has been reluctant to come back to the van after a walk (but always keen to go) and yesterday actually ran away whilst his dinner was being prepared. Yesterday evening we decided to come home for the night to see what he was like at home...he was absolutely fine.What can be the matter??

He had anal gland problems and saw the vet last week who expressed them and gave him antibiotics. He has finished those and appparently they don't cause anxiety . I did check with the vet.
We have the same caravan and awning as previous years.
It's pitched in more or less the same spot as previous years.
The dogs have their usual beds which we transport back and forth.
The jrt is very noise sensitive because she's terrified of fireworks and she's fine.

We have tried Metacam in case he was in pain and a herbal calming remedy from a pet shop which contains valerian and skullcap. Also Bach rescue remedy and lavender oil on his blanket. None of these apparently helped.

It's hard to describe quite how stressed he is ( and us and the jrt) In fact we haven't gone back to the van today as we can't face it.

I have considered the possiblity of these things being the cause (in no particular order) earth tremors/ultrasonic bird scarers/vibrating storm strap/ley line intersection...I know I'm sounding cranky or crazy.

Can anyone help?

[user1471465525]

You don't sound crazy at all .My dear old lab hated to be out of her comfort zone and would act like this when we went somewhere new .Something has obviously unsettled your ddog and is not not happy there.I have used adaptil plugs in and collars in the past ,maybe they could help ?

[palacegirl77]

Id lay money on it being a noise phobia. Potentially the wind and rain in a caravan is 100 percent worse than in a house. Greyhounds are very susceptible to this. I would read up on noise phobias and how to resolve them, look at DAP diffusers, and most definitely do not show any concern or comfort them if they are showing signs of anxiety.

[ishouldhavestucktocats]

Thank you. I appreciate your input. I don't think it can be noise. Or at least not obvious noise. We did wonder if it was next doors storm strap. Sometimes they can reverberate if it's windy, which it hasn't been. However my husband has put a twist in it to stop any possibility of that. (Next door people aren't there at the mo)
We also had a flag pole flying a peace flag (we were hippies many years ago) but that has been lowered as well.
And the terrier is super sensitive to any noises and she is fine. Well, she's tired. We are all tired.

[ishouldhavestucktocats]

I should just say the flag was lowered in case the flag pole was vibrating against the caravan...

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I would consider the Adaptil ( DAP has changed it's name) rather than the diffuser as that will go everywhere with her. I would also consider a product containing l-tryptophan such as zylkene or nutracalm.

[ishouldhavestucktocats]

We are heading back to the caravan now. Hoping after a couple of 'normal' nights at home the situation will have resolved. However it's good to have a few ideas to try.

[OverFedStanley]

No idea but a real hard one to find a solution.

Could it be smell eg gas or carbon monoxide or could you have a damp smell(sorry the worst word said to caravanners!) with it being the beginning of the season.

Vibrations freak out one of my collies so could the greyhound been in the caravan before the legs were down and it was a bit wobbly?

Hope all is calm today

[ishouldhavestucktocats]

Arrived back at van. All good. Then husband took dogs out for a walk and then part way through the greyhound went over a stile towards the coast path. He then refused to come when called and went into stress mode. A friend who was walking her dogs witnessed this and has given us a homeopathic remedy to try. Arsen alb in case anyone is interested. He has to have 3 tablets in an hour. So... he arrived back at the van well stressed and panting about 50 mins ago and I have just given him the 3rd tablet. Now I'm not altogether convinced by the homeopathy thing generally but he is now very chilled asleep on the seat. (With his head on his favourite velvet cushion we actually brought from home)

[OverFedStanley]

Oh bless him. I would take him to the vet for a check over - Maybe pain but at least if not it can be eliminated.

[Wolfiefan]

How is he this morning?

[ishouldhavestucktocats]

He's fine, slept in his own bed all night. I took both dogs out at 6 this morning just for a 'comfort break' and when we got back he started the trembling thing but it didn't get any worse and he settled back in his bed and went back to sleep!!? So it's all a mystery.
It's been a wet and windy night on the north Cornish coast and rain is getting heavier again now. We may have to head inland for a bit of charity shop retail therapy so will buy some of the pills. I can't believe they've worked. Unless it's a coincidence...

[Wolfiefan]

Rain on the caravan is noisy? How are his ears?

[ishouldhavestucktocats]

His hearing his fine. He can hear the rustle of a packet of digestive biscuits from upstairs. Although frequently he's unable hear his own name apparently. His recall isn't brilliant...

[Wolfiefan]

Haha. Sounds hound like. I was more thinking about ear infection and pain.

[nonsenceagain]

When mine goes all shivery, it’s an ear infection. Worth asking the vet?

[ishouldhavestucktocats]

He's been fine all day and evening and now sleeping like baby. No more stressing. I can't believe it has resolved so easily. Does this mean I should no longer be slightly dubious regarding the efficacy of homeopathy?