Medication for anxious/reactive dogs?

[Allelbowsandtoes]

Hi
Some of you may remember my posts from the last few months. DP and I bought home a 3 year old whippet 3 months ago, we found her online so it was a private rehoming. I don't need to be told how naive we've been, I know that now but despite that we really are doing our best by her now.

It became clear early on that she has separation anxiety, we've been working on this with a behaviourist (who comes highly recommended and has all the qualifications) without much progress.
She's also been reactive towards other dogs - at first only when we'd been sat in a public place for a while and she saw it as her territory to defend, but it's been happening on walks too over the last week or so which is new. I know its early days but her behaviour I getting worse rather than better.

We're doing everything our behaviourist suggest and have been consistent with it but it's so hard as sometimes she reacts seemingly out of nowhere and it's hard to intervene when there are minimal warning signs. She hasn't bitten other dogs or tried to but she will sometimes bark very angrily at them.

We've tried calming supplements with no luck and now thinking about medication to lower her overall stress levels so we can do the training properly. Any advice or experiences?

Thanks

All the things you've suggested are things that the behaviourist has suggested also. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

I simply cannot avoid all triggers for her - she can't be left alone for more than 2 mins 30 seconds currently so she has to come every with us if me and DP are going out. I try to be really mindful about the environment around us but I can't stop other dogs from walking by when we're in the car for example.

She won’t improve until you stop putting her in situations that trigger her. In the car? Use a covered crate? Can’t afford a safe space each day? Brain games in the garden or walk so early or late that it’s quiet.

With respect, have you ever had a reactive/anxious dog? Covered crate - they hear noises outside the car. Brain games in the garden? They see cats/birds/squirrels/ and hear other dogs or people. Walk early or late? Yes, that’s when you meet the other reactive dogs who are also been walked at that time.

OP - our dog is on fluoxetine for his SA which has been brilliant. That, together with lots of training has helped but some days are better than others. I’ve found quieter walks locally in more open places that I drive to and that helps - of course, his triggers do still appear from time to time. If I have him in the garden I put his lead on so I can bring him in if he gets triggered. He hates head on approaches so I’ve practised turning and walking in the other direction with a “let’s go” as soon as I can see he’s becoming hyper focused but before he’s barking and lunging. Your behaviourist will no doubt have covered all this though. Many times I’ve just have to apologise profusely - most dog owners are fine about it although you get the occasional sniffy one.

See what your vet says - medication is needed in some cases and can be a game-changer.

While I understand that you and others are trying to be helpful with suggestions, anything you've thought of in the 5 mins its taking you to read this thread, DP and I have obviously thought of in the 3 months we've had her and either unsuccessfully tried or ruled out for various reasons.

We can't walk her late at night because she's scared of the dark and is basically a bundle of anxiety when we've done that - and though we encounter less dogs at that time, the dogs we do encounter she's much more likely to react.

Covered space in the car - she hates that because she can't see what's happening but can still hear other dogs so if anything she's more on edge.

We're not considering medication as an easy option, we feel like we're trying really hard but things are getting worse, not better and it breaks my heart to see her so anxious

Three months is no time. It took me months and months to turn round my girl with SA and other fears. This is a dog who is overwhelmed. Not necessarily a dog that needs meds.

Absolutely the same for my whippet. Whippets tend to be natural pessimists and naturally anxious but mine was another level. The Trazodone has changed her life. She's so so much happier and relaxed, as am I because I'll be honest, I'd really started to dislike her.

She receptive to training now and walks beautifully. It's been life changing for us.

Ps. You'll get some very judgemental people about medication.

My neighbours anxious dog ripped some of it's teeth out trying to get out of a crate it had been shut in to keep it calm while they were out.
Anxiety isn't a behavioural issue, I don't know why you wouldn't give her meds if it's going to help her. Of course the OP will do the training as well but enabling the dog to engage because it's not constantly in a state of overwhelm/high alert has surely got to be helpful.

Thanks all. I know that meds are a controversial issue but as some posters have said, why wouldnt I help her feel less overwhelmed so she's able to retain the things we're doing with the training?

I didn't start this thread to debate about the ethics of medicating dogs, I just wanted to hear others experiences.

Absolutely. My whippet started on Trazodone and Gabapentin which is the best mix but she's dropped the Gabapentin and now only needs Trazodone.
She's a different dog, able to enjoy her little life now. How cruel would I have been to leave her suffering?

'We can't walk her late at night because she's scared of the dark'

The breed is prey driven so walking in the dark will always make them on high alert. My Whippet loves dusk and the dark and does a high stepping orange with the thought of all the little furry things coming out at night that he could murder given the chance.

Awwww I'm so glad to hear it 💙 whippets can be little noodle-y bundles of nerves can't they 🤣

When my girl has the absolute perfect conditions (I.e absolutely no stress, no change in routine, no difficult things in the environment) she can be so happy.....I'd love to help widen her window of tolerance so she's like that more often and able to tolerate a little more normal life stress.

That's lovely but my whippet doesn't love it and as I said in the rest of that post she's much more reactive to other dogs in the dark

Yes they can! We have 3 whippets and the other 2 are just your standard level whippet nerves, but our girl is a whole new level. Good luck and do NOT feel bad about medicating her. If we suffered debilitating anxiety, we'd be straight to the GP. Xxx

I would say it's still incredibly early days. Medication can be helpful but needs to be used alongside modification so you'd still have to put the work in.

It can take a long time to get a med that works and also at a dose that is optimum - over a year in some cases, which is why vets don't prescribe until all avenues are exhausted.

A lot of what works is keeping her world as small and chilled as much as possible then slowly and quietly upping the anti. So no walks, just stuff at home, no car rides, nothing. Quiet. Boring until she relaxes.

I suspect in the best intentions you have tried to move too fast for her. Some rescue dogs take months and years to really relax even in the best situations with the most experienced homes.

No actual experience yet as we’re waiting for the prescription - but I’m about to trial one of mine on fluoxetine.

It was a 6 month wait to see a vet with a behavioural specialty though.

@Allelbowsandtoes I don't know if you have Instagram but there is a woman I follow who had two very anxious rescued whippets. She has sadly recently lost both of them to different conditions, but if you look through her past posts, she might have some advice that may help you. The account is worriedwhippet She also has a website https://jess.komi.io which has some podcasts on it. I hope you find a way to help your lovely dog get through their fears.

Yeah I've discovered the worried whippets, so sad that they both died 😭

I follow the account on Instagram and have found it really helpful ☺️

I would love someone to explain to me why so many people are against medicating dogs when required.
And why so many people seem to think you are less of an owner if you do.
In my books anyone who is trying to help an anxious, unhappy dog by using all avenues available is a dog owner who is going over and above.
I live across the road from a dog that barks all day and most of the night, she obviously has major triggers and I know that her owners have ‘given up’ ( cause they have told me). They just let her live in a state of permanent high anxiety and high alert. They got her from a pup so she has never known hardship or abuse. It drives me mad habit to listen to her.
My dog was medicated 9months after I got her from a puppy farm seizure. A lot of what the ( highly respected and sought after) behavourist told me to do with her was a pile of nonsense that was never going to help her. Never, no matter how much time went past. The vet wanted to pts, I wanted to try meds. The meds literally saved her life. She now lives a quiet, safe life within our home, medicated for life and never goes out except for regular vets visits.
Did I try the private fields- yes but she was terrified.
Did I try walks first thing in am/last thing at night/less frequent/shorter/longer.. yes I did. Did I spend months trying to desensitise her to literally everything in our home.. yes I did.
Did I try crate training/build up in 30sec stages leaving her- yep I did and no it didn’t work as she would literally rip the crate and herself apart in her distress and fear.
Did I follow the behaviourists training-yep… Did it work- no because she was so triggered and constantly in flight/fight mode that her brain wouldn’t allow her to relax enough to learn. The medication was what allowed her to settle enough to gradually learn how to cope when she is triggered.
Owners who medicate their dogs arent always ‘worse’ owners who can’t be bothered to put the work in like so many of the posts on here seem to suggest.

Good on you. We’re 6 months down the line with a Very similar rescue situation and just started meds 3 days ago. When I say we tried and are still trying everything - I’m glad you’re being able to access meds earlier in your journey. Advice like ‘stop stressing out your dog’ does not help.

I think it’s because a lot of people expect it to fix a problem. Which it doesn’t. It can help get the dog in a place to absorb training.

I know people with puppies with SA (which is normal) who effectively tranquillise their dogs for their own convenience.

Medication can be a useful tool but it’s just that and it needs to be trialled alongside a behaviour plan. I’ve had anxious rescues and personally I’d give it more tine and look at more adjustment before trying it.

I would love someone to explain to me why so many people are against medicating dogs when required

Because some people believe it’s because the owners aren’t doing enough training and behaviour management - that they’re taking the easy option. You only have to read some of the ‘advice’ on here to see the lack of understanding and awareness of reactivity. Probably the same people who think overcoming depression is just a case of pulling yourself together.
Good vets don’t hand out medication like sweets, as ann who’s been through this will tell you. They assess carefully to make sure it’s going to benefit the dog and that proper training and support is in place.

Yeah, I’m not expecting a quick fix… or any fix tbh 😂

My dog is never going to be a “normal” sociable dog.

Ive had him 3 years, I’ve done loads of work with him and were left with a major issue that isn’t responding to training as it should.

The point of the fluoxetine is just to make him (hopefully) slightly less quick to react so we’ve actually got a chance to work on it.

Thanks, I do understand your perspective and I would never want to tranquilise my dog. We are committed to working on all of this with the behaviourist and have completely suspended all absences apart from during training sessions - she hasn't been left alone in the house at all since we got her 3 months ago.

Unfortunately the combination of SA and reactivity makes it really difficult to manage - sometimes we just have to take her out when DP and I need to go out together and can't afford or find a sitter.

We're currently paying up to £80 a day for an experienced sitter when we both go to work....I knew that having a dog is a financial commitment but it's making things really difficult for us, and meanwhile she's super anxious. In my mind there are very few reasons not to try medication.

Oh and I should have mentioned, I talked to my behaviourist about considering medication at the 3 months mark if no improvement and she agreed it would be reasonable to discuss it with our vet at this point