I'm ready to help Mom!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Christmas at Rockwood Park
The pups were superstars while getting their pictures taken
They were a little confused about why they were tied up and I was walking away!
It was fun walking around to see all the lights
Sara and Noble
Rainy and Noble
By this time they were DONE posing
Rockwood mansion
Santa even rode through while we were there! He gave all the pups giant milkbones
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Rainy Issue Update #9
Day eleven
Still no xanax. I started her on 200mg of L-theanine twice a day and we also stated giving some Soloxin tonight. I'm going to slowly wean her of the prozac because I think it's making her worse.
Tonight we just did a nice long Walnut around the neighborhood. No sniffing allowed, just fast walking with the occasional jog. Sunshine came along and acted like we were killing her. She does not do long walks happily!
After our walk u opened the van door and had both dogs jump in and lay down. Rainy was at level 10 of anxiety again. I just stood there reading my mail. As soon as she slowed her shaking a little I told them to jump out and we went inside.
A couple hours later I took Rainy back out by herself, had her lay down in the car and did the same thing. The instant she showed in her shaking we hopped out and walked a few feet. Turned around and asked her to go back in and lay down. Still was at the same level of anxiety, but the third time I had her hop back in she was a tiny bit calmer. We ended on that one.
Extremely tiny improvement without any of the hard drugs but at least she's not running into walls. At this rate is going to take us years to go on a car ride! I can be patient if it means she can be fixed and relaxed again.
Still no xanax. I started her on 200mg of L-theanine twice a day and we also stated giving some Soloxin tonight. I'm going to slowly wean her of the prozac because I think it's making her worse.
Tonight we just did a nice long Walnut around the neighborhood. No sniffing allowed, just fast walking with the occasional jog. Sunshine came along and acted like we were killing her. She does not do long walks happily!
After our walk u opened the van door and had both dogs jump in and lay down. Rainy was at level 10 of anxiety again. I just stood there reading my mail. As soon as she slowed her shaking a little I told them to jump out and we went inside.
A couple hours later I took Rainy back out by herself, had her lay down in the car and did the same thing. The instant she showed in her shaking we hopped out and walked a few feet. Turned around and asked her to go back in and lay down. Still was at the same level of anxiety, but the third time I had her hop back in she was a tiny bit calmer. We ended on that one.
Extremely tiny improvement without any of the hard drugs but at least she's not running into walls. At this rate is going to take us years to go on a car ride! I can be patient if it means she can be fixed and relaxed again.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Rainy Issues Update #8
Day ten
We skipped yesterday since it was Christmas and we were gone all day. When we came home to feed the pups Rainy ran into a wall and has a nice slice under her eye. So we stopped the xanax...
Today I took some venison or to the running van and she was way too stressed to be interested. Panting drooling heart thumping... The whole 9 yards. We stayed out there for 25 minutes of her laying down with zero improvement. She also spent the whole day up in the bedroom... To nervous to come down and socialize.
Clearly we need the xanax but it makes her so uncoordinated and shaky. I just don't know what to do right now...
We skipped yesterday since it was Christmas and we were gone all day. When we came home to feed the pups Rainy ran into a wall and has a nice slice under her eye. So we stopped the xanax...
Today I took some venison or to the running van and she was way too stressed to be interested. Panting drooling heart thumping... The whole 9 yards. We stayed out there for 25 minutes of her laying down with zero improvement. She also spent the whole day up in the bedroom... To nervous to come down and socialize.
Clearly we need the xanax but it makes her so uncoordinated and shaky. I just don't know what to do right now...
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
Rainy Issue Update #7
Day eight
3 mg of xanax.
I started out with the car running before we even came outside. I brought a bowl of raw meat and Rainy leapt into the car before I even had the door open all the way! She was desperate for that food then afterwards the running car sank in. Shaking, panting, lip licking, drooling... It all happened.
I got her to lay down and she would keep popping up every minute or so. I finally got get positioned so I could convince her to roll into her side. That's when she stopped shaking. Still panting a bit but not as frantic.
We stayed laying down for about 25 minutes and it slowly got gradually better. Will try to do the same tomorrow.
3 mg of xanax.
I started out with the car running before we even came outside. I brought a bowl of raw meat and Rainy leapt into the car before I even had the door open all the way! She was desperate for that food then afterwards the running car sank in. Shaking, panting, lip licking, drooling... It all happened.
I got her to lay down and she would keep popping up every minute or so. I finally got get positioned so I could convince her to roll into her side. That's when she stopped shaking. Still panting a bit but not as frantic.
We stayed laying down for about 25 minutes and it slowly got gradually better. Will try to do the same tomorrow.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Rainy Issues Update#6
Day seven
Today she was dosed with Xanax around 11am, 3mg. We had super at 4:20ish out in the van. She was a little shaky but really interested in the food! Ate everything up. Then was a little trembly and heaved a few times. I got out of the van and clipped her leash since it looked like supper was going to make a second appearance!
That passed within moments and she stopped shaking when I asked her to lay down. It started to get chilly so I crawled around to turn the van in to get some heat. That's when everything went to hell!
She lept up and started shaking the hardest I've ever seen again. I asked her to lay down again, which didn't help. I tried to get her to roll over on her side for belly rubs... That didn't happen!
Finally I just grabbed her head and hugged to to my chest with both arms. She couldn't see and had some compression around her whole head. Instantly stopped shaking! Maybe the buspar would be a better drug? If I remember correctly it effects how they process outside stimuli... Or a type of blind fold might help her. Makes sense that she started having trouble in the minivan if it's a sight issue. It's a lot more open and almost zero blind spots in the back.
We chilled in the running car for a bit then I got out turned the van off and made her lay there the whole time.
I think I'll just try to feed treats in the van from now on until she calms down more. A full belly and that much shaking and anxiety makes me worry about bloat.
No not much improvement today but I learned some more information and we were able to end in a good note. Tomorrow I'll try a walk/jog then try some relaxing in the running van with treats.
Today she was dosed with Xanax around 11am, 3mg. We had super at 4:20ish out in the van. She was a little shaky but really interested in the food! Ate everything up. Then was a little trembly and heaved a few times. I got out of the van and clipped her leash since it looked like supper was going to make a second appearance!
That passed within moments and she stopped shaking when I asked her to lay down. It started to get chilly so I crawled around to turn the van in to get some heat. That's when everything went to hell!
She lept up and started shaking the hardest I've ever seen again. I asked her to lay down again, which didn't help. I tried to get her to roll over on her side for belly rubs... That didn't happen!
Finally I just grabbed her head and hugged to to my chest with both arms. She couldn't see and had some compression around her whole head. Instantly stopped shaking! Maybe the buspar would be a better drug? If I remember correctly it effects how they process outside stimuli... Or a type of blind fold might help her. Makes sense that she started having trouble in the minivan if it's a sight issue. It's a lot more open and almost zero blind spots in the back.
We chilled in the running car for a bit then I got out turned the van off and made her lay there the whole time.
I think I'll just try to feed treats in the van from now on until she calms down more. A full belly and that much shaking and anxiety makes me worry about bloat.
No not much improvement today but I learned some more information and we were able to end in a good note. Tomorrow I'll try a walk/jog then try some relaxing in the running van with treats.
Saved $500!
With the help of BF and a youtube video.
My van sliding for has been broken for a few months. No worries, I'll just manually open and close it. Not a huge deal.
Two weeks ago The door stated opening all on its own! I put the van into drove and the door opened...
I was accepting and grumbling about going to a mechanic to get this fixed. Them thought to Google the problem. Is a very large problem with my van! Then I even doing a video about how to fix it.
Bf watched the video and was able to fix it! Wahoo! Saved a boat load of money on that one. :-)
Yup that wire looks broken!
My van sliding for has been broken for a few months. No worries, I'll just manually open and close it. Not a huge deal.
Two weeks ago The door stated opening all on its own! I put the van into drove and the door opened...
I was accepting and grumbling about going to a mechanic to get this fixed. Them thought to Google the problem. Is a very large problem with my van! Then I even doing a video about how to fix it.
Bf watched the video and was able to fix it! Wahoo! Saved a boat load of money on that one. :-)
Yup that wire looks broken!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Rainy Issues Update # 5
Day six
I dosed her with the xanax today and she happily ate her supper in the van! I even shut the door and walked away. She never stopped hoovering. Afterwards she started shaking a bit, so I asked her to lay down. This turned into give me belly rubs mom!
I think she was shaking because it was cold out. Tomorrow I'll try feeding her with the van running. There was a little lip licking but I think that was because she just ate. Her eyes were calm and relaxed.
Everyday she seems to improve more and more!
I dosed her with the xanax today and she happily ate her supper in the van! I even shut the door and walked away. She never stopped hoovering. Afterwards she started shaking a bit, so I asked her to lay down. This turned into give me belly rubs mom!
I think she was shaking because it was cold out. Tomorrow I'll try feeding her with the van running. There was a little lip licking but I think that was because she just ate. Her eyes were calm and relaxed.
Everyday she seems to improve more and more!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Rainy Issues Update #4
Day five
Dosed her with Xanax and put her in the car. No shaking but she was panting, lots of yawning, and lip licking. Drove to the park asking her to lay down at every stop light. The wind was making evening cold and miserable so we only jogged about half a mile. But we jogged most of it.
After that we hung out in the van before driving home. Rainy got done ear rubs and seemed relaxed. On the drive home she refused to lay down when asked so I pulled off into the shoulder, climbed into the back and made it happen! After that she was more inclined to listen. She still needs a physical que to lay down while we are driving but if we are parked and I'm in the back she will respond to a verbal one.
We are back at home now and I'm making her lay peacefully in the back while I type this no panting but some lip licking is going on. I think maybe tomorrow I'll go for a walk/jog around the neighborhood and see if she will eat her dinner in the van.
Not as great a day as yesterday but not much of a back slide :-)
Dosed her with Xanax and put her in the car. No shaking but she was panting, lots of yawning, and lip licking. Drove to the park asking her to lay down at every stop light. The wind was making evening cold and miserable so we only jogged about half a mile. But we jogged most of it.
After that we hung out in the van before driving home. Rainy got done ear rubs and seemed relaxed. On the drive home she refused to lay down when asked so I pulled off into the shoulder, climbed into the back and made it happen! After that she was more inclined to listen. She still needs a physical que to lay down while we are driving but if we are parked and I'm in the back she will respond to a verbal one.
We are back at home now and I'm making her lay peacefully in the back while I type this no panting but some lip licking is going on. I think maybe tomorrow I'll go for a walk/jog around the neighborhood and see if she will eat her dinner in the van.
Not as great a day as yesterday but not much of a back slide :-)
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Rainy Issues update #3
Day Four
So the xanax got the better of Rainy today! Came home from work and apparently she thought she was super man. She tried to run on the muddy carpet outside, wiped out, and needed a bath.
Then I had some lady minute shopping tonight so we didn't get a walk in. I did drug her up with 3 mg of xanax, took some crock pot turkey, and out to the van we went. I asked her to lay down and she promptly dropped. Very excited for the turkey. This is the first time she's ever eaten anything in the car! I credit the drug induced munchies.
After the food was gone she stood up and just looked around... And around... And around... No shaking no panting no yawning no lip lick living other than from the food. So I decided to let her just peacefully watch the world outside. After 10 minutes SHE decided to lay down and start chattering her teeth with happiness. I gave some ear rubs and her breathing slowed.... At that point I decided to end on a good note. Two really good days in a row. Really hope this continues!
So the xanax got the better of Rainy today! Came home from work and apparently she thought she was super man. She tried to run on the muddy carpet outside, wiped out, and needed a bath.
Then I had some lady minute shopping tonight so we didn't get a walk in. I did drug her up with 3 mg of xanax, took some crock pot turkey, and out to the van we went. I asked her to lay down and she promptly dropped. Very excited for the turkey. This is the first time she's ever eaten anything in the car! I credit the drug induced munchies.
After the food was gone she stood up and just looked around... And around... And around... No shaking no panting no yawning no lip lick living other than from the food. So I decided to let her just peacefully watch the world outside. After 10 minutes SHE decided to lay down and start chattering her teeth with happiness. I gave some ear rubs and her breathing slowed.... At that point I decided to end on a good note. Two really good days in a row. Really hope this continues!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Rainy Issues Update #2
Day Two
Got home from work gave Rainy her evening meds and 2mg of Xanax. Leash her up, and in the van we go. She laid down and is barely shaking. Still nervous and panting but laid down easier and with less of a physical que from me. At every stop light we hit she still has to lay down. She does this easier but is still panting and drooling the whole time. Get to the park and she had to lay down and wait to get out of the car.
The longer she laid there the more she started to shake. I decided to not wait it out. Have her jump out of the car and we start moving our feet asap. We did 1 1/4 miles and added in jumping up on benches to our agility challenges. Rainy was really dragging by the time we got back to the van. we jump into the van and lay down. She's shaking a little but no stress panting! We stay there and think calming thoughts for about 10 minutes before driving home. Still having to lay down at every stop light we hit.
Day Three
Got home from work today and gave her 3mg of Xanax. Leashed her up and she didn't start shaking. Locked the front door and she didn't start shaking. Got her to lay down in the van and she didn't SHAKE. I kept holding my hand to her body to make sure I wasn't crazy. Off to the park we go, still laying down at every light. We do the same routine as the other days except we added in laying down in the grass a few times and laying down on top of the retaining wall that she jumped up on. Only do 3/4 of a mile since she looked a little stiff in the shoulders and was tired and dragging after the first lap around. Still jumped energetically during our walk so she wasn't feeling that poorly.
Get back to the van and have her lay down inside. Still zero shaking! I'm excited enough right now to crawl out of my own skin! She's not 100% comfortable. She's averting her eyes and doing a lot of lip licking. We stay there in the back of the car for a good 15 minutes. I'm trying to make the car her safe resting spot after a long tiring workout. During the drive home I still made her lay down at every stop light. She was harder to convince to lay down. Not sure if she was sore, or if she was just tired of me asking her to do the same thing over and over. We got it done though! Can't wait to see what day 4 brings!
I'm amazed at our progress in such a quick time. I'm sure a lot of that is the Xanax. I'm thinking the Prozac will not kick in and start working, but will give it a few more weeks to make sure. After that time I have a couple of other options I want to try. First one is to medicate her with Soloxine. We just had a full panel run and her thyroid is normal, but what *if* this is the magic fix for her? Worth the risk of trying to me. If that doesn't work I want to try Buspar. The only drug in the third class that we haven't tried with her yet. Wish us luck and I'm open to any tips or advice! :)
Got home from work gave Rainy her evening meds and 2mg of Xanax. Leash her up, and in the van we go. She laid down and is barely shaking. Still nervous and panting but laid down easier and with less of a physical que from me. At every stop light we hit she still has to lay down. She does this easier but is still panting and drooling the whole time. Get to the park and she had to lay down and wait to get out of the car.
The longer she laid there the more she started to shake. I decided to not wait it out. Have her jump out of the car and we start moving our feet asap. We did 1 1/4 miles and added in jumping up on benches to our agility challenges. Rainy was really dragging by the time we got back to the van. we jump into the van and lay down. She's shaking a little but no stress panting! We stay there and think calming thoughts for about 10 minutes before driving home. Still having to lay down at every stop light we hit.
Day Three
Got home from work today and gave her 3mg of Xanax. Leashed her up and she didn't start shaking. Locked the front door and she didn't start shaking. Got her to lay down in the van and she didn't SHAKE. I kept holding my hand to her body to make sure I wasn't crazy. Off to the park we go, still laying down at every light. We do the same routine as the other days except we added in laying down in the grass a few times and laying down on top of the retaining wall that she jumped up on. Only do 3/4 of a mile since she looked a little stiff in the shoulders and was tired and dragging after the first lap around. Still jumped energetically during our walk so she wasn't feeling that poorly.
Get back to the van and have her lay down inside. Still zero shaking! I'm excited enough right now to crawl out of my own skin! She's not 100% comfortable. She's averting her eyes and doing a lot of lip licking. We stay there in the back of the car for a good 15 minutes. I'm trying to make the car her safe resting spot after a long tiring workout. During the drive home I still made her lay down at every stop light. She was harder to convince to lay down. Not sure if she was sore, or if she was just tired of me asking her to do the same thing over and over. We got it done though! Can't wait to see what day 4 brings!
I'm amazed at our progress in such a quick time. I'm sure a lot of that is the Xanax. I'm thinking the Prozac will not kick in and start working, but will give it a few more weeks to make sure. After that time I have a couple of other options I want to try. First one is to medicate her with Soloxine. We just had a full panel run and her thyroid is normal, but what *if* this is the magic fix for her? Worth the risk of trying to me. If that doesn't work I want to try Buspar. The only drug in the third class that we haven't tried with her yet. Wish us luck and I'm open to any tips or advice! :)
Rainy's Issues Update #1
Rainy has been having issues for about a year and a half now. She's become increasingly phobic about certain noises and car rides. This is very problematic since we travel so often! I tried ignoring her issues and hoping she would work them out herself. I tried training, feeding high value treats around the popping noises, trying to have fun zippy around games during the noises, sitting in the car and relaxing for hours waiting for her to calm down, leashing her up so she cannot avoid the noises and reading a book for 90 minutes while waiting for her to stop shaking, etc
Then we started medicating her. We started with Amatriptalyn and gave that a solid 4 months. Didn't work and her anxiety increased to the point where she actually was reacting aggressively towards me doing simple things. Like put on her harness. Luckily I was wearing a sweat shirt that took the brunt of that.
We then switched to Prozac. She seemed better for a few days, then took a drastic turn for the worse! We are about 3 weeks in and she would stand in the yard and shake, refuse to come back inside, got increasingly anxious about going up the stairs, and her car issues were the worst I've ever seen!
Called the vet to report in and was advised that maybe it was time for Rainy to go to the University of Penn to see a behaviorist. Initial app there runs $450-$600. All follow ups are billed at $130 an hour. An insane cost to our household! Our wonderful vet suggested that I give her Xanax to see if I can stabilize her and said that I could increase it to three times the normal dosage with no harmful effects.
I got to thinking about Sunshine and how once we found the correct medication it was almost instantly better. Why hasn't that happened with Rainy? Sunshine had 2 years of groundwork and socialization by the time we found the correct meds. I had given up on training/conditioning until we found a med that would work to keep her brain open enough to soak it in. Maybe I have to change my approach.
After a good cry (Really love cubicle walls at work!) I decided to go back to square one and keep it simple. What do you do with a dog that has extreme excess anxiety? More exercise. What do you do with an unsure anxious dog? Training, agility, you take away their responsibility to think and make decisions and do it for them. What's the goal for situations that make her nervous? Laying down and relaxing. So my crazy out of the box self came up with a training plan that most people will think is insane. But maybe it will work???
Day One
Put Rainy in the car by herself. Leave all other dogs/distractions at home. Have her lay down. She laid down with my physical manipulation help and shook harder than I've ever seen any living thing shake. I figured she wasn't going to calm down then but at least she was laying. Shut the van door, got int he drivers seat, started the van and off we went to a park. Rainy pops back up as soon as I started the car. At every stop light on out 10 minute drive she has to lay down.
Most of the time I am half in the back physically pushing down to ask her to lay. She shakes like a leaf but does what I ask. Once we get to the park she has to lay down before getting out of the car. We wait for at least 5 minutes. Me focusing on slow deep breathing while Rainy lays there panting frantically and shaking like a leaf.
I finally decide she isn't going to relax one tiny bit and we get out to start out jog/walk. No sniffing allowed. This is a working walk, not a fun one. This place has 3ft high retaining walls. Rainy is asked to jump up and down them. We go up and down any stairs we can find. Even found some bushes that she could jump. Rainy did NOT want to jump those bushes. As soon as she took that brave leap she landed and puffed up a good 3 feet. So proud of herself!
Kept her feet moving and her brain going for a solid mile of exercise. Changing direction, heeling, skipping, etc. Trying to keep it fun but make her tired and doing any crazy thing I ask of her. By the time we got back to the car she was exhausted! Hop back in the car. Ask her to lay down, and she was only mildly shaking. I sat there and read some email on my phone while giving her an ear massage. Rainy was still shaking and panting. Shaking was a little less than before the walk. Drove home and at every stop light she has to lay down.
Then we started medicating her. We started with Amatriptalyn and gave that a solid 4 months. Didn't work and her anxiety increased to the point where she actually was reacting aggressively towards me doing simple things. Like put on her harness. Luckily I was wearing a sweat shirt that took the brunt of that.
We then switched to Prozac. She seemed better for a few days, then took a drastic turn for the worse! We are about 3 weeks in and she would stand in the yard and shake, refuse to come back inside, got increasingly anxious about going up the stairs, and her car issues were the worst I've ever seen!
Called the vet to report in and was advised that maybe it was time for Rainy to go to the University of Penn to see a behaviorist. Initial app there runs $450-$600. All follow ups are billed at $130 an hour. An insane cost to our household! Our wonderful vet suggested that I give her Xanax to see if I can stabilize her and said that I could increase it to three times the normal dosage with no harmful effects.
I got to thinking about Sunshine and how once we found the correct medication it was almost instantly better. Why hasn't that happened with Rainy? Sunshine had 2 years of groundwork and socialization by the time we found the correct meds. I had given up on training/conditioning until we found a med that would work to keep her brain open enough to soak it in. Maybe I have to change my approach.
After a good cry (Really love cubicle walls at work!) I decided to go back to square one and keep it simple. What do you do with a dog that has extreme excess anxiety? More exercise. What do you do with an unsure anxious dog? Training, agility, you take away their responsibility to think and make decisions and do it for them. What's the goal for situations that make her nervous? Laying down and relaxing. So my crazy out of the box self came up with a training plan that most people will think is insane. But maybe it will work???
Day One
Put Rainy in the car by herself. Leave all other dogs/distractions at home. Have her lay down. She laid down with my physical manipulation help and shook harder than I've ever seen any living thing shake. I figured she wasn't going to calm down then but at least she was laying. Shut the van door, got int he drivers seat, started the van and off we went to a park. Rainy pops back up as soon as I started the car. At every stop light on out 10 minute drive she has to lay down.
Most of the time I am half in the back physically pushing down to ask her to lay. She shakes like a leaf but does what I ask. Once we get to the park she has to lay down before getting out of the car. We wait for at least 5 minutes. Me focusing on slow deep breathing while Rainy lays there panting frantically and shaking like a leaf.
I finally decide she isn't going to relax one tiny bit and we get out to start out jog/walk. No sniffing allowed. This is a working walk, not a fun one. This place has 3ft high retaining walls. Rainy is asked to jump up and down them. We go up and down any stairs we can find. Even found some bushes that she could jump. Rainy did NOT want to jump those bushes. As soon as she took that brave leap she landed and puffed up a good 3 feet. So proud of herself!
Kept her feet moving and her brain going for a solid mile of exercise. Changing direction, heeling, skipping, etc. Trying to keep it fun but make her tired and doing any crazy thing I ask of her. By the time we got back to the car she was exhausted! Hop back in the car. Ask her to lay down, and she was only mildly shaking. I sat there and read some email on my phone while giving her an ear massage. Rainy was still shaking and panting. Shaking was a little less than before the walk. Drove home and at every stop light she has to lay down.
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