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I can't leave without my dog!

Posted September 9th, 2008 by dkisiday
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Please help! I recently adopted a beautiful 8 month old lab/golden retriever mix. She was found as a stray and was estimated to be six months old. She spent 30 days kenneled at the humane society, then put in a foster home for almost two weeks at which time, I adopted her. She's been with me for four weeks and has done well at learning to sit and lay down. She has learned the boundary of the yard and enjoys playing with my 10 year old lab mix.

The only behavioral issue I'm struggling with is her separation anxiety or panic attacks. She simply goes crazy barking and whining if I leave her presence. She sleeps in her crate at night without any issues, she'll even go in it during the day if I'm in the same room. But if I put her in it to leave, she barks, whines and rubs her nose raw on the sides of the crate. (I videotaped her behavior to figure out what she was doing to make her nose bleed). If I don't crate her, she runs frantic around the house barking trying to get out windows or doors. I simply cannot go anywhere and leave her at home without her hurting herself.

Based on her behavior, I believe she was probably abandoned by her owners when she was found as a stray. I've spoken with my vet and she recommended giving her benadryl to take the edge off...that didn't work. The vet even gave me A.C.E. (a sedative) for traveling in the car to help calm her down and that didn't work. I exercise her at the dog park twice a day to try to wear her out. She'll eventually go to sleep, but the minute I leave the room, she's back to being in a panic again.

I would appreciate any insight you might have to help.
-Diana K.

Comments

re: I can't leave without my dog!

Aidan's picture
On September 15th, 2008 Aidan says:

Hi Diana, Ace didn't help? Not even a tiny bit?

When they get to the point of self-harm I think medication, under the supervision of a veterinary behaviorist, is a sensible option. It gives you a "window of opportunity" to work on the problem. Ace is suitable for short-term application, but a veterinary behaviorist should be able to prescribe something more suitable (and hopefully effective) for the separation anxiety when you leave the home.

I will post an article to the ezine later with more information, I think this is worth a closer look.

Regards,
Aidan
http://www.positivepetzine.com

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