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DESCRIPTION OF SEPERATION ANXIETY (SA):
A DOG THAT HAS BEEN CRATE TRAINED WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN TRY TO GET OUT OF
HIS CRATE TO "FOLLOW" YOU. HE WILL END UP HURTING HIMSELF JUST TRYING TO GET OUT OF THEIR CRATE.
DIGGING
AT THE DOOR AND DOORWAYS TO "GET OUT" AND GO WITH YOU.
THEIR EYES WILL BECOME DILATED, AND THE DOG WILL BEGIN
TO DROOL EXCESSIVELY.
MY EXPERINCE WITH SA:
WHEN ZOE WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED WITH SA SHE TOOK A MEDICATION CALLED "CLOMICALM" WHICH IS EQUAL TO AMITRIPTYLINE FOR
PEOPLE. . AMITRIPTYLINE IS PRESCRIBED TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH DEPRESSION. THIS MEDICATION HELPED HER TO CALM
DOWN ENOUGH SO THAT I COULD TEACH HER THAT IT WAS OKAY TO BE ALONE. SHE LEARNED THAT WHEN I LEFT, I WAS ALWAYS GOING
TO COME BACK.
AS A RESULT OF ALL THE TRAINING ZOE HAS HAD, INCLUDING OBEDIANCE CLASSES, ZOE EARNED HER CGC IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004.
SINCE EARNING HER CGC, SHE HAS BEEN WEINED OFF OF HER MEDICATON WITH NO SIDE EFFECTS.
I HOPE THIS STORY GIVES YOU SOME
HOPE THAT THERE IS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF PATIENTS TO DEAL WITH A DOG THAT HAS SEPARATION
ANXIETY, BUT ONCE YOU HELP YOUR DOG TO GET OVER THE SA, ALL THE HARD WORK WILL BE WELL WORTH IT.
IF I CAN BE OF ANY
ASSISTANCE TO YOU WITH A DOG THAT HAS SA, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS/CONCERNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
Depending on the severity of Separation Anxiety
that your dog has, the following medications are available to help you work with your dog to over come his/her SA:
(Clomipramine is what Zoe was on, and she did
very well on it. It is not very expensive. When Magic came to live with me, she was on it as well).
(a.k.a. Reconcile, Prozac®)
alprazolam
(a.k.a. Xanax®)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
You may also like to add:
I used DAPs when I had Magic and they tremendoulsy
helped her. I could always tell when one ran out because she became anxious again.
The DAP mimics a natural comforting pheromone
produced by female dogs when nursing - Reduces or completely stops stress-related behavior including: barking, chewing, and
separation anxiety, and calms dogs during thunderstorms and fireworks. DAPS are not a drug or tranquilizer.
THERE A SOME STEPS THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP YOUR DOG IF HE IS SUFFERING
FROM SEPARATION ANXIETY.
ALONG WITH THESE STEPS, YOU WILL ALSO WANT TO CONSULT YOUR VET, AND POSSIBLY AN ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST
FOR ADVICE ON YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION.
STEPS TO TAKE:
1. CRATE TRAINING:
TO KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE FROM INJURY AND TO KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE FROM YOUR DOG.
2. DESENSITIZATION OF YOUR "TRIGGERS":
FOR THIS YOU WILL WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT YOU GO ABOUT GETTING READY TO LEAVE:
****GET THINGS READY THE NIGHT BEFORE IF
YOU HAVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING (EX. LEAVE YOUR KEYS IN YOUR COAT POCKET..KEYS ARE A BIG TRIGGER,
****IF BRUSHING
YOUR TEETH IS THE LAST THING THAT YOU DO...MIX IT WITH OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DO WHILE GETTING READY (EX. TAKE A SHOWER
AND BRUSH YOUR TEETH AFTER THE SHOWER BEFORE YOU GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM TO CHANGE ~OR~ BRUSH YOUR TEETH IN THE SHOWER.
****YOU
WANT TO GET THE DOG USE TO YOUR TRIGGERS SO THAT HE WILL NOT GET NERVOUS OR EXCITED.....TO DO THIS, ACT AS YOU ARE GETTING
READY TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, PUT ON YOUR SHOES, COAT, ETC, GRAB YOUR KEYS, AND THEN.......GO SIT DOWN ON THE COUCH AND
WATCH TV UNTIL THE DOG SETTLES DOWN. AFTER THE DOG SETTLES DOWN, YOU WILL WANT TO GIVE LOTS OF PRAISE. THEN
REPEAT THIS LATER IN THE DAY.
****YOU DO NOT WANT TO ASSOCIATE BAD THINGS WITH YOUR GETTING READY.
****AFTER
GETTING THE DOG USE TO YOUR GETTING READY TO LEAVE, AND THEN NOT LEAVING, YOU WILL WANT TO TEACH HIM THAT IT IS OKAY WHEN
YOU DO LEAVE.
****TO DO THIS, YOU WILL IGNORE HIM FOR 15-20 MINUTES BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE AND WHEN YOU RETURN.
DO NOT GET ON THE GROUND AND START HUGGING AND KISSING ON HIM LIKE YOU ARE SO GLAD TO BE HOME BECAUSE YOU ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE
IT. JUST GO ABOUT YOUR ROUTINE, WHETHER IT'S PUTTING AWAY GROCERIES OR GETTING THE MAIL
****AFTER THE DOG
FINALLY GIVES UP ABOUT BEING EXCITED, THIS IS WHEN YOU CAN GO OVER AND PRAISE HIM FOR BEING A GOOD BOY/GIRL.
3. PLENTY OF
TOYS: A DOG NEEDS PLENTY OF TOYS TO PLAY WITH SO THAT HE DOES NOT BECOME BOARD AND DECIDE TO CHEW UP THE HOUSE
****KONGS:
ARE GREAT FOR DOGS WITH SEPARATION ANXIETY....PUT THEIR FAVORITE TREAT INSIDE OF THE KONG, AND ONLY GIVE IT TO THEM WHEN YOU
LEAVE.
4. OBEDIANCE CLASSES:
****THIS WILL HELP GIVE YOUR DOG COFIDENCE IN HIMSELF WHEN YOU GIVE HIM A "JOB"
TO DO.
****THIS ALSO GIVES THE BOTH OF YOU QUALITY TIME TOGETHER.
5. ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST: CAN
GIVE YOU GUIDENCE ON HOW TO HANDLE THE DOG AND GO ABOUT TRAINING AND DESENSITIZATION. YOUR VET MAY BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND
ONE TO YOU.
6. MEDICATIONS: HAVE TO BE USED ALONG WITH THE TECHNIQUES MENTIONED ABOVE.
****CONSULT WITH A LICENSED VET FIRST****
***THE
MEDS WILL NOT DO IT ON THEIR OWN***
YOU WILL NEED TO DO DESENSITIZING WORK
WITH YOUR DOG AS WELL.
7. GET THIS BOOK:
"I'LL BE HOME SOON: HOW TO PREVENT AND TREAT SEPERATION ANXIETY"
BY
PATRICIA B. MCCONNEL, PH.D
(THIS BOOK IS AN EXCELLENT READ ABOUT DIAGNOSING SA AND WHAT DO WHEN YOUR DOG HAS SA.
IT GOES MORE IN TO DEPTH THAN I HAVE HERE).
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