Anxiety treatment/remedies for older dogs

[Boxergirl]

Please let us know how she's doing and what you find works best for her. There may not be any way to stop it, but there certainly are ways to make it easier for her and give her some relief. At least there appear to be. And that's really all we all want in their twilight years. For them to be relaxed and happy. She's lucky you're exploring all avenues.

 

[fizzed]

Hi. I have very recently lost a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross Boxer. Had she lived to March she would have been 16 years old. She began pacing, going round in circles, knocking things over at night and scratching to get out of doors both. She always seemed to be right in front of you but never responded to any kind of affection. She did like a massage though but always had a blank stare. I asked an alternative vet to help as he thought it was possibly a brain tumour. He gave me something called B17 Alkalising phytotonic which I added to her food daily. I used for a couple of years and was still using it when she passed from a seizure and fell in our fish pond Jan 3rd. I also tried a product called Neutricks which was a remedy made from jelly fish. It had worked for my SharPei but sadly not for her. He also died from a seizure at 13. The B17 stuff is meant to help with swelling in the brain. I am hoping your girl can find some relief and that my post may be of interest.

 

[fizzed]

Hi. I have very recently lost a Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross Boxer. Had she lived to March she would have been 16 years old. She began pacing, going round in circles, knocking things over at night and scratching to get out of doors. She always seemed to be right in front of you but never responded to any kind of affection. She did like a massage though but always had a blank stare. I asked an alternative vet to help as he thought it was possibly a brain tumour. He gave me something called B17 Alkalising phytotonic which I added to her food daily. I used for a couple of years and was still using it when she passed from a seizure and fell in our fish pond Jan 3rd. I also tried a product called Neutricks which was a remedy made from jelly fish. It had worked for my SharPei but sadly not for her. He also died from a seizure at 13. The B17 stuff is meant to help with swelling in the brain. I am hoping your girl can find some relief and that my post may be of interest.

 

[Boxergirl]

Fizzed, I didn't know you had another dog. I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

 

[fizzed]

Call me crazy but I had 10 dogs at the beginning of the year. Zola my staffiexboxer was I think unsettled on the day she died as my other elderly dog (Rottweiler X) had also died. As I live on an island and being over the Christmas break and the seriously bad weather with no ferries to mainland I was unable to get to her a vet. I had watched her deteriorate for several days, most likely with kidney failure and complications. She was crying in pain and having multiple seizures so I made the decision to ask a farmer to shoot her. It was something I am not really over now and I am sure it played its part. A real bad start to the year. Here's hoping you do not have a sad outcome and I do not mean to hi-jack this thread.

 

[TricAP]

Call me crazy but I had 10 dogs at the beginning of the year. Zola my staffiexboxer was I think unsettled on the day she died as my other elderly dog (Rottweiler X) had also died. As I live on an island and being over the Christmas break and the seriously bad weather with no ferries to mainland I was unable to get to her a vet. I had watched her deteriorate for several days, most likely with kidney failure and complications. She was crying in pain and having multiple seizures so I made the decision to ask a farmer to shoot her. It was something I am not really over now and I am sure it played its part. A real bad start to the year. Here's hoping you do not have a sad outcome and I do not mean to hi-jack this thread.

Fizzed - so sorry to hear of your losses. IMO you did the humane thing so your beloved pet didn't suffer any further given the circumstances. Thanks for listing the items that gave one of your dogs some measure of relief.

 

[TricAP]

Please let us know how she's doing and what you find works best for her. There may not be any way to stop it, but there certainly are ways to make it easier for her and give her some relief. At least there appear to be. And that's really all we all want in their twilight years. For them to be relaxed and happy. She's lucky you're exploring all avenues.

Weekend went pretty well on the melatonin supplement and buffered baby aspirin. Hubby and I even managed a few hours away and our daughter stayed home with dogs. Usually this is enough to set Bella's anxiety off but she slept or cuddled on the couch the entire time. So maybe something to the pain causing the anxiety.

 

[tmricciuto]

So glad to hear that she was able to rest a bit. I hope they figure out what it going on with her quickly.

 

[Boxergirl]

Fizzed - so sorry to hear of your losses. IMO you did the humane thing so your beloved pet didn't suffer any further given the circumstances. Thanks for listing the items that gave one of your dogs some measure of relief.

I agree. That had to be such a difficult decision to make. Clearly you loved her very much. I'm so sorry and wish you peace.

Weekend went pretty well on the melatonin supplement and buffered baby aspirin. Hubby and I even managed a few hours away and our daughter stayed home with dogs. Usually this is enough to set Bella's anxiety off but she slept or cuddled on the couch the entire time. So maybe something to the pain causing the anxiety.

That's a start then. I hope you get it all sorted out quickly. It really sucks when they live in a constant state of anxiety. Makes you start questioning quality of life, you know? Hugs to your girl.

 

[fizzed]

I agree. That had to be such a difficult decision to make. Clearly you loved her very much. I'm so sorry and wish you peace. .

Thank you so much for your thoughts. I really hope there is some relief that can be found in this instance. Our dogs provide so much to us when they are younger and it is so desperate not being able to make things better when they get old.

 

[Boxergirl]

I just wanted to check and see how Bella was doing and if you've found anything that seems to be helping.

 

[TricAP]

I just wanted to check and see how Bella was doing and if you've found anything that seems to be helping.

Bella is being a puzzle still. Some days the Melatonin and baby aspirin helps and she's a very laid back chill lady. Other days she is so anxious she is putting everyone else on edge with her panting and pacing. A couple days her anxiety has gotten to the point of vomiting. Vet visit is next Monday so just taking it day by day until then.

 

[TricAP]

Vet visit went well. Good news is they don't think its pain related, bad news not sure exactly what is causing all the panting, pacing, regurgitation, vomiting and general anxiety. Her heart rate was 169 BPM, so a little high for her size but no skipped beats so not overly concerned there. She has gained 6 lbs since her last visit so regurgitation some food isn't adversely affecting that way.

By the time the exam was over had all 3 of the vets at the practice in the exam room. Consensus for now is age related anxiety. Started her on Trazadone Hcl 100 mg tabs so see if that helps. Also recommended Zylkene (milk peptide/casein supplement) going to get that online since our vet was honest and says they charge way too much for it (she isn't the senior partner who makes those decisions.) Of course one of the senior vets had to blame it on feeding raw and recommended Purina Cognitive Therapy. At least our vet and I are in agreement on commercial foods and all their GMO products, so I was polite to the senior vet and said I'd look into it.

So we shall see what the next 30 days brings as far as change in her behavior.

 

[Boxergirl]

I've not tried Trazadone (we did Alprazolam and Fluoxetine), but I did recently try Zylkene. I didn't find that it did enough to justify the price. I saw the same effects using L-Theanine, Melatonin, and Lactium (milk peptide). Some people do seem to have good luck with it and your situation is a bit different than mine. It is crazy expensive though. I was lucky to get my daughter's discount at the vet she works for. There's a post I made about it in the health forum, I think. SJDavenport has used it and chimed in as well. Maybe go check it out.

 

[TricAP]

Best deal I've been able to find online Zylkene is $2 per day. If it works great but if I'm still adding in other things then it gets cost prohibitive quickly. I'll search back for that thread - thanks!

 

[Boxergirl]

PM me your address. I have about 20 capsules, 450mg. You're welcome to them if you want to try before you buy. I won't be buying more.

 

[7121548]

What a relief to know she's not in any pain. Hopefully you find something that works reliably for the anxiety!

 

[TricAP]

Best deal I've been able to find online Zylkene is $2 per day. If it works great but if I'm still adding in other things then it gets cost prohibitive quickly. I'll search back for that thread - thanks!

Kris you are the BEST! THANK YOU!!! I PM'd you the info. The Trazadone has really knocked her out this afternoon so not sure that will be good for day to day use. She did have a big morning with trip to vet clinic and a good walk in the sunshine when we got home - been far too long since we've seen that glowing orb in the sky around here.

 

[TricAP]

What a relief to know she's not in any pain. Hopefully you find something that works reliably for the anxiety!

Keeping our fingers crossed. It's hard to see our pets decline and not be able to find something to give them relief.

 

[Boxergirl]

Kris you are the BEST! THANK YOU!!! I PM'd you the info. The Trazadone has really knocked her out this afternoon so not sure that will be good for day to day use. She did have a big morning with trip to vet clinic and a good walk in the sunshine when we got home - been far too long since we've seen that glowing orb in the sky around here.

Very welcome. I'd much rather you get to try it for a couple of weeks before shelling out so much money. It's such an iffy thing. Give the Trazadone a few days. I don't know if it's like some of the other things I've tried, but sometimes it takes a week or so before they adjust and things even out. I know there are other things you can try if it doesn't work. Just be pushy.