hey ladies - our 5 year old dog has always been a little anxious, especially when we pack to go somewhere. While we're packing up the car or our bags for a trip, she'll whine and pace until she's able to go in the car with us. She settles down just fine once we're on our way and if we leave her home she does fine, isn't destructive or anything. When she gets really upset by something sometimes she'll have a loose stool, but otherwise she evens out pretty quickly.
Ever since we had the baby five months ago, she's been even more nervous in general. If we walk to fast or turn quickly in her direction she gets kind of skittish and jumpy. We also think she's been losing a little weight and shedding a lot more than usual.
On top of all that, we're also getting ready to move. Between packing boxes and all the stuff all over the place we think the pup got extra unsettled - she had diarrhea several times over the weekend. We spoke with our vet and he prescribed an anti-anxiety medicine that we plan to use for the next few weeks until we're settled in the new house. I feel really bad that she is so anxious we need to give her medication but she really seems to be happier with it.
I'm just wondering if there are any other ways we can help her with her anxiety in the long run, or if I'm making a bigger deal of this than necessary...
any thoughts/opinions/experiences appreciated!
Re: Dog anxiety and meds? (long)
my advice is to make your dog as tired as possible every day you can as you deal with boxes and such. We take our dogs to dogtopia day care any time we are dealing with suitcases before a trip. That could get $$ because moving is a much longer process but the main goal is to keep them tired, it helps! My parents lab is on anti anxiety meds for thunderstorms nad it works wonders for her!!!
good luck with your 4 legged friend:-)
i was going to recommend rescue remedy too, though we have to give it before she gets worked up otherwise she just throws it up (or at least, that's happened twice when we tried to give it to her during thunderstorms).