Anxiety and AIHA

[Susie]

Hey Everyone,

After a awful drought and hitting triple digits here in California, we’re having a LOUD thunderstorm! Rain we need desperately, the thunder, not so much!

Here’s the issue, Emily is not doing well at all. I’ve got the swamp coolers on because they’re nice and loud and also have the TV turned up loud. She’s in her dad’s chair where I gave her a blanket and a couple of pillows to hide under.

On top of the thunder today, there were illegal fireworks going off last night. She woke me up trying to push into me for cuddles. Next weekend is our independence day here in the states. I’m wondering how we’re going to be able to protect her from all the noise from the fireworks. How do you all deal with anxiety with your dogs and cats ?

Thanks all!
♡Susie

[lynn]

Susie, yes I understand exactly what you are saying… right after Hayley was hit with imhs… fireworks and thunder took a toll on my baby too! Patrice told me about a wrap with pressure points… I did that a it did take the stress away… before imha Hayley had nerves of steel… well they are back again… unless your baby had this stress before AIHA . now when it thunders or fireworks she doesn’t even act like she hears it like before. I am going to look up what that was called you can find it on you tube a german lady shows you how to do it and it works. but maybe someone will come on before I get back to tell you about this and its name… many years have passed but all I know every thing these wonderful ladies told me has worked for my little girl. I am going to look it up now . be bavck lyn & Hayley

[lynn]

hi Susie, it is called tellinton touch to calm dogs… you can use the wrap or not it works either way… it does! its on you tube. hope it helps you sweet baby it did for Hayley… but then one day she just didn’t react to thunder or fireworks… hope the same for your little one. best of luck lynn&hayley

[lynn]

oops!!!!!!!!! tellington touch sorry about that spelling on( you tube) good luck lynn & hayley

[Brigitte]

Hi Susie,
This is not an unusual thing with dogs. I have a friend who’s Border Collie hides under a bed when she hears jet engines. Interestingly most of the dogs litter mates have fear issues which makes me believe that just like people some dogs are more anxious or fearful.
I know people that have had some good results with body wraps. Maybe you could even make it wet, to cool Emily down? I have taken a TTouch workshop and there was an extremely anxious dog. The instructor wrapped the dog and within minutes he relaxed. Here is a video that might give you some idea:
https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A86.J3QxVpBVkkEAAMonnIlQ;_ylc=X1MDMTM1MTE5NTY4NwRfcgMyBGZyA3locy1tb3ppbGxhLTAwNARncHJpZANsbXhNZlRqSlJzV0pCdmJWSnhlcTlBBG5fcnNsdAMwBG5fc3VnZwM0BG9yaWdpbgNzZWFyY2gueWFob28uY29tBHBvcwMwBHBxc3RyAwRwcXN0cmwDBHFzdHJsAzQ5BHF1ZXJ5A3RlbGxpbmd0b24gdG91Y2ggZmVhcmZ1bG5lc3Mgd3JhcCBkcmVzc2VzIHlvdXR1YmUEdF9zdG1wAzE0MzU1MjI2MjQ-?p=tellington+touch+fearfulness+wrap+dresses+youtube&fr2=sb-top-search&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-004
I would also recommend to look at yourself, how do you react when you hear the thunder and see Emily being fearful. Do you tell her, its ok, don’t worry, oh you poor thing… Or are you just matter of fact. Hey Emily, hear that thunder, we got this! You could also try and throw her some food when the thunder hits so she connects thunder with good things happening. But most likely she is so concerned that she will not even take food. There is also Bach Flower rescue remedy, it can calm down (people and dogs) I did however not have great success with it. I have heard of a product that is something similar to oxytocin, the happy hormone. That could be a solution if all else fails? I have no experience with it. I would start with the wrapping and see if it helps.
Glad to hear you got the diarrhea under control!
Best wishes,
Brigitte

[admin]

Hi Susie

I read about the diarrhoea – pretty likely to be coincidence with dropping the famotidine, but these things are always sent to worry us when we change something in their routine/treatment. Glad to hear Emily has settled on that front – keep us posted on that though.

I’m really with you on this fireworks/thunder – I also had a border collie who was FRANTIC with any loud bangs. He would try & dig through the floor, try to get UNDER the fitted carpet & he was inconsolable. Do not cuddle Emily or make any fuss of her. Ignoring (that is so hard when they are destructive) worked better for us than anything, although being happy & clapping as if we were having a great time worked too – sometimes – not always. We played loud music/TV which did help slightly. We also tried playing with his toys – not interested. And yet, at Christmas he would get to burst all the balloons in one go with his teeth & he loved it – bizarre? I do think the Tellington Touch is really good – try it, please. What about a crate? do you have one that she likes going into? Worth a thought, but we never used a crate as it made him go nuts.

I have also heard noise aversion therapy works – this will take time though, so doesn’t help you in the short term. You play recorded bangs, fireworks & thunder on your iPod or whatever, very quietly to start with, then gradually up the volume over weeks & months.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/pets-health/6502787/Noise-therapy-will-keep-dogs-quiet-on-Bonfire-Night.html

I feel so sorry for you – it is awful to see them so stressed out – keeping calm is number one for now, so Emily knows you are not worried (ha ha). Hoping it will soon be quiet again. We are experiencing a heat wave too – set to get much worse over the next few days – no fun for our pets at all.

Love Sheena xxxxx

[admin]

Worth having a look
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-behavior/fear-noises

[Susie]

Thank you soooo much!!!! Excellent info Ladies!

Lynn, I didn’t realize it but, I think Emily’s anxiety may also be related to her illness. It was crazy how fast she ran into the house when she heard the thunder! She started having separation anxiety right before this illness hit. I keep thinking of your little Haley with her missing toy, and I worry about any anxiety hitting Emily and what it may do to her. I’m just starting to try to leave her at home alone again. It’s been a huge issue for us, but she simply can’t go everywhere I go.

Brigitte, I was surprisingly calm, and rejoicing to feel the rain, but in my heart I was REALLY very concerned about how she was going to react. Maybe she could read the worry in me. Our other little Shih Tzu, Sadie is normally the anxious one, but she was running around acting happy. I think mostly because we had just arrived back home.

Sheena, that looks like good stuff to read up on. I think it may help our other baby, too. She has a lot of issues with fear, but she does stay in a kennel when we’re away and I often fear that’s why she’s so afraid of everything. Emily freaks out in the kennel so she has run of the house (which may be the reason she had the diarrhea ….little thief!). I feel sad about not cuddling her, but I will give it a shot and see how it goes.

The rain has let up for now. I sure wouldn’t mind a day of some steady rain….quiet, steady rain that is 😉

Love, Susie and the shaky Shih Tzus ❤️