Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

Wow--I really feel for you guys. But I'm so happy you decided to use the medication on her. So many pets have anxiety separation. My first dog did for a while, but she outgrew it. I think in time, Hannah will be able to outgrow the anxiety, too. In my opinion, I think she feels that you will not come back to her since she's been through several homes already. But she's a beautiful dog and I'm glad she found a loving home that took the time to care for her. Best of luck to you!

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

It's wonderful you both made the committment to really bring her into your family and stick with her. It's very hard for dogs once they have been through several homes when they are young to feel that they really are in their forever loving home. Don't know if you are interested in such things but you could also try animal communication with her. It is very inexpensive and worth a shot. I have found them to be very helpful and there are a lot of people out there who have had their animals saved by trying it. All the best to all of you.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

Oh I so feel for you!! I am so sorry you are going through this, but very happy that you aren't giving up on beautiful Hannah! I agree that too many pills for animals are just as bad as too many pills for people, and I applaud your loving patience for this wonderful animal. What a hard choice that only you can make...

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

My Freeway (rottie/shepherd mix found on the Freeway) is on dogie Prozac due to the extreme panic he has with lightning and thunder. I live in the White Mountains of AZ and we have "monsoon" season with lots of thunder activity. It takes the edge off but right now he is under the desk and I have my legs on him.....to give him comfort!!!!

Good Luick ...I believe that whatever it takes to give a dog a good life is what we have to do!!!!!

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

Animals get the same diseases we do. Cancer, diabetes and many others are diagnosed by veternarians on a daily basis. Why would mental illness be any different? I don't go for diet pills for humans or animals but I do believe our pets can and do suffer from the same illnesses we do. When my vet prescribes a medication for my pet I always Google it to find out more about the medication. More often than not these meds are for humans as well. Good for you that you are open-minded and concerned enough about your pet to seek help.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

Thank you for being such a caring dog owner. It's difficult when dogs have issues and we can't talk to them about it. We rescued a lab mix from the pound because the owner had left him there saying he was destructive. We had to watch him and could never leave stuffed animals out because he shredded them. Also, he'd get in a mood and shred his bed if we forgot and left it out during the day. My husband put him on Prozac. He has gotten older and I insisted we take him off to see how he did. He is much better now that he's older, but every now and then he still goes after something, such as books if I leave any on the floor in the office where I put both dogs when we're gone for several hours. I think it may take time for Hannah to overcome her fears, but when she's older you might try taking her off the medication by checking with your vet. Hannah is such a beautiful dog and I'm sure you will eventually feel blessed to have her. My daughter took a German shepherd who had been taken over by the Humane Society because she had been starved. I think it was somewhat of a puppy mill environment by a small time breeder. She had very little hair, but now she is a beautiful dog. She still has issues and is very bothered by kids playing outside or anyone walking in front of her house. I've been at her house dogsitting while they have some construction work done. The sawing and hammering makes her bark and fuss a lot, but we just figure even kids have their quirks and she's worth any idiosyncrasy.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

i'm a bipolar on meds. you guys were great to take the dog in for prozac. i thank you and your vet for a calmer Hannah. you could have turned her in or killed her. some of us, humans and animals, need a little extra help now and again.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

You did the right thing. I have a dog that was, I'm sure, a puppy mill dog. He would circle and make a constant gutteral growly sound when anything was uncomfortable for him. He would bark constantly when I was gone. I gave him (per my vet) a few grains of my own Prozac daily for several months. He calmed down fairly quickly and has seemed more settled even now, and he has been off the drug for several years. I used it for about a year. I truly believe it helped him. I feel that pets, like humans, sometimes need a little medical intervention in the form of a drug. They are to help - and they usually do.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

She is a beautiful dog and how wonderful of you not to give up on her. In today's society too many people "throw away" animals rather than put in the extra effort. Hannah is very lucky that she finally found her forever home and I'm sure you feel the same way.

Best of luck to all of you!

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

My first dog, Dasher, had been so completely neglected the first several years of his life, that the rescue couldn't even take him to adoption fairs as he'd hide. We had some rough times after I adopted him because he was so terribly afraid of most everything that he seemed to pray for invisibility. Fortunately, I had a WONDERFUL trainer to work with us. In addition, our vet did suggest an anti-depressant for him, which I initially declined.

After a few months together, I took Dasher to the vet because there were spots on his tummy where the fur was gone. The vet asked if I noticed him scratching a lot. I replied, "He's not scratching when I'm home." The vet then said that he must be doing it when I'm not home and again recommended the anti-depressant for him, which I now accepted. He took it for the next several months, and his fur grew back on his tummy. Even more impressively, he did slowly come out of his shell and eventually didn't want the medication. (He'd lick the peanut butter off of it and spit it out.) But by that time, he didn't seem to need it. Hopefully, in your case, she'll only need the additional "help" while she's gaining trust in you. We did also utilize a holistic practioner who recommended aromatherapy, which I still utilize for both myself and my current dog.

Best of luck and remember that both you and Hannah are lucky to have each other!

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

I don't think that you should suffer from *any* guilt about helping your dog out with a little medication. By trying to build her confidence through training, you showed that you're not looking for a quick fix but are just trying to find some sort of solution to her anxiety.Also, the fact that you bear some physical scars from her biting you, and yet you kept her, shows that you're committed to helping her overcome this. And sometimes, chemically/physically, animals need a little help. My old dog used to take an allergy pill so that she wouldn't obsessively lick her feet. I currently take a low dose of an anti-depressant which allows me to function normally. If I don't take it, I get depressed, paranoid, and eventually suicidal. But when I do take it, the thoughts that might run through my mind or the impulses that would drag me down, they don't really pop up, or if they do, it's so much easier to ignore them. I think the same is true for some dogs, and it sounds like for Hannah. While I don't think that dogs have as much reasoning ability as humans, I do think that they think and reason (otherwise, how would my dog figure out how to tell me he needs to go outside, or that he's itchy and would like some hydrocortisone cream, or to come play with him when I have been working on the computer for several hours, or that he needs to pull the blanket off of the treat in order to get to it?). But I don't think they think the way we do.

You might also consider changes in her diet - that can have an effect of humans and animals alike. Some allergies show up in behavorial issues (if I'm remembering correctly). Changing her food might help her improve, too. Also, I would highly recommend Jan Fennel's 'The Dog Listener' and her amichien method. I've used it on more than one dog and it really does work in helping dogs be/feel more secure.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

You did the kindest thing - not bringing beautiful Hannah back to the shelter! She will be fine and you need not feel guilty! She is lucky to have such a wonderful mother in you. Enjoy your lives together. P.S. My furbaby is also on doggie prozac. We give it to him for his own protection as well as for everyone else's as he suffers from fear which turns to aggression.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

No shame in giving Hannah meds. It sure as hell beats the alternative: putting her down or sending her back to a shelter.
I know a cat that's on Prozac. (New baby, anxiety, litterbox aversion). She's doing very well and is using her litterbox again. I give my cat Buster kitty downers when we travel because he really stresses on long car rides. He's stoned for a few hours but like, ya know, totally relaxed. You do whatever works for Hannah and your family. Don't worry about what other people think. You're doing what's best for your dog. Good for you.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

I think it is wonderful that you didn't give up on her. She is a VERY lucky, and beautiful dog. You are a wonderful person. You know it is hard telling what kind of life she had before. God only knows. But if the drugs help her to calm down, then you are doing the right thing. I have a dog that is anxious at times. He doesn't need drugs yet, but he does require a lot of patience. Most people just couldn't or wouldn't devote the energy to the situation, but you are doing the right thing. God bless you and Hannah.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

We got Marley, a Lahso Ahpso (sp? - sorry!) from a rescue. He was a mess. He had been given up because of his strange behavior, i.e. aggressive towards previous owner's boyfriends dog, chased his tail, watched shadows, etc. The rescue had muzzled him, shaved him totally down and used a snare to drag him from his kennel. He did nothing but growl and snarl when you went near him. We brought him home, left him alone to decide when he wanted to come out of his kennel and let our other pets meet him on their own terms. We have never given Marley anything for his behavior. We just grew to love and adore him for his quirky behavior and strange habits that make him so adorable. We are happy to say he has settled in, loves hugs and kisses and loves having other "brothers." He does have some nervous stomach issues and so we give him an something for that but not on a fulltime basis. Each pet is different, some truly do benefit from medication intervention and it not only makes their lives better but everyone around them. If you love you pet, do whatever it takes to keep them secure and happy.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

We went throught the exact same situation with Henry. He had to take anxiety pills from 5 months until he wasw almost 2 years old. For some reason, he finally "settled down" enough that we could ween him off. As a small puppy he would literally eat an entire sofa if left alone for more than 30 minutes. Henry went through 2 sofa's, a leveseat and 4 coffee tables by the time he was 7 months old. We knew that we were the only home he would ever have, and cannot leve him in a kennel even today. He gets so anxious he is almost unable to function. But, he is loved and happy and finally, at almost 8 years old, able to trust visitors in our home, if they are patient with him. He has been worth all of the furniture, and Bless our vet for medicating Henry at an early age.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

I think Hannah is a very pretty dog,I wish you all good luck. I think you did the right thing.

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

I have a small dog 6 month old..She is like a wild child.She bites on the other dog &the cat.I bought some Pet Friendly pills at Wal Mart Called calming support for dog's. A tasty beef flavored multi-supplemt formulated to clam over active & nervous dog's.They seem to relax her for a little while..

Re: This is Your Dog on Drugs

I have been taking Prozac for 20 years. It just helps me stay calm and I am sure you are doing the right thing for that beautiful dog.