Medication

[Crystal]

Kiba is 4years old and has never liked other dogs since she was bitten by another GSD when she was a pup, ive tried behaviour classes and also had a personal dog trainer come out to see us and try to put it right but there wasnt really any improvment ive been asking my vet for several years how i can change the way she is but they never had a clue! Now after 4 years they said to me yesturday they want to put her on medication to calm her down, does anyone know what this maybe or how it works?
Oh and to make things worse she had her left eye removed a year ago due to a tumour, as she cant see this side it makes her more nervious..

Many thanks x

[Stuart]

Sometimes vets do come up with,..what `we might think of` as strange ideas from time to time, when this happens I would always suggest you ask another vet the same questions and see what answers you can come up with,.... the reason being I personaly hate giving medication when its not really needed,..and from what I see this is not the way to go

I know you say you have tried trainers,.. but I fail to see how a proffesional trainer cant help,.. of course I do not know your trainers or your dog,.. but it does seem strange

Of course the lose of an eye will effect Kiba and make her far more nervous, but there are millions of one eyed dogs out there, they quikely get used to it and should not effect them at all
I wonder if there is a connection to the possible liver problems that you mentioned in your other thread

So,..I am sorry, I cant answer your question,... but I do suggest you try for a second oppinion,..and see what answers you get

[zetstaff]

Definitely would be a second opinion for me too

[DelsMum]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Sometimes vets do come up with,..what `we might think of` as strange ideas from time to time, when this happens I would always suggest you ask another vet the same questions and see what answers you can come up with,.... the reason being I personaly hate giving medication when its not really needed,..and from what I see this is not the way to go

I know you say you have tried trainers,.. but I fail to see how a proffesional trainer cant help,.. of course I do not know your trainers or your dog,.. but it does seem strange

Of course the lose of an eye will effect Kiba and make her far more nervous, but there are millions of one eyed dogs out there, they quikely get used to it and should not effect them at all
I wonder if there is a connection to the possible liver problems that you mentioned in your other thread

So,..I am sorry, I cant answer your question,... but I do suggest you try for a second oppinion,..and see what answers you get

I agree with Stuart. If it were me I would get a 2nd opinion definately. From what you have said in your other post about possible liver problems, your vet doesn't seem to be going out of their way to find out if this is the case or not!

Once you have a clean bill of health for her, If she is nervous around other dogs, I personally would walk her as often as possible with some calm well mannered dogs so that she learns that other dogs aren't all bad and makes some friends!

[gloriab]

Originally Posted by DelsMum

I agree with Stuart. If it were me I would get a 2nd opinion definately. From what you have said in your other post about possible liver problems, your vet doesn't seem to be going out of their way to find out if this is the case or not!

Once you have a clean bill of health for her, If she is nervous around other dogs, I personally would walk her as often as possible with some calm well mannered dogs so that she learns that other dogs aren't all bad and makes some friends!

Absolutely agree with everything Stuart and Faye say.
2nd opinion most definately.

Find out what the medication is and post it - maybe someone knows it or has a vet that does.

Kisses and hugs
xxx

[max's mom]

Crikey, poor Kiba, she's been through the mill hasn't she!
Lucky for her she's got a lovely mummy who will help. Take the advice of the others I would say and get second opinion, your vet dosent really seem to be helping. I would think medicating would really be a last resort!
keep us posted.
Hugs to Kiba xx

[LOVEGSD]

Oh it's never nice to see your dog bitten and to then have to try and deal with a fearful dog, I have been in that situation as my lad was attacked so many times and the last attack saw him have his ear ripped, it really affected him. It took me a good year a get him back on track and even now I have to watch him with some dogs because he can't handle being jumped on etc.

I would be very wary of giving medication tbh, I agree with Stuart here.

What sort of training methods were you given to try and make her more comfy around other dogs?

[Crystal]

Thankyou all for your help, which i found most useful, went to vets again today for the 2nd oppinion and got told something totally different, 2nd oppinion was not to give Kiba medication as she is fine nothing wrong with her she said, just ignore all of Kibas unusal habbits etc and see how she goes!

Now that hasnt helped me at all, im worrying that Kiba isnt settled here and i want her to be/feel happy! x

TIA

[gloriab]

Originally Posted by Crystal

Thankyou all for your help, which i found most useful, went to vets again today for the 2nd oppinion and got told something totally different, 2nd oppinion was not to give Kiba medication as she is fine nothing wrong with her she said, just ignore all of Kibas unusal habbits etc and see how she goes!

Now that hasnt helped me at all, im worrying that Kiba isnt settled here and i want her to be/feel happy! x

TIA

Good for you for getting a second opinion.
This vet sounds like she has a bit more nous - can't you ask if they have an animal behaviouist (not trainer) to help you?

What does she do that makes you worry so???
Maybe this forum can help you with some things to try if you say what the specific issues are - maybe one at a time.

At least you have the answer - NO medication !
hugs all round
xx

[kita]

Originally Posted by Crystal

Kiba is 4years old and has never liked other dogs since she was bitten by another GSD when she was a pup, ive tried behaviour classes and also had a personal dog trainer come out to see us and try to put it right but there wasnt really any improvment ive been asking my vet for several years how i can change the way she is but they never had a clue! Now after 4 years they said to me yesturday they want to put her on medication to calm her down, does anyone know what this maybe or how it works?
Oh and to make things worse she had her left eye removed a year ago due to a tumour, as she cant see this side it makes her more nervious..

Many thanks x

Did the personal dog trainer have any qualifications (were they a member of any association)?

This is why behaviourists often only work through vets.

Some medication (to calm the dog down) can help if it is used along with a behavioural plan.

It can sometimes help to break the repeating pattern of the dog stressing out over seeing other dogs and allow training and confidence building to take place.

It can also be used to help break habits like compulsive behaviours (staring at the wall, chasing shadows/lights, chasing her tail etc.).

Does your vet have a behaviourist that they work with?

Or you can find one here:

APBC Members by Region | Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors

As they work through vet referral if you have insurance they will cover the fees.

This is taken from the above site:

"Use of Medication

Psychotropic medication such as anxiolytics and antidepressants can be helpful in the resolution of certain types of behaviour problems. Although they can only be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon, those members of the APBC who are not themselves qualified in this way may confer with the referring veterinary surgeon as to whether medication is appropriate in support of behaviour modification. Such medication is, with few exceptions, prescribed only for use in conjunction with an appropriate behaviour modification. Drugs alone are unlikely to 'cure' a behaviour problem, such as a separation problem. If improvement does occur but behaviour modification is not carried out the animal is likely to revert to the problem behaviour as soon as the medication is stopped."

Sue